Composer, Pianist Sharon Ruchman of Washington, Connecticut Releases Second CD

Dec. 3, 2010 - PRLog -- Classical contemporary composer and pianist Sharon Ruchman of Washington, Connecticut, (www.sharonruchman.com) has released her second CD, “Arrival of Spring”. In October 2009, Ruchman released her first CD, “Sharon Ruchman Chamber Music” featuring “Sea Glass”. Ruchman describes this new CD as, “Different from my first in that it is a mix of different ensembles. One is a string quartet, another is a trio, and there are duets for violin and piano and cello and piano.”

During 2009, Sharon Ruchman's compositions were selected by the National Composers Association to be performed in Portola, California as part of the “Music Under the Redwoods” concert.  Two of her compositions were also performed that year during the 10th Annual Hartford Women Composers Festival in Hartford, Connecticut. For the past year, her compositions have also been played on Connecticut's two classical music stations, WSHU and WMNR.

The new “Arrival of Spring” CD features seven pieces anywhere from 1 to 3 movements on 16 tracks. “This CD begins with a very strong piece, ‘String Quartet in F Sharp Minor’ and ends with a very strong piece as well, “Exultation”.  Ruchman describes “Exultation” as “very powerful." She stated, “There is a lot of energy in this 1st movement. The second movement is quiet while the third is quite lively, a really perfect ending to the entire CD.”  

Ruchman explained that she has written a second CD one year after the release of her first CD because she was, “Inspired and the ideas kept flowing. Throughout this past year I felt so full of music. I wanted to continue with composing so I could share my music with the public in this region as well as across the United States and internationally.” She further stated that this new CD presents a vivid imagery of spring.

“Memoria Dolci” (for Rudy), Track 6-8, is a piece that Ruchman created in memory of her uncle, Rudolph Fuchs. “Rudy was my non-musician grandfather’s youngest brother. He was a virtuoso violinist who won Best Amateur Violinist in the United States in the 1920’s, and played for President Coolidge and the Paul Whiteman Orchestra. While I never met him, my family always talked about him and introduced me to his friends who played with him in New York City. This piece translates to ‘Sweet Memory’ of my uncle and the style of music he enjoyed playing. He influenced my music and it is a treasured part of my new CD.”

“Solemnity” on Track 9 of “Arrival of Spring”, is a “piece with imagery. It’s a reflective and calming piece with, a lot of feeling,” stated Ruchman, “and cellist, Mary Costanza plays it beautifully.” Track 10-12, “Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano in F Minor” is in three movements. The first and third, “are very powerful and dramatic, the second is very quiet, a sweet melody.” Track 13, “Twilight” evokes a good deal of imagery. “The music is being played on the upper octaves of the piano,” explained Ruchman. “This makes the music sound like the twinkling of stars.”

Ruchman earned her Master of Music (MM) degree from the Yale School of Music, and her Bachelor of Music (BM) degree at the New England Conservatory of Music. She was an accompanist with the New England Conservatory chorus, and upon graduation she returned to Yale School of Music to study composition with Yale graduate, teacher and accomplished composer, Orianna Webb. From there, she went on to teach music in the West Haven, Connecticut elementary school while she pursued her singing career and performed throughout Connecticut.

During 2007 and 2008, Sharon Ruchman wrote several compositions and began working with several northwestern Connecticut area musicians. Her love of composition has led Ruchman to become a member of several professional composers associations including the American Music Center, the American Composers Forum, and IAWN, International Alliance for Women in Music.

All the pieces on Sharon Ruchman’s new “Arrival of Spring” CD were performed, recorded and produced in the historic Hebert Hebbard House in Washington, Connecticut in cooperation with Alec Head of Westport, Connecticut, and in The Dome in Southbury, Connecticut with Gary Bertz.

Brief intervals for each of the 7 compositions on 16 tracks on “Arrival of Spring” can be heard on Sharon Ruchman’s website, www.sharonruchman.com. Orders for the CD can also be placed on the site.