(by 7 people)
Fernando is an Argentine-American composer whose music reflects his strong background in jazz.
On this page you can
- listen to his music
- read about his research, studies and awards
- click through to websites of his favorite performers
Fernando's music tickles the intellect, yet it has a rhythmic groove that you usually associate with pop music. Lots of composers in America are trying to find this delicate balance; Fernando is one of the few that has succeeded.
Along with the incidental music for theater productions, Fernando recently wrote the music for "Arimpara," which was featured at the Cannes Festival.
The New York Times called his music "engagingly forward" (2001), and praised his Meet Café as "a perfect curtainraiser" of "ear-grabbing invention" (2006).
Fernando is Assisant Professor at American University.
He's writing me a new piece for solo piano. I'll premiere it in Spring 2007.
Listen to Fernando's music
- Meet Café
- for mixed sextet
New York New Music Ensemble, conducted by James Baker - Five Miniatures
- for bass clarinet, baritone saxophone, and piano left hand
Thelema Trio - Crater
- for large ensemble
June in Buffalo Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Magnus Martensson - Quicksand
- for large ensemble
Wellesley Composers Conference Orchestra, conducted by Efrain Guigui - Hidden Charges
- for alto saxophone and percussion
Noah Getz and Chris Froh - In 3
- for twelve players
Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, conducted by Ilan Volkov - In 3 two
- for bass clarinet, violin, and violoncello
Anne Ament, Teri Lazar, and Nancy Snider - The Best Clock
- for mixed quintet
Berkeley Contemporary Chamber Players, conducted by David Milnes
Performers of Fernando's music
- The New York New Music Ensemble
- "...player for player, perhaps the best new music group in the country."
The New York Times - Les Jeunes Solistes
- A vocal ensemble based in France.
- The Continuum Ensemble
- A contemporary music ensemble based in Toronto.
- The Thelema Trio
- A interesting Belgian trio focused on new music. A great website.
- The Empyrean Ensemble
- The contemporary ensemble in residence at UC Davis.
- Ivan Ilic, pianist
- ahem...
Fernando's Awards
- The International Society for Contemporary Music's Competition
- A Mouthful! Fernando's "Meet Café" was picked to be performed by the New York New Music Ensemble in Merkin Hall, which led to that glowing review in the Times.
- The Fromm Commission and Award at Tanglewood
- Fernando received the Fromm Award at the Tanglewood Music Festival, and was invited back the following year to have his new piece "In 3" premiered.
- Aaron Copland Award at the Copland House
- Fernando got to hang out at "Aaron's" pad for a month. Check out the photo!
- The George Ladd Prize from Berkeley
- Every two years the Berkeley faculty picks a graduate student to study in Paris on a fellowship from the University. Fernando was here from 2001-03.
Read Fernando's research
- On how we recognize jazz musicians
- He writes about how we identify jazz musicians: not by "what they play" (notes, rhythym, contour) but "how they play" (sound, expressiveness, tuning).
- On Tempo Modulation
- Tempo Modulation is a way of making music rhythmically complex, without adding unnecessary difficulty for the performer.
It's a little like going the same speed in your car, but in different gears. - On How Jazz Musicians Play Swing Eighth-Notes
- A recent article in the journal Ethnomusicology.
- Fernando interviews Martin Matalon
- Matalon discusses silent films and electronics in the Computer Music Journal.
Fernando's Fellowships
- Royaumont
- Fernando was a fellow at La Fondation Royaumont in 2002.
- Tanglewood
- Fernando was a Fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center in 2000.
- Aspen
- Fernando attended the Aspen Festival Advanced Masterclass on a Hewlett Foundation Scholarship in 1999.
- Wellesley
- Fernando was a Fellow at the Wellesley Composers Conference in 2002.
Fernando's education
- PhD and Master's from UC Berkeley
- Fernando studied at Berkeley on a Chancellor's Fellowship.
- Bachelor's Degree at the "other" Berklee
- He graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1996 in Jazz Arranging and Saxophone.
Both skills have served him well ever since.
*NEW* Fernando's Website
- Fernando's website
- After a short hiatus, Fernando's website is back online!
