Jonathan Bell Music

Orchestration For Christy Turlington Documentary

Jonathan — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:03:58 +0000

I’m psyched to be jumping on board another project with composer Paul Brill that will involve scoring string arrangements for Christy Turlington’s documentary about a global look into Maternal Mortality. Christy is a passionate advocate for global maternal health and this documentary will take viewers to Guatemala, Bangladesh and Tanzania as the film hopes to raise consciousness on this issue. The recording session is scheduled in late March at Avatar Studio.

New Music For Woodwind Trio

Jonathan — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:00:01 +0000

Katie Scheele, leader of the musically adventurous, Brooklyn-based woodwind ensemble, Threeds, has recently asked me to write music for her group. Katie is a marvelous Oboist who glides effortlessly and expertly among the many eclectic projects in which she is involved. A date for the event has not yet been settled. But one thing that is for sure is that there will no doubt be some special musical guests pulled from her circle of groovy performer-friends. Go Brooklyn!

Reviews of In The Next Room

Jonathan — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 03:50:53 +0000

“evocative original score”- Robert Cashill, Live Design Magazine

“delicate incidental music”- David Barbour, Lighting and Sound America

“celestial music”- Richard Seff, DC Theater Scene

“first-rate”- Victoria Sullivan, Culture Catch

“atmospheric…Chopinesque”- Oscar E Moore

“melancholy”- James Camner, Broadway Bridge and Tunnel Test

In The Next Room or The Vibrator Play

Jonathan — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 03:28:30 +0000

Writing the original music for the Broadway production of Sara Ruhl’s play, In The Next Room or The Vibrator Play (which ended its three month run in January), was an incredibly satisfying and intense experience. More than anything else it was a tremendous pleasure to be able to be a part of a creative team with the likes of Director Les Waters, Actors Michael Cerveris and Chandler Williams, Actresses Laura Benanti and Maria Dizzia, Costume Designer David Zinn, Set Designer Annie Smart, Light Designer Russell Champa, Sound Designer Bray Poor. What a talented and dedicated group of artists! I will not be surprised if the play gets a few Tony Award nods. Stay tuned.

New Music For Cello Duo, 2VC

Jonathan — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:08:22 +0000

Jessie Reagen Mann, cellist extraordinaire who will be awarded the Outstanding Musical Achievement Award from the Max Reger Foundation in May, has asked me to write a piece for her cello duo called 2VC. This is a wonderful honor first and foremost because Jessie is such a wonderful musician, person and champion of new music. Plus, cello is such a yummy instrument…and now I get to write for two!!

Sacred Choral Work

Jonathan — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:22:20 +0000

This year will find me hunkering down to finish composing a sacred choral work to be performed at Christ Church Cathedral in Springfield, Massachusetts (date yet to be determined). CCC of Springfield, MA is well known for its first-rate music program, lead for many years by the immensely gifted music director, organist, and composer in his own right, Peter Beardsley.