Dan Lippel and the International Contemporary Ensemble at Oberlin
Dan Lippel, an Oberlin alum, is a New York City-based guitarist who specializes in new music. He worked with me for two years in the late 1990’s and we’ve been in touch ever since. His previous professional visits to campus have also been with ensembles—once before with International Contemporary Ensemble, and once as a member of the tango band, Zvi Migdal, for their performance on the 2005 Guitar Foundation of America Convention roster, held here at the Conservatory. I was delighted that the Ensemble would be featured in performance this season again, as it gave us a chance to catch up and it gave the students a chance to meet with a guitarist whose resume looks like few others in the business.
We had a master class/talk session with Dan on Wednesday, in which three of the students performed. We started with Solis Dornan, who played a movement from Asencio’s Collectici Intime.
Dan Lippel with Solis Dornan
Next up was Aleksandr Lapshin, who played Sor’s Grand Solo.
Dan Lippel works with Aleksandr Lapshin
Finally, Sam Schollenberger played Bach’s Fugue BWV 1005.
Sam Schollenberger and Dan Lippel
Dan’s advice ran the gamut from phrasing and interpretation, to fingering and technique, to issues relating to compositional structure and form. It was highly informative. It was obvious that, for all his commitment to new music, Dan was still fully plugged into our chief concerns in playing traditional repertoire.
Next, we spent time looking at his career and talking about the life of a free-lance pro in New York with his type of specialty. Dan has played with most major new music ensembles and toured the world with them. He has recorded extensively, with over 60 CD credits to his name. He’s given hundreds of world premieres and worked with many of the most celebrated composers of our day. Recounting this experience and hearing some anecdotes about it made for a lively discussion. He concluded with several recorded samples from his work, giving the students a clearer notion of what he meant when he said “new music”. This made a very strong and, I’m sure, lasting impression!
Dan tells us what it’s like
The concert presented by his group, International Contemporary Ensemble, was impressive, moving and wildly varied. The group’s conductor, Rebekah Heller, is an Oberlin alum (as are four others, counting Dan, out of a roster of ten players). They were joined by baritone Damian Norfleet, while one member, flutist Alice Teyssier, did double-duty, singing as well. Dan Lippel played on only two numbers in the program, and for both, he used an electric guitar. The program, played in Warner Concert Hall, opened with (Oberlin alum) Courtney Bryan’s masterwork, DREAMING. Baritone Damian Norfleet and soprano Alice Teyssier sang.
Rebekah Heller leads ICE in Bryan’s DREAMING
Next, a duet for clarinet and trumpet by J. K. Nelson was presented (full program at the end of the post).
The first section concluded with MIRRORS by Colson. For this work, baritone Damian Norfleet rejoined the ensemble, and Oberlin’s Tim Weiss conducted.
Next up was a large piece by C. R. Soumah. For this one, Heller came back to conduct, and Dan Lippel picked up his Fender Stratocaster.
Dan Lippel, well-obscured behind the cellist, plays with the Ensemble
To close the program, the student members of Tim Weiss’ Contemporary Music Ensemble joined International Contemporary Ensemble, along with a couple of faculty members to play, unconducted, a series of pieces/improvisations by Anthony Braxton. They sat in-the-round, making visibility easier.
Students, faculty and guests play music of Braxton
Dan Lippel on stage in Warner Concert Hall
The ensemble takes a bow
Thank you, Dan, for your words of wisdom and kind advice to the students and for your vast contribution to our repertoire over the years. We look forward to seeing you again!
