Pete Rose
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Modern Recorder Music

  
Pete Rose (b. 1942) is recognized as America's leading composer and performer of modern recorder music. His compositions have received worldwide acclaim. "Tall P," commissioned by the Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet, has been performed thousands of times throughout Europe, North America and the Far East. Another commissioned work, "The Kid From Venezuela," written for Concert Artists Guild Competition winner Aldo Abreu, has also been very widely performed. Pete Rose's works have been featured in many European recorder competitions and have been published by Universal Edition, Moeck, Carus-Verlag, Ricordi, and Heinrichshofen.

As a performer, Mr. Rose has given recitals at numerous concert series in the USA and Europe and his performances usually include a variety of written and improvised music. He has been most acclaimed for his interpretations of works that involve microtonality, circular breathing and jazz elements. His eclectic repertoire has made him welcome in such diverse venues as Merkin Hall and The Kitchen in New York City, the Spinoy Cultural Center in Mechelen, Belgium and the Porgy And Bess Nightclub in Vienna.

In addition to composing and performing, Mr. Rose has served as columnist, critic, and contributing editor for the American Recorder magazine and has also written articles for the German woodwind magazine TIBIA. He has been a regular faculty member of the Amherst Early Music Festival, teaching in both the virtuoso program and the general program, and has given many master classes in the USA and Europe.

Pete Rose is the 2005 recipient of the American Recorder Society's "Distinguished Achievement Award."
REVIEWS

Pete Rose's performances, workshops and compositions have been reviewed in many publications throughout the world. Below are a few examples from English language sources:

Performance Reviews:

"Remarkable control of the tricky recorder with a winning vocabulary of sounds, attacks and effects." - New York Times

"As demonstrated by Pete Rose in an engrossing and stimulating solo recital, the recorder is very much a vital living part of the contemporary music world. Rose displayed an incredibly fine-tuned technique, an affinity for the artistic statement, and a rare ability to successfully communicate this type of music." - The Citizen (Northern New Jersey)

"Pete Rose has both taste and technique. As would be true of any successful improvisor, his best instrument is himself." - Village Voice (New York City)

"The highlight of the evening was a pair of recorder pieces played by Pete Rose." - Ear Magazine (New York City)

"The singular nature of Rose's talent became immediately apparent. His opening improvisation only hinted at his arsenal of outrageous sounds and amazing innovations. By means of circular breathing, Rose was able to sustain uninterrupted sounds with apparently superhuman endurance." - Union News (Springfield, Massachussetts)

"Like the birds, Pete seems free of limitations, able to do things with the recorder that seem, if not impossible, at least highly improbable." - Early Music Newsletter (New York City)

Workshop Reviews:

"Pete Rose's firm but patient approach can work wonders with any group of players interested in exploring modern recorder music." - The Continuo (Cleveland, Ohio)

"Pete's inspirational demonstration was one of the high points of our workshop. Using a wide variety of techniques, he emphasized their use in music, rather than in producing 'amazing noises'." - Westchester Recorder Guild Newsletter (Westchester, New York)

Composition Reviews:

TALL P
"The final piece was the American premiere of "Tall P" by Pete Rose. This delightful concoction draws its inspiration from bebop, hardly the musical neighborhood in which the recorder is usually found. Yet Rose has prompted aristocratic ancient instruments to take flight with 20th century abandonment." - Pittsburgh Press

BASS BURNER
"full of variety, invention and fun." - Recorder Magazine (U.K.)

NEW BRAUN BAG
"Impeccably thought out, fun to play and wonderful to listen to." - American Recorder

MEDIEVAL NIGHTS
"A wonderful piece which enhances the repertoire for solo tenor." - Recorder Manazine (U.K.)

WAYFARING STRANGER
"one of Pete Rose's strongest works." - American Recorder

PENDULUM
"A work of both depth and humor." - Recorder Magazine (U.K.)

WAITING FOR A BUS
"Advanced recorder groups should embark on the adventure of this important and special work. They will no doubt enjoy experiencing the beautiful, masterfully crafted language of music that Pete Rose writes better than anyone else." - American Recorder