Rita Veneziale
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Rolling Highway
for big band
Jasmine Ritter, CJ Stremick, Meredith Conklin, Shea Louster, Dominic Vesely, saxophones
Brian Pendar, Justin Moraza, Carter Gagnon, Dalton Rapp, trumpets
Justin Karnisky, Madeline Guernsey, Aaron Stoner, Selena Ortiz, trombones
Cynthia MacDonald, piano
Kyan, vibraphone
Matthew Glende, bass
Stevie Skvarek, drums
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Our final piece for you is one of my favorites. I started it initially to work in a film, but it ended up not fitting the scene. But I didn't abandon it because I loved how it had I wrote this piece specifically to end the recital, so I knew it had to be a loud and fun crowd-pleaser. I wanted to take a simple idea and make it engaging with different accents and accompaniment.
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Audio: Kyan Cheung Video: Paul H. Gaston
Without You
for big band
Katie Vito, voice
Jasmine Ritter, CJ Stremick, Meredith Conklin, Shea Louster, Dominic Vesely, saxophones
Brian Pendar, Justin Moraza, Carter Gagnon, Dalton Rapp, trumpets
Justin Karnisky, Madeline Guernsey, Aaron Stoner, Selena Ortiz, trombones
Cynthia MacDonald, piano
Kyan, vibraphone
Matthew Glende, bass
Stevie Skvarek, drums
------------------------------------------- Without You was written in my contemporary commercial music class. I working on it while simultaneously writing February (you can say I'm a pretty good multitasker). I was in the zone for writing jazz. And the instrumental came along easily. But I had no experience writing original lyrics. Thankfully I had the support of the other songwriters in that room; Nate DeRado, Logan Beerman, Dylan Johnson, Andy Latona, and Prof. Dave Drago. -------------------------------------------
Audio: Kyan Cheung Video: Paul H. Gaston
February
for big band
Jasmine Ritter, CJ Stremick, Meredith Conklin, Shea Louster, Dominic Vesely, saxophones
Brian Pendar, Justin Moraza, Carter Gagnon, Dalton Rapp, trumpets
Justin Karnisky, Madeline Guernsey, Aaron Stoner, Selena Ortiz, trombones
Cynthia MacDonald, piano
Kyan, vibraphone
Matthew Glende, bass
Stevie Skvarek, drums
------------------------------------------- February is the first piece I wrote for Big Bang, and also my first jazz composition. It was premiered last Spring in a composition recital. Some of the performers from that concert joined me tonight to play it again. The piece is entitled February because...well, that's the month I started writing it. And I have the iPhone footage to prove it!
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Audio: Kyan Cheung Video: Paul H. Gaston
Floating Through Space
for alto saxophone and piano
Originally, Floating Through Space started as a solo piano piece. Well, more of an exercise. I was trying to push my boundaries with harmony. With further development (and by that, I mean a melody), I had this John Williams-inspired, cinematic saxophone solo.
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Audio: Kyan Cheung Video: Paul H. Gaston
February
for Big Band
*Nat Rivet (A1), *Jasmine Ritter (A2), *Adam Ball (T1),
Emma Baldwin (T2), *Dominic Vesely (B), saxophones
*Dalton Rapp, *Brian Pendar, Maddox Long, *Justin Moraza, trumpets
Ethan Blonco, Selena Ortiz, Aaron Stoner, *Justin Karninski, trombones
*Cynthia Macdonald, piano
Rheanna Barney, bass
*Kyan Cheung, vibraphone
*Stevie Skvarek, drum set
* = Soloist
Live at Beston Hall, Nazareth University. April 22, 2023
Recording and Mixing: Spencer King
But What of That?
For Voice and Piano
But What of That? Poem by Emily Dickinson Music by Rita Veneziale
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Nazarene Campodonico, Voice
Rita Veneiale, Piano
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Performed at the Student Workshop in the Women Composers Festival at Nazareth College March 4, 2022
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But What of That? - Emily Dickison
Auld Lang Syne
Arrangement for Symphony Orchestra and Choir
Happy New Year 2022!
During my first week on break, I decided to arrange Auld Lang Syne for Symphony Orchestra and Choir. Auld Lang Syne is about reminiscing on fond memories of old times. So, I hope you enjoy listening to my arrangement while looking back on your 2021 as we bring in the new year.
The choir in this piece is entirely synthetic. I used EastWest Symphonic Choirs Gold and World Builder to make the choir sing the lyrics, which makes them sound more realistic.