Death is no laughing matter for most. But for former DaCamera Young Artist, Mark Buller, it can be a source of inspiration and creativity when composing new music.
Mark Buller
Buller’s songs caught the attention of ROCO’s founder and oboist, Alecia Lawyer. She suggested that one might be perfect for the Dia de Los Metros program, “Musical and Literary Ofendra.” The five original music “ofrendas” (offerings) — commissioned by ROCO from Musiqa composers — are woven amongst four original prose texts by Inprint authors, surrounded by the intricate retablos (alterpieces) on display at Lawndale. Buller arranged his ofrenda, “Solomon Pease,” for baritone Timothy Jones, accompanied by oboe, viola and cello.
Mark Buller is a composer and pianist, who has been performed around the country and internationally, in a variety of venues: Carnegie Hall, the Wortham Center, and Movimento (Munich), as well as other locations in Europe, South America, and Asia. He has composed music for a wide range of organizations, including the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Houston Grand Opera (for two 45-minute operas, as well as numerous art songs), the Houston Symphony, AURA Contemporary Ensemble, and Diverse Works ArtSpace. For two years he was a member of the Da Camera of Houston Young Artist Program, which commissioned a number of chamber works, including the award-winning String Quartet No. 3.
“Musical and Literary Ofendra” takes place Saturday, November 1 at 5:30pm, at the Lawndale Art Center. The annual five-way collaborative performance by Musiqa, River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, Inprint, the Houston Hispanic Forum and the Lawndale Art Center is promoted by the Mexican Consulate.