Blog | Edwin McLean

Ruckers 1628 Harpsichord App in Action

November 25, 2015 Leave a comment

Maybe you’ve heard about the Ruckers 1628 app for harpsichord for iPhone and iPad. I had it for a while because it’s an amazingly detailed sample of a great historic instrument. Problem was, I’m pretty ignorant about technology. My friend Randall Prentice helped me to figure out how to get it to play a MIDI file using Cubasis. Basically, export the MIDI file to Cubasis, then open the Ruckers app and do an inter-app handshake. The result is a great computer-generated performance.

Below is a performance of Sonata No. 2 for Two Harpsichords, the third movement. Mind you, the performance is right out of Finale, so there’s no rubato. Still, it’s an exciting way to present harpsichord music in lieu of real performers!

New watercolor — Bell Flowers

July 29, 2015 Leave a comment

Here’s a new watercolor for summer. Except for the shadow, the background was created with an ordinary kitchen sponge. (Kids don’t try this at home.) One of those moments when you risk ruining everything done so far. That’s the fun of art!

Bell Flowers (2015)

17 x 21, framed

Premiere of Sonata No. 2 for Two Harpsichords

June 30, 2015 One comment so far

Edwin McLean’s Sonata No. 2 for Two Harpsichords (2014), an Alienor commissioned work, received its premiere performance at McGill University (Montréal, Canada) on May 23, 2015. The performers were Elaine Funaro and Beverly Biggs. The occasion of the premiere was the Ninth Alienor competition final concert featuring juried works and another commissioned duo by Mark Janello.

(Elaine Funaro on left, Beverly Biggs on right)

Elaine and Beverly then went on to Stonington CT and performed the new duo at the La Grua Center on June 6, 2015. They were joined by Rebecca Pechefsky for a performance of McLean’s Sonata for Three Harpsichords on the same program.

On June 18, the trio moved on to the Boston Early Music Festival, where they performed the same two works again. Below are some lovely pictures of the event.

From left to right: Rebecca Pechefsky, Elaine Funaro, Beverly Biggs

Thank you for three marvelous performances!

Sonata for Two Harpsichords in Japan

May 11, 2015 Leave a comment

The Sonata for Two Harpsichords (3rd movement) received a performance in Tokyo, Japan on May 10, 2015. This performance was sponsored by the Japan Harpsichord Society. The performers, Tomoko Kakuma and Tomoko Teramura, say they are interested in doing my new Sonata No. 2 for Two Harpsichords in Japan in the near future. That will be exciting!

New Recording of the Sonatas Underway

January 1, 2015 Leave a comment

The last week of 2014 was an exciting one, filled with rehearsals and recording sessions of my sonatas for one, two, and three harpsichords. The recordings took place at Duke University Chapel, one of the largest Gothic-style cathedrals in the United States.

This album is being produced by the indefatigable harpsichordist Elaine Funaro; rounding out the rest of the team is Rebecca Pechefsky and Beverly Biggs — all superb musicians.

Also on hand for the session was the master of on-site recording, Christopher Greenleaf. Here’s what he had to say about recording in situations such as the left transept of the cathedral:

“Performing and recording in a generous, all-stone room appoaches the sonically and æsthetically ideal as closely as one comes in this life. Gentle, subtly shaded reverberance is an organic part of a top-quality recording.”

I’ll keep you informed as this project progresses.

–Ed

Sonata No. 2 for Two Harpsichords is here!

September 1, 2014 View all 4 comments

It has been over 20 years since I wrote the Sonata for Two Harpsichords. Since then it has been performed with great success both in the United States and in Europe. Frankly, I never thought I’d write another duo, but . . . here it is, commissioned by Aliénor for Elaine Funaro, who has been a tireless proponent of my harpsichord works over the years.

Here are some 30-second excerpts of the three movements. I think you’ll agree that it’s very much in the style and spirit of the earlier sonatas. The score and parts are available by going to the Buy Sheet Music store on the home page of this website.