David crowell bio

Brooklyn-based composer and instrumentalist David Crowell brings a “singular vision that transcends genre” (Exclaim) to diverse forms of composed and improvisational music, and has been praised for compositional work that is “notable for its crystalline sonic beauty” (Boston Globe).

David’s chamber works have been performed at the Lucerne Festival, Mizzou New Music Festival, Library of Congress, the MATA Festival, the Bang on a Can Summer Marathon, Crossing Brooklyn Ferry Festival, Arts at the Park Festival, Tribeca New Music Festival, Festival Internacional Chihuahua, ClefWorks Music Festival, and the Everson Museum of Art, by groups such as the JACK Quartet, Alarm Will Sound, the NOW Ensemble, Syracuse Symphony Quartet, Duquesne Contemporary Ensemble, Face the Music and the University of Kentucky Percussion Society. In New York City, his work has been featured at Carnegie Hall, Museum of Modern Art, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Merkin Hall, Le Poisson Rouge, the Stone and Joe’s Pub. In 2013, the Da Camera Society of Los Angeles commissioned a new work from David for string quartet and guitar, performed by the JACK Quartet and Mak Grgic. As a composer, David has received recognition and support from the National Endowment for the Arts, ASCAP, Innova Recordings, the New York State Music Fund, Bang-on-a Can, MATA, Society for New Music, and ClefWorks.

In October 2011, a new extended work for multiple saxophones and electronics, Eucalyptus, was premiered at New York City’s Museum of Modern Art in conjunction with Carlito Carvalhosa’s exhibition, Sum of Days. A new recording featuring Eucalyptus was released by Innova Recordings in April 2012.

In February 2013, David’s new band Empyrean Atlas released their first recording.

TimeOutNY says “writing for this new outfit combines Minimalist drive and Afropop shimmer – a bright infectious mix” while influential blog I Care if You Listen writes “each part in its own right had a captivating sense of horizontal melody, and put together wove a more complex tapestry.” Empyrean Atlas just recorded their second album, slated for release in March 2014.

David’s music has received radio play on national and international stations, including New York City’s classical station WQXR and public radio station WNYC, with features on WNYC’s New Sounds with John Schaefer.

As a woodwinds performer, David tours internationally as a member of the Philip Glass Ensemble and has also performed with the N.Y. Philharmonic, the L.A. Philharmonic, Signal Ensemble, Asphalt Orchestra, L’Arsenale, at the Bang on a Can Marathon and the Bang on a Can Summer Music Festival. David has recorded with the Philip Glass Ensemble (Orange Mountain Music), Signal Ensemble (Orange Mountain Music), Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean (Epic), William Brittelle (Television Landscape, New Amsterdam Records), and Ken Thomson and Anti-Social Music. He contributed to a collaborative CD/multi-media project with performance artist, Paul Amlehn, working with members of Kraftwerk, Sun0)))), Peter Gabriel, Laurie Anderson, King Crimson & Antony and the Johnsons.