Dr. Hirt's Home Page

James A. Hirt, D.M.A.

Department of Music Theory and Piano,

Baldwin-Wallace College /
The Cleveland Institute of Music

OFFICE: Kulas Hall, room 220

PHONE: (216) 870-9930

EMAIL: jhirt@bw.edu

Fire in the Heavens - Concerto for Wind Ensemble with Amplified Violin and Piano

Reviews

“James Hirt’s Emerald Rain is an accessible, sensuous work that is a warmer, richer, more personal kind of new music that embodies an unpretentious Americana visionary character…”

-Perry Goldstine, Musical America

“Hirt’s Time Spirals is exceptionally imaginative, moving and beautifully scored with highly effective instrumental solos and vigorous rhythms. Check the wind machine for a special whiff of color.”

-Jayson Greene, Symphony Magazine

"James Hirt’s Time Spirals is a skillful blend of minimalism with expansive romantic gestures. Last night's audience enjoyed the attractive though contemporary piece and gave the composer a nice ovation when he took his bow. Hirt has an obvious gift for orchestration and he plainly wants to communicate with audiences rather than pose sonic riddles for them.”

-Robert Finn, The Cleveland Plain Dealer

“Hirt’s Reflection was the most wide-ranging and significant of the three contenders, showing a wide variety of imaginative touches and extraordinary skill in orchestration.”

-Byron Belt, The San Francisco Star Ledger

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

James A. Hirt currently teaches in the Conservatory of Music at Baldwin-Wallace College where is is Acting Composer-in-Residence(full-time) and The Cleveland Institute of Music (part-time). His compositions are published by C.Alan Publications and Jeffers Publications. Hirt's music has been performed by The Cleveland Orchestra, The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, The Florida Orchestra, The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, The Cincinnati Youth Symphony Orchestra, The St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra, The DePauw Symphony Orchestra, and so on. His orchestral works have been broadcast on over 500 times in the United States, Europe, Japan, and Canada. The composer has received many commissions and won a number of national and local composition competitions, including: two prestigious A.S.C.A.P. awards, Ohio Arts Council Individual Artists Fellowships, The Cincinnati Symphony’s Bicentennial Young Composers Competition, The Ohio Choral Directors Composition Competition, the Margaret Fairbanks Jory Copying Assistance Grant, a University of Cincinnati Research Fellowship, the Ohio Federation of Music Clubs Competition, the WGUC 20th Anniversary Competition, and many A.S.C.A.P. Standard Grants. James received a Bachelor of Music Degree from Capital University, as well as Masters and Doctorate Degrees from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. He has studied music composition with Jonathan Kramer, Norman Dinerstein, and Allen Sapp. He has taught a wide variety of courses at the University of Cincinnati, ranging from Music Theory, Music Composition, and Counterpoint, to classes on 20th Century Music, and the weekly performances of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

for Symphonic Wind Ensemble

http://www.c-alanpublications.com/

click the links below to view score samples, hear a sound clip, or purchase.

commissioned by the Cleveland Institute of Music

DAWN REFRAINS AT ARLINGTON

The University Circle Wind Ensemble, Conducted by Gary Ciepluch

Sound Clip - Score Sample -