Edward Smaldone

Composer

Acclaim

“...harmonious and yet diverse, backed up by very impressive technique.”

— Fanfare

“Edward Smaldone’s work ... is reminiscent of both Sibelius and Douglas Lilburn, with its brilliant brass, high wind writing and cells of notes that gradually build into a longer phrase.”

— Music and Vision

Composer Edward Smaldone blends influences from the worlds of twelve-tone music, jazz, and extra-musical realms like architecture and poetry to create attractive, sophisticated compositions with vibrant orchestrations and instrumental virtuosity. A new album of world premiere recordings, What no one else sees... was released December 6, 2024 on New Focus Recordings (fcr425). It features the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Brno Philharmonic and other leading European performers.

The recording includes a piano concerto and a clarinet concerto performed by Swedish pianist Niklas Sivelöv and Danish clarinetist Søren-Filip Brix Hansen, respectively, both outstanding international artists. Rounding out the album are two programmatic works for orchestra, and the title track, "What no one else sees," for woodwind quintet. The five works are performed by a compendium of some of Europe's finest ensembles recognized for their outstanding musicianship: the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Brno Philharmonic, Denmark's Royal Life Guards Music Band, and the Opus Zoo Woodwind Quintet.

Smaldone draws inspiration from a broad spectrum, including jazz musicians Miles Davis, Joe Pass and Maria Schneider, twentieth century modernist composers George Perle and Ralph Shapey, and architects Frank Gehry and Zaha Hadid. His work reflects these diverse influences without being restricted by their associations.