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Download Buzz (Music in Harmony with Nature)
Album by Martha Mooke & David Rothenberg, available on Apple Music and in the iTunes Store More information...

Electroacoustic Viola from Sonic Collective
Martha Mooke, electric violist extraordinaire, Yamaha's premiere electric string artist and Eventide's first Artist in Residence, offers a sampling of her unique string sounds heard on albums and performances with David Bowie, Philip Glass, Barbra Streisand, Patti Smith, Laurie Anderson, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, Trey Anastasio, Ziggy Marley, Peter Gabriel, Enya, Andrea Bocelli, Tony Bennett, John Cale, Anthony Braxton, the Orchestra of St. Luke's, and more. No one else creates string tones like these, and now they are available to bring a natural yet ethereal texture to your productions. More information...

AES Latin American Virtual Tour 2020

 
 

Martha Mooke composes film score: Saturday Grace
This Spring Martha Mooke composed the score to Saturday Grace, a beautiful, poignant film by Patrice Bowman.

The film was the recipient of the Big Apple Film Festival's "Best Women Filmmakers - Short Film" award.

More info at: www.bowmanpicturesllc.com/saturday-grace

A Bowie Celebration: The David Bowie Alumni Tour
Martha joins longtime Bowie pianist Mike Garson and other key alumni of David Bowie's bands for an unforgettable evening of Bowie's songs. March 5, 7pm, Irving Plaza, NYC. More info at: abowiecelebration.com/

Martha Mooke named as Eventide's first Artist in Residence

Martha will be creating blogs, videos and doing live events to help non-guitar players learn how to use the H9 multi effects pedal in performance, studio settings and in the compositional process. Read Press Release: https://www.eventideaudio.com/blog/nsanchez/insider-100-swill-free-no-sale-no-promo-no-products

Viola Power: Symphony Magazine, Summer 2018

"This spring, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia took the humble viola and put it center stage with a program that featured not one but two violists. First, Martha Mooke — a multi-genre composer and violist who has performed with classical ensembles as well as rock musicians David Bowie and Patti Smith — was soloist for the premiere of her own Invisible Hands for electric viola and orchestra. The piece was performed twice on the program, led by Music Director Dirk Brossé, with Mooke at various points improvising, walking through the orchestra, and adding electronic effects..." Read the entire piece at: americanorchestras.org/images/stories/symphony_magazine/summer18/Symphony_Summer_2018.pdf#page=14

Release of Meditations on Gate, Gate
Mooke's haunting meditation based on the Diamond Sutra features the powerful and sensitive vocal stylings of Tenzin Choegyal and the magic of Jesse Paris Smith's singing bowls.
https://marthamooke.bandcamp.com/track/meditations-on-gate-gate

Yamaha honors longtime string artist Martha Mooke for her 20 years as a Yamaha artist and commitment to music education
"Yamaha honored two of its longtime string artists — Martha Mooke and Christian Howes — for their 20 years as Yamaha artists and commitment to music education. The two members of the Yamaha strings family were recognized at a special celebration on March 9, 2018 at the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) Conference in Atlanta. Mooke and Howes were each presented with crystal awards by John Wittmann, director of artist relations and education, Yamaha Artist Services Indianapolis. "As two of the very first Yamaha strings artists, Martha and Christian each demonstrate their commitment to their craft and exemplify what it means to be a part of the Yamaha family," said Wittmann. "Not only are they pioneers in performance and creative forces educationally, but also incredibly loyal and helpful to Yamaha."..." Read the entire piece

Listen to Martha's interview on Gear Club Podcast!
"Martha Moooke, No Ordinary Artist: This week, John and Stewart are joined by Martha Mooke - an electro-acoustic violist, composer, producer and educator. She is a leading clinician on electric and progressive string playing, and has toured with Barbra Streisand, Peter Gabriel, Andrea Bocelli and Star Wars in Concert. Martha has also performed with Elton John, Trey Anastasio, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Laurie Anderson, Tony Bennett, Bon Jovi, Patti Smith, David Bowie and many more. She is currently collaborating with beatboxing legend Rahzel (formerly of The Roots)..." Listen to the interview

Martha Mooke: Walls, Windows, and Doors (Frank J. Oteri, NewMusicBox.org, April 1, 2017)
"But no matter what musical activity she is involved in, she always views it as an opportunity not just to break through walls, but to open doors or to look out through a window in a new way." Read the entire piece

Beats Per Revolution residency at Symphony Space May 2017
Conceived by pioneering electro-acoustic violist/composer Martha Mooke in collaboration with beat boxing legend Rahzel (formerly of The Roots), Beats Per Revolution is a nod to the literary, cultural, and musical movements that emerged in the mid twentieth century. This series includes a world premiere, a beat boxing workshop, an ambient beat party, and a poetry slam. Expect exciting special guests throughout! For more information: https://beatsperrevolution.wixsite.com/beats

World Premiere of new commission for the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia
COP's fifth series program at Kimmel, Mozart, Mooke, and Fauré, will feature a new commission by the trailblazing electric violist and composer Martha Mooke. Noted for her collaborations with musicians ranging from Philip Glass to David Bowie, Mooke will compose an improvisatory work in two parts. More information...

Martha Mooke's No Ordinary Window on Monkmusic Records (Jarrett Goodchild, ICareIfYouListen.com - New Classical Music News, April 2016)
"Martha Mooke's No Ordinary Window on Monkmusic Records is an amazing look into what is possible with one musician and a few pieces of technology, yet it is also a display of an amazing living composer and performer with an imaginative ear. Mooke's compositional craft permeates throughout this album, and the musical worlds she creates are purely authentic. Her compositional style is only matched by her viola performance chops as she is the sole performer on each piece..." (A selection from No Ordinary Window is featured in the icareifyoulisten.comÊSpring 2016 Mixtape, available for free download here: https://www.icareifyoulisten.com/spring-2016-mixtape/)

Read the entire review.

Order/Download Martha's new CD, No Ordinary Window
 

Click here to purchase or download the CD from CDBaby: www.cdbaby.com/cd/marthamooke

Noteworthy graduates: Martha Mooke, electro-acoustic violist (As told to reporter Christina Cheakalos, United Federation of Teachers, New York Teacher Issue, June 2016)
"Renowned electro-acoustic violist Martha Mooke has toured the world with Barbra Streisand and the North American continent with Star Wars in Concert. She has played on Broadway and in Carnegie Hall. She has accompanied a dream team of musicians, among them David Bowie, Tony Bennett, Patti Smith, Andrea Bocelli and Philip Glass. But to this day, the acclaimed musical pioneer respects no one more than her Staten Island music teacher at IS 34, the late Leonard Ogren."
Read the entire review at www.uft.org/noteworthy-grads/noteworthy-graduates-martha-mooke-electro-acoustic-violist  
 

Featured Blog: Electric Viola player Martha Mooke shares her experience charting effects in musical scores.
 

Click to read the blog entry: eventideaudio.com/blog/eventide-guest-blogger/martha-mooke-notating-effects-musical-scores.

Martha Mooke with Michael Stipe, Shyman Nepali, Patti Smith and others performing at A Prayer For Nepal And Beyond
 

Photo by Al Pereira

New article by Martha Mooke published in Arizona Music News
The Arizona Music Educators Association features a new article by Martha Mooke — "Am I Allowed to Do That? Cultivating the Creative Spirit in the Classroom" — in their Spring 2015 issue. The article addresses tapping into the creative muse that each student unknowingly has inside of them, and encouraging young players to venture beyond their respective comfort zones. To read the entire article, visit en.calameo.com/read/001258465fcddf8516157 and use the scroll bar at the bottom to navigate to page 36.

Yamaha Artist Debuts Symphonic Band Piece (Yea!, Youth Education in the Arts)
"Acclaimed for her electrifying performances, Yamaha Electric String Artist Martha Mooke has been defying stereotypes and breaking down boundaries throughout her career. X-ING, her debut work for Symphonic Band with electric viola solo, takes that to a new level. Gary Hill and Chris Wilhelm of the Ridgewood Concert Band, co-commissioned X-ING. Hill summarized the experience as follows: "Martha Mooke is one of the most captivating musicians I've ever worked with! At once, she is a superb string pedagogue, an enthralling performer, and a composer in possession of an uncommon voice." "
Click to read the entire article.

'Composers Now' shining light on NYC composers (PIX11.com, February 2015)
"When it comes to composers, you're probably familiar with John Williams, author of classic movie themes like Star Wars and Jurassic Park. But how many other composers can you name? Struggling? Well chances are you're not alone. Which is why composer and Brooklyn College Professor Tania Leon formed the group Composers Now...At the Composers Now events, composers like Martha Mooke have the opportunity to meet their audience and discuss the motivation behind their work. Mooke says just knowing that the creator of a work is still living and breathing adds a new dimension to the music for the listener..."
View the segment, and read the entire item.

Martha Mooke article appears in WASBE World Sept. 2014 issue
 

Martha Mooke penned an article for the Official Magazine of the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, WASBE World, for its September 2014 issue. The article, in the Focus on New Music section, is entitled "X-ING for 5-string Electric Viola and Concert Band," and includes the composer's own analysis and explanation of the piece.

Click to read the entire article

Click here for more information about X-ING

Photo © by Tina Fineberg for The New York Times

Music of Now Marathon Begins Composers Now Series
Steve Smith, The New York Times

"Even with so much promiscuous eclecticism on display, two segments of the concert stood out. Martha Mooke, using electric violas and effects pedals, bridged the gap between Romantic virtuoso composer-performers like Paganini and Liszt and MIDI-friendly successors like Todd Reynolds and Zoe Keating." (Read the entire article)

Martha Mooke principal violist for Elton John and Yamaha 125 Anniversary Concert

Yamaha's 125th Anniversary Dealer Concert featuring Elton performing with a 60-piece orchestra, featuring Martha Mooke as principal violist, will be streamed live over the Internet on January 25, 2013, beginning at 8:00 pm Pacific Standard Time. The concert will take place at Disneyland's Hyperion Theater in Anaheim, California and the stream will be available for viewing at EltonJohn.com/Yamaha125. For more information : eltonjohn.com/news/news_details.aspx?postid=c7e9d594-dca8-460f-8fca-c2e7fed8adf8

"X-ING" Premieres
Martha Mooke performs the World Premiere of "X-ING" with the Ridgewood Concert Band, conducted by Frank Battisti, and the Arizona premiere with the ASU Wind Symphony, conducted by Gary W. Hill.

Mooke joins with Composers and Schools in Concert to offer school workshops for grades 9-12
The workshops are The Creative Spirit Unleashed, The Power of Strings, and Plugging in the Creative Spirit. For more information and course descriptions, visit the Educator page.

Martha Mooke elected to Board of Governors of The Recording Academy
Martha Mooke has been elected to the Board of Governors of the New York chapter of The Recording Academy, term beginning in June 2012. Celebrating music through the GRAMMY® Awards for more than 50 years, The Recording Academy is the premier organization for honoring achievements in the recording arts, and supporting the music community.

X-ING - Commission for the electric viola and concert band
The Ridgewood Concert Band (NJ) and Arizona State University have jointly commissioned Martha Mooke to write X-ING, a work for electric viola and concert band. Ridgewood will premiere the piece in December 2012; Arizona State will premiere it in April 2013.

Martha Mooke with Philip Glass and others at Benefit for Tibetan Home of Hope
 

Click image for larger view of the poster

Martha Mooke and Scorchio Quartet performing with Damon Albarn

Mooke and Scorchio have been touring with former Blur and Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn in support of his new CD, "Everyday Robots." Performances included a June 5 appearance on NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, a performance at WFUV's Bronx studios, and appearances at Bonnaroo and the The Governor's Ball Music Festival.

Click to view the Tonight Show performance

Click to view the WFUV in-studio performance

Martha Mooke will be Presenter at CMS-NAMM Generation Next

Martha Mooke will present her workshop "The Power of Strings: Plugging in the Creative Spirit," at the 2014 CMS-NAMM Generation Next program, to be held in Anaheim, California, January 23-24, 2014. As a component of the annual NAMM Show, Generation Next is an educational program for college, conservatory, and university music students and faculty that provides an introduction to the NAMM Show, comprised of over 1,400 global music products and materials exhibitors.

Mooke to premiere "REM: A Dream in Sound" at Music of Now Marathon

Mooke will premiere "REM: A Dream in Sound" for electric viola, on Feb. 1, as part of Symphony Space's The Music of Now Marathon.  This event kicks off the annual city wide, monthlong Composers Now Festival that celebrates living composers, the diversity of their voices and the significance of their musical contributions to the cultural fabric of our society.

Scorchio Quartet: The Anti-Room, new music for string quartet with no walls

On Feb. 24, The Cutting Room presents Scorchio Quartet: The Anti-Room, new music for string quartet with no walls. The Scorchio String Quartet, known for it's artistry, eclectism and collaborations with David Bowie, Lou Reed, Philip Glass, Trey Anastasio and others, brings to life new works by Beatboxing sensation Rahzel, electric tinged jazz pianist/composer Richard Sussman, Emmy Award-winning composer Earl Rose and Scorchio founder/electro-acoustic violist Martha Mooke. The Scorchio Quartet is a collaborating partner of the 2014 Composers Now Festival.  

SMS High School Teens Premiere New Work by Martha Mooke

The inaugural concert by students at Kaufman Music Center's new Special Music School High School on November 21, 2013 included world premieres of works by Martha Mooke, commissioned by Composers & Schools in Concert and part of SMS High School's fall 2013 composer residency.

Watch SMS High School's Inaugural Performance

Martha Mooke conducts the premiere of her Ode to Ganymede

Premiere of Mooke's (S)hort (M)essage (S)ervice: (H)idden (S)igns,
conducted by Dr. Jenny Undercofler

Composer in Residence at Special Music School High School

SMS High School's Composer-in-Residence Program will give students the opportunity to work with professional composers in hands-on workshops, mentoring sessions and public performances premiering new works. The school's first Composer-in-Residence, the pioneering electro-acoustic violist Martha Mooke, says, "When I present workshops on improvisation, electric strings or the conceptual creative process, I'm often asked where I learned what I'm demonstrating, playing or teaching. The answer is that I didn't learn most of it in school — it took years of exploring, experimenting and developing. That is about to change with the debut of Special Music School High School. It could not be more exciting or fulfilling than to be the first Composer-in-Residence of this cutting-edge institution!" Ms. Mooke's residency at Special Music School High School will be supported by Composers and Schools in Concert, a nonprofit organization that connects professional composers and high school music programs. (Read the entire article)

American String Teachers Association: Kudos to Martha Mooke!

Our third winner in our new Kudos member recognition program is Martha Mooke from Nyack, New York, self-described "electro-acoustic violist/composer." An ASTA member since about 2003, Mooke has been at the forefront of electric strings and contemporary viola playing for more than 20 years and describes her ASTA relationship "as an invaluable resource for connecting the many facets of string education and serving as the common thread for the string community." (Read the entire article)