The Fanfare Project
New music for a new world.
With the CSO's 1943 premiere of Fanfare for the Common Man as an inspiration, we've invited a new generation of composers to share musical reflections of our time. Welcome to The Fanfare Project.
What is The Fanfare Project? Building on a 125-year legacy of commissioning and premiering new works, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops are commissioning new music from a diverse range of more than a dozen composers. The aim: To inspire and uplift, and to help us make sense of this moment in our shared history through the universal language of music.
Each short work will feature a solo musician recorded at home and will be released digitally—one by one—over the coming weeks.
The back story: During an earlier era of global disruption, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra launched its first Fanfare Project, commissioning and premiering 18 fanfares in support of the Allied troops in World War II. Aaron Copland's iconic Fanfare for the Common Man, premiered by the CSO in 1943, has endured as a tribute to all humankind in the face of challenges and an uncertain future.
Fanfare Commissions
A Fanfare for Stories Lost
Enjoy A Fanfare for Stories Lost, composed by Carlos Rafael Rivera and performed by CSO Associate Principal Trumpet Douglas Lindsay. View the score. WATCH Carlos Rafael Rivera introduce his work.
The Fanfare Project commission by Carlos Rafael Rivera has been made possible by Colin Ullman.
Same Yet Different
Enjoy Same Yet Different, composed and performed by Daníel Bjarnason. View a note from the composer.
Fanfare for Moments of Courage
Enjoy Fanfare for Moments of Courage, composed by Courtney Bryan and performed by CSO clarinetist Ixi Chen. View the score. WATCH Courtney Bryan introduce her work.
The Fanfare Project commission by Courtney Bryan has been made possible by Clever Crazes for Kids and Dianne Dunkelman.
Evens
Enjoy Evens, composed by Marcos Balter and performed by Associate Principal Percussion Michael Culligan. View the score.
The Fanfare Project commission by Marcos Balter has been made possible by Dava Lynn Biehl.
Viola Fanfare
Enjoy Viola Fanfare, composed by Rhiannon Giddens and performed by CSO/CCM Diversity Fellow Edna Pierce. View the score.
The Fanfare Project commission by Rhiannon Giddens has been made possible by Jonathan Ullman.
let us breathe
Enjoy let us breathe, composed by Jeffrey Mumford and performed by CSO Associate Principal Cello Daniel Culnan. WATCH: Jeffrey Mumford introduces his work. View the score.
The Fanfare Project commission by Jeffrey Mumford has been made possible by Ann & Harry Santen.
No Solo
Enjoy No Solo, composed by Samuel Adams and performed by CSO Principal Bass Owen Lee. WATCH: Samuel Adams introduces his work. View the score.
The Fanfare Project commission by Samuel Carl Adams has been made possible by Mr. and Mrs. Paul Isaacs.
Front Lines
Enjoy Front Lines, composed by Laura Karpman and performed by Principal Tuba Christopher Olka. WATCH: Laura Karpman introduces her work. View the score.
The Fanfare Project commission by Laura Karpman has been made possible by Mr. and Mrs. Earl Samuel Strater and Sally Newhouse Strater.
Trouble
Enjoy Trouble, composed by Jonathan Bailey Holland and performed by Principal Trombone Cristian Ganicenco. WATCH: Jonathan Bailey Holland introduces his work. View the score.
The Fanfare Project commission piece by Jonathan Bailey Holland has been made possible by Bill and Denise Helmsderfer.
The Rest is Our World
Enjoy The Rest is Our World, composed by Du Yun and performed by Principal Harp Gillian Benet Sella. WATCH: Du Yun introduces her work. View the score.
The Fanfare Project commission by Du Yun has been made possible by Thanh Pham.
A Day at a Time
Enjoy A Day at a Time, composed by Caroline Shaw and performed by CSO Acting Associate Concertmaster Charles Morey. WATCH: Caroline Shaw introduces her work. View the score.
The Fanfare Project commission by Caroline Shaw has been made possible by Irwin and Melinda Simon.
Pour Les Soignants, Mvt. I
Enjoy Pour les Soignants, Mvt. I, composed by Bryce Dessner and performed by CSO Principal Cello Ilya Finkelshteyn. WATCH: Bryce Dessner introduces his work.
The Fanfare Project commission by Bryce Dessner has been made possible by Louis D. Bilionis and Ann Hubbard.
Pour Les Soignants, Mvt. II
Enjoy Pour les Soignants, Mvt. II, composed by Bryce Dessner and performed by CSO Principal Cello Ilya Finkelshteyn. WATCH: Bryce Dessner introduces his work.
The Fanfare Project commission by Bryce Dessner has been made possible by Louis D. Bilionis and Ann Hubbard.
Pour Les Soignants, Mvt. III
Enjoy Pour les Soignants, Mvt. III, composed by Bryce Dessner and performed by CSO Principal Cello Ilya Finkelshteyn. WATCH: Bryce Dessner introduces his work.
The Fanfare Project commission by Bryce Dessner has been made possible by Louis D. Bilionis and Ann Hubbard.
Fanfare For The Unimpressed
Enjoy Fanfare For The Unimpressed, composed by Missy Mazzoli and performed by CSO Concertmaster Stefani Matsuo. WATCH: Missy Mazzoli introduces her work. View the score.
The Fanfare Project commission by Missy Mazzoli has been made possible by Kari Ullman.
Fanfare For The Ups And Downs
Enjoy Fanfare For The Ups And Downs, composed by Georgia Stitt and performed by CSO Principal Clarinet Christopher Pell. WATCH: Georgia Stitt introduces her work. View the score.
The Fanfare Project commission by Georgia Stitt has been made possible by Kathy Grote.
The Luminous Road
Enjoy The Luminous Road, composed by Ted Hearne and performed by Nathalie Joachim. WATCH: Ted Hearne introduces his work. View the score.
The Fanfare Project commission by Ted Hearne has been made possible by Betsy and Paul Sittenfeld celebrating the life of Dr. James M. Marrs.
For Peter Evans (Apologies for the Brevity)
Enjoy For Peter Evans (Apologies for the Brevity), composed by Tyshawn Sorey and performed by CSO Principal Trumpet Robert Sullivan. WATCH: Tyshawn Sorey introduces his work. View the score.
The Fanfare Project commission by Tyshawn Sorey has been made possible by Paul Sittenfeld in honor of Betsy on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary.
KIIVETÄ KOTIIN (fanfare for the trees)
Enjoy KIIVETÄ KOTIIN (fanfare for the trees), composed by Gabriel Kahane and performed by Finnish soloist Pekka Kuusisto. WATCH: Gabriel Kahane discusses his work. View the score.
Salute in Solo
Enjoy Salute In Solo, composed by Michael Abels and performed by CSO Principal Viola Christian Colberg. WATCH: Michael Abels introduces his work. View the score.
The Fanfare Project commission by Michael Abels has been made possible by Linda and James Miller.
Fanfare for Tomorrow
Composed by Peter Boyer, Fanfare for Tomorrow was inspired by "Thinking ahead to, hopefully, brighter tomorrows for all of us." WATCH: Peter Boyer discusses his work. View the score.
The Fanfare Project commission by Peter Boyer has been made possible by the Healey Liddle Family Foundation.
vitres (fragment...)
Composed by CSO Creative Partner Matthias Pintscher, vitres (fragment…) was inspired by the tremendous power of the stained glass windows in the cathedral of Chartres. WATCH: Matthias Pintscher discusses his work. View the score.
The Fanfare Project commission by Matthias Pintscher has been made possible by Dr. Lesley Gilbertson and Dr. William Hurford.
Composers
More than a dozen composers representing a diverse range of personal and musical backgrounds have stepped up to collaborate with us for The Fanfare Project. More artists will be announced soon.
