I hope everyone is OK during this incredible, stressful time. I miss performing, but I am proud of everyone’s creativity in coming up with ways to experience music during the pandemic.
This time has inspired me to compose. I channeled a lot of my energy into an EP of solo piano compositions entitled, “Musical Stories from the NY Slowdown.” You can purchase the album or individual tracks on Bandcamp.
Bandcamp is a great platform to help artist during this difficult time. I added many of my past recordings to my site including one very special one of my long time duo partner Richie Beirach. 15 years ago Richie gave me a tape of a concert he played together with George Mraz on bass and Jack DeJohnette on drums called Elm Live at the Public Theater in NYC. This concert was a performance to promote his recording Elm for the ECM label from 1979. I digitized the tape at the time and I think, even with some flaws in the sound quality, this is a very important and unique live recording everybody should hear. That’s why Richie and I decided to release it on my bandcamp account. You will be blown away by this trio. I created the album art as well. Available only on Bandcamp.
Please consider following me on Bandcamp, so you will know what is new and you have a chance to support my music and work. You will also find new music by Orthrus, my violin duo with Fung Chern Hwei.
In exciting Awards News, The New Music Ensemble of the Filum Music School won the award for best interpretation of a new work composed for the German Youth Music awards. They won the award for my composition “In The News”. I am very proud and honored. Watch their winning performance.
On October 23, 2020, Sirius Quartet – Playing on the Edge 2 will be released on Navona Records. PRE-ORDER the album today.
On October 30, 2020, the Detroit Institute of the Arts will stream our video performance. Stay tuned for more details about the Progfest streaming too.
New Music Ensemble of the Filum Music School Wins for my Composition “In The News”
The New Music Ensemble of the Filum Music School won the award for best interpretation of a new work composed for the German Youth Music awards. This is my composition called “In The News”.
They have experienced everything in their 30-year stage career. In the flashlight storm of photographers and mobile radars they go their way undaunted. After appearances at world exhibitions, in French fries stalls, philharmonic halls and subway shafts, the three Epples discover with astonishment that they still are not millionaires.
On the contrary! A glance at the pension notice confirms their worst fears. To escape the impending poverty of old age, they are driven straight to the casino.
Here they believe they can raise the necessary capital to finance their third teeth. But because they don’t even know the difference between roulette and omelette, and because they like to confuse Black Jack with Jack Daniels, they put all their eggs in one basket!
Play, play, play!
As true artists on their instruments (piano, violin, double bass), for Bobbi Fischer, Gregor and Veit Hübner only MUSIC remains anyway. The trio draws wide circles as far as musical styles (Latin music, jazz, world music, chanson) are concerned, and in their songs they go into the depths of thoughts and motions that are all too often repressed.
It can’t be changed: the 3 Epples are hopelessly addicted to playing!
The second album follows up Navona Records’ first Gramophone-lauded album in this series for string quartet. Like the first installment, the award-winning Sirius Quartet plays the entire catalogue to perfection.
Richie Beirach Trio — Elm Live at the Public Theater Available Only on Bandcamp
15 years ago Richie gave me a tape of a concert he played together with George Mraz on bass and Jack DeJohnette on drums called Elm Live at the Public Theater in NYC. This concert was a performance to promote his recording Elm for the ECM label from 1979. I digitized the tape at the time and I think, even with some flaws in the sound quality, this is a very important and unique live recording everybody should hear. That’s why Richie and I decided to release it on my Bandcamp account. You will be blown away by this trio. I created the album art as well.
The New Music Ensemble of the Filum Music School won the award for best interpretation of a new work composed for the German Youth Music awards. This is my composition called “In The News”. I am very proud and honored.
Winner – The New Music Ensemble of the Filum Music School for Best Interpretation of a New Work “In The News” by Gregor Huebner
“Escape from Reality” composed by Gregor Huebner and performed by Orthrus: Fung Chern Hwei & Gregor Huebner, violins.
This composition was originally written for a German Violin Duo but somehow never got performed at that time. Fung Chern Hwei and I decided to record Escape from Reality now because its title fits our current situation pretty well. We’re all trying to find ways to deal with this unprecedented reality, and thoughts about escaping our own situations are prominent. This composition features various extended techniques from the string instruments repertoire of all different styles. Escape from Reality is a constant switch from classical moods into jazz rhythms and improvisations. It is a defense action piece, using fantasy to avoid the problems and conflicts of our respective situations at the moment. So escape with us! –G.H.
I recorded 5 solo piano pieces and created an EP called, “Musical Stories from the NY Slowdown.” You can purchase the album or individual tracks on Bandcamp. I added a bunch of new tracks and albums to Bandcamp. On Friday, May 1, they are not charging artists, so Friday is a perfect day to purchase my music.
On Sunday, May 3 at 5pm ET join me for Speedwell Live, a real-time conversation with Maine writer Bill Roorbach. I’ll play music and discuss my current projects. Sign up to receive the Zoom link and password by email on the day of event.
Lastly, violinist Fung Chern Hwei and I teamed up to create a violin duo, Orthrus. Our very first single, “Escape From Reality”, will be on Bandcamp.
STAY SAFE AND STAY WELL,
Gregor
P.S. Watch my most recent solo piano video Lullaby, produced by Fung Chern Hwei. SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube Channel to keep up-to-date on new music and videos.
Featuring Sirius Quartet playing in John Woo-style slo-mo at a former Masonic hall, the vividly beautiful lithographs by André Bergeron that inspired the piece, and, of course, Ron’s can of cashews. Listen to a track from the new album.
Speedwell Live – Live, Virtual Interview and Performance Via Zoom Sunday, May 3, 2020 at 5pm ET SPEEDWELL LIVE! welcomes GREGOR HUEBNER! a Grammy Nominated Composer & Violinist and winner of the Jazz “Grand Prize” New World Composers Competition of the New York Philharmonics 2017.
Gregor will be talking with Bill Roorbach and sharing musical notes and insights. Grab a drink of choice and get transported away from COVID-19 into Huebner’s beautiful world of sound. Sign up to receive the Zoom link and password by email on the day of event.
Watch Berta Epple on TV
Berta Epple was featured on SWR 1 TV show Kabarett, Comedy und Kleinkunst. We each performed in our kitchens around the globe. The producers pieced us together and the show is loads of fun to watch.
New Berta Epple Album Coming Fall 2020
Berta Epple im Casino – Die Rente ist sicher (The Pension is Secure)
The title track, Rentenbecheid (pension statement), calls for universal basic income, which is timely during these uncertain times. Listen >>
Orthrus, a double-headed hound from the Greek mythology, has reincarnated as a violin duo–one half of Sirius Quartet, Gregor Huebner and Fung Chern Hwei. They will be releasing their very first single, “Escape From Reality” on Bandcamp.
Sirius Quartet “Our First Decade”
As soon as we know if concerts are definitely happening, you’ll be the first to know!
El Violin Latino’s “Los Soñadores/Dreamers” Praise and Support
The Official Video for Los Soñadores/Dreamers premiered on YouTube on May 4, 2018. The message of the song is as vital as ever. The initial response to the song and video was tremendous. The praise, supportive.
Watch and listen again, and share the message of unity and support for Los Soñadores/ The Dreamers of the United States. The song is the title track of Gregor Huebner’s El Violin Latino Volume 3 – Los Soñadores (“The Dreamers”) available worldwide. Learn more about the album.
Speedwell Live welcomes GREGOR HUEBNER, a Grammy Nominated Composer & Violinist and winner of the Jazz “Grand Prize” New World Composers Competition of the New York Philharmonics 2017. Gregor will be talking with Maine writer Bill Roorbach and sharing musical notes and insights. Grab a drink of choice and get transported away from COVID-19 into Huebner’s beautiful world of sound. The real-time conversation takes place on Sunday, May 3, 2020 at 5pm ET. Click HEREto receive the Zoom link and password by email on the day of event.
Celebrated by audiences and critics alike for his visionary work across genres, Gregor’s realm of contributions and achievements are unmatched and have gained him an international reputation and following.
The Wall Street Journal calls it “impassioned and dreamy.” And that is describing just one album of many and many compositions that integrate improvisation, experimental notation, traditional counterpoint, pop song structures, post-tonal gestures and innovative performance techniques within formal compositional frameworks.
photo credit: Marcela Joya
Grammy Nominated Composer & Violinist and “Grand Prize” winner New World Composers Competition of the New York Philharmonics 2017
Gregor Huebner is an award-winning composer and violinist, celebrated by audiences and critics alike for his visionary work across genres. His music has been described by The New York City Jazz Record as “challenging and vivid… seamlessly incorporat[ing] chamber elements with Avant Garde Jazz.” Huebner’s recent El Violin Latino, an album exploring the role of the violin in traditional Latin American music, was praised by The Wall Street Journalas “by turns sexy and sly, impassioned and dreamy, his collection of well-known tunes, unexpected arrangements and original compositions brings together far-flung members of the fiddle diaspora.”
Gregor’s compositions integrate improvisation, experimental notation, traditional counterpoint, pop song structures, post-tonal gestures and innovative performance techniques within formal compositional frameworks. Recent commissions include “Six Songs of Innocence,” a lyrical setting of poems by William Blake premiered by Sirius Quartet an acclaimed contemporary string ensemble of which he is a long-time member. The quartet was praised by The New York Times for their “versatility and flair with lively improvisations.” His collaborations with Richie Beirach and George Mraz have yielded three critically acclaimed albums, including the Latin Grammy-nominated Round About Federico Mompou. Gregor was born in Stuttgart, Germany, and is based in Harlem in New York City.
