VIRGINIA BROFFITT KUNZER

NARRATIVE | Art by women tells their stories. From famous figures of the past whose acclaim has since faded to creators who have recently emerged, the composers heard on this recording have created works that speak of their experiences, both real   and imagined. Their music inspires imagery: of the beauties of the natural world, of calling birds and rustling forests, of the brightness of a springtime morning and the dreaminess of night. Their songs, with or without words, express the poetry of their emotions. Women composers, not always heard, here tell their own histories of ancestors past and the places where they and their  kind have traveled. From our hearing their musical voices, women’s pasts—and their future—are assured.
 

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Virginia Broffitt Kunzer has established a successful and diverse career as a soloist, orchestral and chamber musician and teacher. She has performed and taught throughout the United States, Asia and  Europe, has been a concerto soloist with numerous ensembles. Kunzer is also the Flute Mentor at the Hot Springs Music Festival, Principal Flute in the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas and Flutist in the Pangaea Chamber Players in the Elicio Winds. Previously, she served as faculty at Western Illinois University and Oklahoma State University. Kunzer maintains an active presence in the National Flute Association through performances and service, performing regularly at conventions. She previously served as a Board Member and a Coordinator of the Young Artist  Competition, of which she herself is a winner. As a recording artist, she released an album with the Pangaea Chamber Players  [Navona]. Kunzer has several published flute and piano arrangements through Alry Publications. A native of Iowa City, Iowa, she received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and Master’s and Doctorate degrees from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Dr. Kunzer is a Miyazawa Performing Artist, and is currently the Associate Professor of Flute at Auburn University. [ www.virginiabroffitt.com ]

Tammie Walker is an experienced solo and collaborative pianist, educator, administrator,  and national advocate for the arts. As a pianist, she has given hundreds of concerts throughout the continental United States, Hawaii, Western Europe, Myanmar and South Korea, and is an active clinician, lecture-recitalist, and master class teacher. As an adjudicator, she has served on many regional, national, and international juries in the United States and South Korea. As an author, she has published articles in The Piano (Korea), International Piano, American Music Teacher and the Music Educators Journal. As an arts advocate, she has held a variety of leadership roles in national music organizations. As an editor and arranger, she has published works with Progress Press, TrevCo Music and ALRY Publications. A native of Madison, Wisconsin, Dr. Walker is the former Director of the School of Music and Professor of Piano at Western Illinois University. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Master’s and Doctorate degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she studied with Ian Hobson. Walker is currently Director of the School of Music and Professor of Piano at the University of Iowa. VALERIE COLEMAN
FANMI IMÈN
 
AMY BEACH (arr. Broffitt Kunzer / Walker)
THREE BROWNING SONGS
I. The year’s at the spring
II. Ah, Love, but a day!
III. I send my heart up to thee
 
LILI BOULANGER
D’UN MATIN DE PRINTEMPS
 
SOFIA GUBAIDULINA
ALLEGRO RUSTICO
SOUNDS OF THE FOREST
 
DELPHINE VON SCHAUROTH (arr. Broffitt Kunzer / Walker)
SECHS LIEDER OHNE WORTE
I. Mässig und gefühlvoll
II. Bewegt und sehr gebunden
III. Innig und seelenvoll
IV. Rasch und feurig
V. Venezia. Moderato
VI. Am Arno. Wiegend, sehr weich
 
SHULAMIT RAN
BIRDS OF PARADISE
I. Sparkling, energetic
II. With mystery and awe, slow and flexible
III. Brilliant, articulate, propulsive



MSR Classics