Steven Cohen, accompanied by pianist Jed Moss, performs and records Jenni’s new composition “Dawn” for Horn in F and Piano. It will appear on Steven’s upcoming CD “Cruise Control” to be released in July 2018.

The premier performance of Dawn is at the 50th International Horn Symposium (IHS), July 30 — August 4, 2018. The 50th IHS takes place at Ball State University, School of Music and the College of Fine Arts, Muncie, IN. Pianist Robert Conway will join Steven for this performance.
Steven Cohen has been heard internationally as an orchestral, Broadway, and chamber musician. A freelance horn player based in New York, he is a frequent guest with orchestras in the New York area and the Midwest, while performing with various national touring Broadway productions. He is planning the release an album, “Cruise Control”, in August of 2018 which will present the world premieres of five new works for horn as part of a major commission collaboration with five American composers. Jenni’s composition “Dawn” is one of the album’s pieces. A CD release recital takes place for “Dawn” and the other CD compositions on Monday August 20, 2018, 7:00 PM, at the Ann Goodman Recital Hall At Kaufman Music Center, 129 W 67th St, New York, NY.
“Dawn” for Horn in F and piano is inspired by a poem of the same name by Scandinavian Poet Edith Södergran (1892-1923). Steven wanted a work that was bold and adventurous, and this poem guides us on such a journey into unknown lands revealed by the coming dawn.
The piece opens freely as the piano fluidly fills the space between night and dawn. The horn weaves the melodic gestures of the dawn, skimming the surface with some unique techniques for the horn that represent the mysterious time between dark and light. The colors of the horn and piano throughout the work capture the sparkle of a sunrise, the swift winds, and the inevitability of the rising dawn. I was especially drawn to the idea of dawn being a female figure: “I am the pitiless goddess of the day…” and using the horn’s ability to be both delicate at times, and at others, powerful and grand, to represent Dawn in all of her glory.
It is such an honor to write this work for Steven and to have him and Jed record Dawn on this exciting CD of new works for the Horn.