🎼 Musical Spotlight on Frank Felice: A Composer With a Sense of Mischief
Composer and bassist Frank Felice brings a little mischief to his music and his sales pitch: “Wanna commission a double bass concerto? Call now!”
Frank Felice writes music that refuses to sit still. The Montana-born, Italian-American composer describes his work as postmodern and mischievous, with pieces that can be funny or reverent, simple or complex, subtle or startling. Lately, he says, he has been leaning toward the sweeter side, exploring a consonant, adiatonic sound.
Felice’s music has traveled far from his western Montana roots, with performances across the United States and in countries including Brazil, Japan, China, Greece, Italy, the United Kingdom, and South Africa. His commissions have drawn support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Omaha Symphony, Classical Music Indy, and the Indiana Arts Commission, among others.
His recent recordings include The Beauty of Innuendos, a 2022 Navona Records album featuring four mezzo-soprano song cycles performed by his wife, mezzo-soprano Mitzi Westra. His 2020 release, Reflections and Whimsies, features the Indianapolis Quartet, bassist David Murray, soprano EstelĂ Gomez, and violinist Davis Brooks.
Before becoming a composer, Felice played in rock bands, including Graffiti, which toured the western United States and the Far East in 1986 and 1987. He still performs as a bassist and guitarist around central Indiana and teaches composition, theory, and electronic music at Butler University in Indianapolis.
When he is not writing or performing, Felice is likely cooking pasta, painting, writing poetry, home brewing, or pursuing one of his other creative interests, from paleontology to basketball. He and Mitzi Westra make a fitting musical partnership, both on the page and in the concert hall.
You can find his recordings, scores, and other musical mischief at frank-felice.com. If a piece starts out sweet and ends up surprising you, blame Frank.
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