Elena Ruehr Explained

Elena Ruehr (born 1963, Ann Arbor) is an American musician, music educator and composer.

Life and career

Elena Ruehr's parents were a mathematician and an English professor.^[1] She grew up in Houghton, Michigan and began piano lessons at age four. She studied composition at the University of Michigan with William Bolcom and at The Juilliard School with Vincent Persichetti and Bernard Rands.^[2] She also studied dance and has performed with Javanese and West African ensembles. In 1991 Ruehr took a teaching position at MIT.^[3] Her compositions have been performed internationally and some have been recorded and available on media. Many of Ruehr's compositions involve setting poetry to music.^{[2] [4]}

Ruehr is married to Seward Rutkove and they have one daughter, Sophie.

Selected works

Ruehr has composed works for orchestra, chamber ensemble, solo instruments and vocals.

• Ladder to the Moon (2003) for orchestra
• Toussaint Before the Spirits (2003), opera
• Cloud Atlas (2011), cello concerto^[5]
• Song of the Silkie (2000) for baritone, string quartet, text by Laura Harrington
• Sky Above Clouds (1993) for orchestra
• Bel Canto for string quartet^[6]
• Averno for choir^[7]
• It's About Time (2015) for chamber ensemble, commissioned by the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players

Recordings

• "SHIMMER" on Metamorphosen. Metamorphosen string orchestra, Scott Yoo conducting ^[8]
• "TOUSSAINT BEFORE THE SPIRTS" Stephen Salters, Baritone and Opera Unlimited, Gil Rose, conducting ^[9]
• “HOW SHE DANCED”: String Quartets of Elena Ruehr Performed by the Cypress String Quartet. Cypress Performing Arts Association.^{[10] [11]}
• "JANE WANG CONSIDERS THE DRAGONFLY." Alexi Gonzales, Benjamin Seltzer, Sarah Brady, Heng-Jin Park, and Sarah Bob,^[12] named for insect flight expert Z. Jane Wang
• "AVERNO" Marguerite Krull, Stephen Salters, The Trinity Choir, Novus NY, and Julian Wachner, conducting ^[13]
• "O'KEEFFE IMAGES" Jennifer Kloetzel, Cello, and the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Gil Rose, conducting.^[14]
• "LIFT" Irina Muresanu, violin Ethan Filner, viola Jennifer Kloetzel, cello Sarah Bob, piano ^[15]
• "SIX STRING QUARTETS" Cypress and Borremeo String Quartets with baritone Stephen Salters ^[16]
• "FRESH PAINT” Radius Ensemble performance of Quetzal Garden ^[17]

External links

• Official composer page
• Composer biography and recording of It's About Time San Francisco Contemporary Music Players

Notes and References

1. Web site: Elena Ruehr . Kathryn King Media . 27 February 2014.
2. Web site: PN Review Online Poetry Literary Magazine – Words and Music: A Conversation with Elena Ruehr – Reena Sastri – PN Review 211. 15 January 2016.
3. Web site: Elena Ruehr . Last FM . 27 February 2014.
4. Web site: New York Times review of Elena Ruehr's music. 15 January 2016.
5. Web site: Review: Cellist Jennifer Kloetzel shines in premiere by Elena Ruehr at San Jose Chamber Orchestra. 10 January 2012. 15 January 2016.
6. Web site: Review: Cypress Quartet unveils new 'Bel Canto' by Elena Ruehr. 1 March 2010. InsideBayArea.com. 15 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091745/http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_14492941. 4 March 2016. dead.
7. News: Music review: Washington Chorus features Elena Ruehr in its 'New Music' series. Anne Midgette. 4 April 2011. Washington Post. 15 January 2016.
8. Web site: Albany Records: American Works for Chamber Orchestra. 15 January 2016.
9. Web site: ARSIS Audio: CD158. 15 January 2016. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093049/http://www.arsisaudio.com/cd158N.html. dead.
10. Muse, Phil. “HOW SHE DANCED String Quartets of Elena Ruehr“. CD Review. Sequenzia 21, 1 February 2010.
11. Web site: How She Danced – String Quartets of ELENA RUEHR – Cypress String Quartet – Cypress String Quartet Performing Arts Association . Audiophile Audition . 15 January 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140302162243/http://audaud.com/2010/03/how-she-danced-string-quartets-of-elena-ruehr-cypress-string-quartet-cypress-string-quartet-performing-arts-association/ . 2 March 2014 .
12. Web site: Albany Records: Jane Wang Considers the Dragonfly. 15 January 2016.
13. Web site: Averno. Avie Records. 25 April 2013 . 15 January 2016.
14. Web site: Elena Ruehr: O'Keeffe Images. 15 January 2016.
15. Web site: Lift: Chamber Music by Elena Ruehr. Avie Records. 9 November 2014 . 15 January 2016.
16. Web site: Six String Quartets by Elena Ruehr. Avie Records. 8 December 2017 . 14 January 2019.
17. Web site: Fresh Paint, Radius Ensemble. 14 January 2019.