LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University music professor Larry Barnes has received an ASCAP award from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers for his professional activities. The award was established to recognize composers who have made significant contributions to American music.
Barnes, who holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music and a doctor of musical arts degree in composition from the Eastman School, has been involved in numerous musical projects this year. His “Toccata: Act of War,” won an international competition, was released on two record labels and has received favorable reviews from music critics.
Kathy Parsons of Amazon.com wrote, “Barnes’s ‘Toccata: Act of War’ was completed after the events of 9/11/01. Overflowing with passion and anger, it is interspersed with brief moments of lyricism—an exceptionally powerful work.”
Mike Brownell of All Music Guide said that the rhythmic drive and intensity of fellow Transylvania professor Greg Partain’s performance of “Toccata” on MSR Records left “listeners wishing the piece were longer than its mere six minutes, or that Partain included more works by his colleague.”
In addition to “Toccata,” Barnes composed a musical score for the award-winning film Euphoria and is now working on additional music and sound for the film, which is scheduled to be re-released in 2008. Barnes’s pieces for guitar trio, “Incantation” and “Dervish,” premiered at Transylvania last year, and the Lexington Guitar Trio will encore these compositions in a Transylvania faculty recital at Carrick Theater Wednesday, November 7, at 7:30 p.m. The recital is free and open to the public.
Barnes is a recipient of Transylvania’s Bingham Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Howard Hanson Prize, two Kentucky Arts Council Performing Artist awards and numerous ASCAP awards. He is also a past winner of the Cleveland Orchestra composition contest. Barnes is a member of the Music Teachers’ National Association, the Kentucky Music Teachers’ Association, the Society of Composers, Inc. and the Southern Composers’ League. His music has been released on MMC and Nine Winds recordings and published by Southern Music Corporation.
For more information, contact the public relations office at (859) 233-8120 or Larry Barnes at (859) 233-8179.