New Lullaby Project
At the end of 2006 Aaron Larget-Caplan began commissioning composers to write a short lullaby of two to four minutes for solo guitar. The first one, by NYC composer and guitarist David Leisner was received a few months later and premiered that summer in Maine at the Ogunquit Museum of American Art and in NYC in the fall of 2007. Since then Aaron has received a dozen new works from composers throughout New England, Chicago, & New York.
The Future…
All chosen lullabies are to be premiered and have repeat performances in New England and beyond. A recording and CD will also be done and sold commercially. Due to a major house fire and an injury to Aaron's wife in 2007, much of my timeline got interrupted but Aaron is still seeking new works from composers and am planning a recording of the chosen works in the near future.
Why a Lullaby?
In early 2006 Aaron released his debut album, Tracing a wheel on water, on which he recorded a Cuban lullaby arranged by Leo Brouwer (track 5). Tracing a wheel on water also included a wide range of music from the last 100 years, but whether hearing it in a live concert or from the Tracing CD, people always spoke about how the lullaby "got’em". I had to ask myself why this simple piece of music could grab so much attention? The other works were also highly praised, but none got as much public reaction as the lullaby. Many people suggested an album of lullabies with a focus on famous ones arranged for guitar, but that has been done and the idea did not intrigue me at this point in my career. Being very passionate for contemporary music and working with composers, I decided to bring the two worlds together: mind & heart. The New Lullaby Project was then created.
New Lullaby Project
New ideas in an ancient form
New Lullaby composers so far...
| • Jason Coleman • Carson Cooman • Nomi Epstein • David Leisner (Manhattan School of Music) • John McDonald (Tufts) |
• Ruth Mendelson (Berklee) • Kevin Siegfried (Boston Conservatory) • Mark Small (Berklee) • Ryan Vigil (Colby) • David Vayo (Wesleyan Univ. Ill) • Scott Wheeler (Emerson) |
How to be a New Lullaby composer
Contact Aaron via email – aaron@aaronLc.com He will send you a list of technical guidelines. The guidelines refer to tunings, times, titles, etc. He wants you to write what you feel and make it work. Don’t be afraid.
How to be a New Lullaby supporter
Thanks to the New School of Music, the New Lullaby Project is accepting tax-deductible contributions. All donations go to commissioning new works, future recording, performance costs (rental, publicity, etc), travel, and artist compensation.
Pre-purchase of the New Lullaby Project CD is available at $20. All donations over $75 will receive a copy f the New Lullaby Project debut CD & a copy of Tracing a wheel on water. Please contact Aaron directly via email: aaron@aaronLc.com or phone: 617-947-1330.
Expenses
Commissioning: $$$ Each chosen composer receives at least a $100 stipend. As of March 2008 over $1000 has been used to commission works.
Recording: $4000+
Travel: $$ Artist travel to concerts & composers coming to premieres
Publicity: $$
Strings: $
Lots of expenses!