News

Released Today: “Oh, the OF It All!” Mini Ballet (With Orchestra Video)

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(Album art by: John J King / Video screenshot by: The Budapest Scoring Orchestra)

Exciting news! “Oh, the OF It All!“, a nine-minute orchestral mini-ballet composed by Mary Bichner, is released today! Based on the wonderful libretto by playwright John J King, “Oh, the OF It All!” tells the tale of American illustrator/author Edward Gorey and his fondness for choreographer George Balanchine’s days at the New York City Ballet.

“Oh, the OF It All!” was performed and recorded BEAUTIFULLY by the amazing Budapest Scoring Orchestra at Rottenbiller Studio in Budapest, Hungary in October 2022; with mixing and mastering by the fantastic Peter Moore at Palace of Purpose Studios in Malden, MA, USA.

Here is a video featuring live footage of the session filmed and edited by the Budapest Scoring Orchestra’s video team, paired with the ballet’s libretto text so that you can follow along with story:

The audio track can also be purchased via Mary’s Bandcamp…:

…or streamed via popular streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and more:

“Oh, the OF IT All!” is arranged for a traditional mid-sized ballet orchestra consisting of: 2 flutes (flute + flute/piccolo), 2 oboes (oboe + oboe/English horn), 2 clarinets (clarinet + bass clarinet), 2 bassoons (bassoon + bassoon/contrabassoon), 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones (2 tenor + 1 bass), tuba, timpani, percussion (snare drum, triangle, gong), piano, celesta, harp, and string orchestra.

For booking and inquiries, please contact either composer Mary Bichner ( info [at] marybichner [dot] com ) or librettist John J King ( johnjking80 [at] gmail [dot] com ).

Thank you so much for listening, and Mary and John both hope you enjoy “Oh, the OF It All!”

Live Videos from the Tours, France Edition of “Rencontres Poétiques” Now on YouTube

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Greetings all! Just a heads up that some live videos from the French edition of Christina Goh and Mary Bichner’s Rencontres Poétiques collaborative poetry concert series are now on YouTube!

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This second concert in the series took place at La Salle Jean de Ockeghem in Tours, France on October 22nd, 2022; and featured guest performances by medieval troupe Les Passeurs de Légendes, actress Justine Calais-Gillot, and baroque lyric soprano Betsabée Haas (who very beautifully performed the European premiere of Mary’s aria, “If I Could Live My Life Again”, from the opera “The Memoirs of Antonina“). The set also includes a video for the unreleased “À la seine”, a new musical setting of the Marceline Desbordes-Valmore poem of the same name that Mary composed especially for Rencontres Poétiques, performed as a duet by Mary and Christina:

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For more information on Rencontres Poétiques, you can check out the official info page right here:

 

 

https://www.marybichner.com/rencontrespoetiques/

 

 

Thank you so much for everyone who joined us for this concert, and we look forward to more editions of Rencontres Poétiques in the future! Lots of love and wishing everyone a very happy new year!

“Oh, the OF It All!” Orchestral Recording Coming In Early 2023 + Travelouge Part II: Recording with the Budapest Scoring Orchestra in Budapest, Hungary

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Exciting news! An audio recording of “Oh, the OF It All!“, the ten-minute orchestral ballet that Mary composed for John J King’s stunning libretto about American illustrator/author Edward Gorey (and his fondness for George Balanchine’s years at the New York City Ballet), will be available in early 2023. The piece was recorded late last month by the wonderful Budapest Scoring Orchestra at Rottenbiller Studio in Budapest, Hungary. Here’s a little video clip from the session!:

More info of on “Oh, the OF It All!” (including the orchestral score, the ballet libretto, and a MIDI rendering of the audio) can be found HERE, and an official release date for the recording will be announced in the coming weeks. THANK YOU so much to Balint, Peter, Viktor, Norbert, and the entire Budapest Scoring Orchestra and team for such a fantastic recording session experience!

While in Hungary for the session, Mary was also lucky to have some free time to explore the beautiful city of Budapest. Here are a few photos from her visit!:

Hősök tere (Hero’s Square)
Synesthetic Study: Városliget (City Park) in the Key of G Major (vibrant green, vibrant orange, pale green)
Halászbástya (Fisherman’s Bastion)
Inside the Hungarian State Opera House
Synesthetic Study: Palace District in the Key of C Minor (vibrant yellow, deep jewel-toned blue, grass green)
Cool and colorful wall art in Budapest
The Hungarian Parliament Building

Wishing everyone a wonderful end to your 2022, and looking forward to sharing the new recording for “Oh, the OF It All!” very soon!

Travelogue Part I: “Rencontres Poétiques” Concert October 20th and “Un Autre Angle” Lecture October 22nd in Tours, France

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From October 16th-23rd 2022, Mary was honored to return to the city of Tours, France to perform in the second edition of her international poetry-inspired collaborative concert series with French composer Christina Goh, “Rencontres Poétiques”, at the Salle Jean de Ockeghem; as well as to speak during the “Un Autre Angle” lecture at the Biblioteque de Tours. Both events were presented by the City of Tours as part of France’s annual “Semaines d’information sur la santé mentale“.

Here are some photos from the week!:

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A panorama of Tours from the top of the Biblioteque de Tours – thank you to Madame Gitton and Madame Abdillah of the Biblioteque for sharing this beautiful view!
Inside La Salle Jean de Ockeghem, a former 12th-century abbey turned concert venue, as it is being prepared for “Rencontres Poétiques”.
Mary and Christina with Pascal Brun, Salle de Jean Ockeghem’s wonderful audio and stage lights expert.
Members of the medieval troupe Passeurs de Légendes portray the Goddesses of Art at the beginning of “Rencontres Poétiques”, welcoming audience members to the concert.
Christina and Mary perform Christina’s composition, “Le Prix”.
Lyric soprano Betsabée Haas gorgeously sings the European premiere of “If I Could Live My Life Again”, the final aria in Mary’s forthcoming opera, The Memoirs of Antonina.
LEFT: Passeurs de Légendes actress Bénédicte Gaudon portrays the Goddess Ceridwen / RIGHT: Actress Justine Calais-Gillot recites the Walt Whitman poem, “Tears”.
The artists of “Rencontres Poétiques”: Touraine Edition.
Madame Amirault-Deiss of La Ville de Tours very kindly presenting Mary with a tote bag filled with Tours-themed memorabilia — THANK YOU so much to Madame Amirault-Deiss and all of her colleagues at La Ville de Tours for this very thoughtful gesture and warm welcome!
Christina Goh speaks during the “Un Autre Angle” conference at the Biblioteque de Tours, alongside Mary and international photographer Yann Layma.
Thank you so much to the amazing Christina Goh for this wonderful week of collaboration in Tours!

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THANK YOU so very much to composer Christina Goh, La Ville de Tours, La Biblioteque de Tours, Les Semaines d’information sur la santé mentale, VIES 37, Nicole Lartigue, Betsabee Haas, Les Passeurs de Légendes, Justine Calais-Gillot, Yann Layma, Pascal Brun, and all of the wonderful people who made this incredible week of collaboration possible. And special thanks to everyone who joined us in the audience for “Rencontres Poétiques” and “Un Autre Angle”!

Merci beaucoup à tous, and hope to see you all again soon! <3

Tickets now available for “Rencontres Poétiques” Concert on October 20th; “Un Autre Angle” Lecture Announced for October 22nd [Tours, France]

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Tickets and complete details are now available for the Tours, France edition of “Rencontres poétiques“; the collaborative poetry-inspired concert series of Mary Bichner and Christina Goh!

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This second concert in the series will take place on Thursday, October 20th 2022 @ 19:15 CET (with a special pre-show multi-sensory experience beginning when doors open @ 18:30 CET) at Le Centre Musical Ockeghem (15 Pl. de Châteauneuf 37000 Tours, France), and will be hosted by the The City of Tours as part of “Semaines d’information sur la santé mentale“. Mary and Christina will perform their settings of famous poems in both French and English, including European premieres from both composers. The concert will also feature special guests baroque lyric soprano Betsabée Haas, medieval troupe Passeurs de Légendes, and poetic association Art et Poésie de Touraine.

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Tickets for the event are free with advance reservation, and can be obtained via the following link:

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https://my.weezevent.com/rencontres-poetiques

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And you can learn more about the concert from the official “Semaines d’information sur la santé mentale” right here:

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https://www.semaines-sante-mentale.fr/event/rencontres-poetiques/

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Additionally, on October 22nd 2022 at 16:30 CET, Mary and Christina will participate with photographer Yann Layma in “Un Autre Angle”, a lecture taking place at the Bibliothèque Centrale de Tours. More information can be found here, on the library’s website:

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http://www.bm-tours.fr/Default/doc/AGENDA/1863/un-autre-angle-avec-mary-bichner-christina-goh-yann-layma

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Wishing everyone a wonderful autumn season, and looking forward to seeing you this October for “Rencontres poétiques“!

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New Concert: “Rencontres Poétiques” with Christina Goh at Le Centre Musical Ockeghem in Tours, France on October 20th 2022

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Composers Christina Goh and Mary Bichner are excited to announce that Rencontres Poétiques, their collaborative poetry-inspired concert series, will be returning to the stage on October 20th, 2022! This second installment of the concert will take place at the historic Centre Musical Ockeghem located in Tours, France; and will be free to the public with advance reservation. The City of Tours will be the official host of the concert.

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Further details including start times, ticket reservations, and additional partnering organizations will be announced soon! 

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Thank you so much to Christina Goh and The City of Tours for this wonderful concert, and looking forward to October!

Featured in National Geographic’s “The Brain” Special Issue, Published on June 10th 2022

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Mary is honored to be featured in National Geographic‘s “The Brain”, a new special edition of the magazine by science journalist Julia Sklar published on June 10th, 2022. In the article entitled “The Language of Synesthesia”, you can find information on Mary and her synesthetic composing style, including details on her two-year composer residency at Mount Auburn Cemetery of Cambridge, MA.

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The article also contains several photos, including a gorgeous still by photographer Jonathan Beckley of Mary performing during 2019’s “Synesthesia Suite: Live” concert (in partnership with the Museum of Science Boston, Neoperceptions, and SciHub), featuring Neoperception’s breathtaking fiber-optic garments and dome visuals for the song “Lyra“; as well of some photos Mary took of her synesthetic composing tools (including her colored-in sheet music and favorite collection of synesthesia-hued pencils!).

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Although not currently available to read online, you can obtain a print edition of the magazine via your local newsstand, or online retailers such as Amazon.

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Thank you so much to Ms. Sklar and National Geographic for including Mary in this wonderful article and issue!

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(Update 09/17/22: now that this Special Issue is no longer available on newsstands, you can read the passage from the article that discusses Mary’s synesthesia right here.)

Two New Works Available for Booking: Mini Ballet “Oh, the OF It All!” and Mini Opera “Fair Isle”

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Greetings all! Two of Mary’s recent works are at last complete and now available for booking: the 10-12-minute mini ballet “Oh, the OF It All!”; and the 15-minute mini opera “Fair Isle”. Both works feature stunning libretti by the wonderful playwright John J King, who originally conceived of the pieces for his evening-length theatre work, “The Mementi Mori of Edward Gorey”.


Here is more information on both pieces!


“Oh, the OF It All!” is a new, as-yet-unpremiered “mini” orchestral ballet work by composer Mary Bichner and librettist John J King, celebrating American illustrator Edward Gorey’s fondness for the New York City Ballet and its legendary choreographer, George Balanchine. The work is arranged for a traditional mid-sized ballet orchestra consisting of: 2 flutes (flute + flute/piccolo), 2 oboes (oboe + oboe/English horn), 2 clarinets (clarinet + bass clarinet), 2 bassoons (bassoon + bassoon/contrabassoon), 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones (2 tenor + 1 bass), tuba, timpani, percussion (snare drum, triangle, gong), piano, celesta, harp, and string orchestra. You can watch a libretto text video of the piece, as well as take a look at its score and libretto, by visiting the “Oh, the OF It All!” page right here.


“Fair Isle” is a new, as-yet-unpremiered “mini” orchestral opera work by composer Mary Bichner and librettist John J King. Inspired by an episode in the life of American illustrator/author Edward Gorey, “Fair Isle” tells the tale of Ted (Edward Gorey) and Tom, two friends in the midst of a month-long trip through the Scottish Isles. With Tom, Ted’s heart swells like a storming sea, but – as Ted searches for the right words – Tom’s feelings remain firmly planted on earthy matters.This operatic work is approximately 15 minutes in length, and is orchestrated for: “Ted” (tenor vocalist, OR any singer with a range of D#3-A4), “Tom” (bass-baritone vocalist, OR any singer with range of either E2–E4 or A2–E4 [with five optional F#2+E2 notes]), “The Porter” (mezzo-soprano vocalist, OR any singer with a range of E#4-D#5), 1 flute, 1 oboe, 1 clarinet, 1 bassoon, 2 horns, timpani, harpsichord, and string orchestra. You can watch a libretto text video of the piece, as well as take a look at its score and libretto, by visiting the “Fair Isle” page right here.


For booking inquiries regarding these pieces, please contact either composer Mary Bichner ( info [at] marybichner [dot] com ) or librettist John J King ( johnjking80 [at] gmail [dot] com ).


Thank you one and all!

All Past Music Releases Added to Streaming Services

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Hooray! All ten of Mary’s past recording releases — including albums, EPs, and singles from Mary as a solo artist as well as in collaboration with Box Five (her old rock band), Planetary Quartet (her current double-viola string quartet ensemble), and Mount Auburn Cemetery (where she served as composer-in-residence from 2016-2017) — are now on streaming services! Simply search “Mary Bichner” on your favorite streaming app such as Spotify, Amazon, Apple Music, Instagram, YouTubeMusic, Pandora, Snapchat, Tidal, TikTok, and more.


THANK YOU to all of the wonderful musicians, engineers, visual artists, and more that made all of these recordings possible, and brought them to life!


Wishing everyone a lovely week, and talk to you soon!

“Rencontres Poétiques” Concert — Thank You!

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THANK YOU so much to everyone who joined Mary and Christina Goh at the Museum of Science Boston for Wednesday April 13th’s “Rencontres poétiques” concert! It was a joy to perform for you inside the Museum’s beautiful Omni Theater! And huge thanks to the Museum’s incredible visuals and live production teams, all of our wonderful partnering organizations in France (Muse & Ruse Production, Sabine Soury Poussard, the City of Tours and the Bibliothèque centrale de Tours, The Saché Castle et le Département de Touraine, National Union for Suicide Prevention France, Le Centre des Monuments Nationaux, & l’Office National des Forêts de France), and our special guest singer Mali Sastri for bringing this concert to life on stage and on the screen.



More media from the concert will be made available in the coming weeks, but until then, here are a few photos!:















And here is a re-cap of the concert, complete with photos, from composer and performer Christina Goh via her official website [in French with an English translation option]:



https://conceptmusic.christinagoh.com/rencontres-poetiques



Thank you so much to one and all, and looking forward to the second performance of “Rencontres poétiques” in Tours, France in October 2022 (official date and info coming soon)!