About

Born in Chicago, composer Sid Samberg has been described as "uncommonly talented" by John von Rhein of the Chicago Tribune. Most of his concerts are solo piano performances, consisting of several original works paired thoughtfully with classical pieces and new material from other current composers.

As a composer who believes in the power of art to inspire change, his works such as Harvest and Larsen B have been performed at environmentalist conferences including the 2012 Great Lakes Bioneers (at UIC) and the 2014 Portland Village Building Convergence. He has also been performed by Sinfonetta Bel Canto and the Fulcrum Point Discoveries Series.

Samberg has explored the perception of reality in Illusions for piano (premiered in Berlin in 2008), history, in I have a Dream, a musical “transcription” of Martin Luther King’s speech for solo trumpet, and the concept of self in The Man in the High Castle (after Philip K. Dick, 2014). He has composed over 60 works for piano, chamber and orchestral ensembles, some of which were premiered at the soundSCAPE Festival in Italy.

He has given the world premiere of Transcendental Etude no. 38, by Kaikhosru Sorabji, and Frank Abbinanti’s works Kinderscenen and Lure, about the tragedy of child soldiers. Other notable performances include the Concert for Piano and Orchestra, for the John Cage centennial celebration held at the New England Conservatory. He regularly performs classical repertoire for the piano and viola, including works by Bach, Mozart, Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, and Debussy. He has given several lectures, and his article on Rzewski's The People United was published in Contemporary Music Review.

Samberg studied composition with Frank Abbinanti, piano with Mikhail Yanovitsky, and viola with Rami Solomonow. He is currently studying composition with Michael Pisaro and Nicholas Deyoe, and piano with Vicki Ray, at California Institute of the Arts.

Music

-Over 60 original works for piano

Classical repertoire:
-Bach: Two preludes and Fugues, several 2 and 3 part inventions
-Mozart: Concert no. 24 in C minor
-Schubert: Piano Sonata in B-Flat, D. 960
-Chopin- Etudes nos. 3 and 4, Scherzo in B minor
-Schumann: Romance Op. 28 no. 2
-Liszt: Weinen Klagan Sorgen Sagen, Aux Cypres de la Villa d'Este Threnody I
-Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition
-Scriabin: two etudes
-Debussy: four préludes

Modern repertoire:
-Olivier Messiaen: Ile de Feu I
-John Cage: 1 etude australes, concert for piano and orchestra
-George Crumb: two Makrokosmos
-Giacinto Celsi: Quattro Illustrazioni
-Joan Tower: Piano Concerto
-Hannibal Lokumbe: John Brown and Blue
-Julia Miller: Weeds (complete)
-Frank Abbinanti: Kinderscenen, Lure (from the African Album)
-Many other works by current composers
-Some pop and rock music (especially Elton John!)

Viola repertoire:
-Bach: three suites
-Schubert: Arpeggione Sonata
-Brahms: Sonata in F Minor
-Frank Abbinanti: Bovine Viola

Videos

Audio