Frances White

Welcome to www.RoseWhiteMusic.com, the home page for Frances White. I am a composer working mainly in the area of music for instruments and computer-generated sound. In recent years, I have been especially interested in composing for Asian instruments, particularly the shakuhachi, or Japanese bamboo flute.

This site contains:

• Information about my compositions, recordings, and how to order scores
• Downloadable excerpts of some of my music
• Profiles and interviews with me
• Things I have written about music, especially about computer music and women in that field
• Information on how to contact me

Three new commissions

I'm currently working on three new compositions:

• A new work for the wonderful viol consort Parthenia. This is being supported by a Fromm Music Foundation commission and will be completed later this year for a premiere in the 2010-11 season.
• A new piece for trombone and electronic sound for virtuoso trombonist Monique Buzzarté. This work is being supported by a grant from the MAP Fund.
• I am starting a new dramatic work for pianist-singer Thomas Otten. This work has received funding from the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill. The first part of the piece will be premiered at the CHAT Festival at UNC in February 2010.

Parthenia Feature in Early Music America

Speaking of Parthenia, the Summer 2009 issue of Early Music America, magazine includes a feature on Parthenia's work with new music, including their 2008 performance of my Like the lily and the new Fromm commission. "Parthenia Ventures Into New Music for Viols" was written by fellow composer David Glaser.

CD Centre Bridge

Centre Bridge, a CD of some of my electroacoustic works, is now available. Described by reviewer Robert Carl as "a release that brings deep pleasures," it includes performances of Centre Bridge, Centre Bridge (dark river), Like the lily, A veil barely seen, and Walk through Resonant Landscape No. 2. The CD includes notes about the music by James Pritchett. Centre Bridge is available at Amazon.com, and at other fine music stores.

Resonant Landscape in Gus Van Sant's Milk

My composition Walk through Resonant Landscape No. 2, appears in the soundtrack to Gus Van Sant's new film Milk. Gus apparently likes that piece a good deal, since it has appeared before in his award-winning films Paranoid Park and Elephant.

Sequenza 21 & Tokafi blogs

My October 30th Interpretations concert with Elizabeth Brown was the subject of a blog entry at Sequenza21.

Also, the folks at tokafi asked me 15 questions, and I provided 15 answers for their blog.

Old rose reader on CD

The old rose reader appears on Mari Kimura's new CD release Polytopia from Bridge Records. The CD also includes works by Mari, Jean-Claude Risset, Conlon Nancarrow, Milica Paranosic, Robert Rowe, and Tania Leon.

Interview with Tim Munro of eighth blackbird

When I was in Richmond for the premiere of The ocean inside at the Third Practice Festival, Tim Munro of eighth blackbird interviewed me. Listen to it, and excerpts of The ocean inside, on the eighth blackbird blog.

In progress, etc.

As mentioned above, I have just starting a new dramatic work for pianist-singer Thomas Otten. Also in the queue are the new pieces for viol consort Parthenia. and trombonist Monique Buzzarté.

For those who do not know anything about me, here is my standard bio:

Ms. White studies the shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute), and finds that the traditional music of this instrument informs and influences her work as a composer. Much of Ms. White's music is inspired by her love of nature, and her electronic works frequently include natural sound recorded around where she lives, in central New Jersey.