Forrest David Pierce, composer and sniffer of flowers, is fond of the way a woman's nose changes color when she sniffs flowers, too. One woman in particular. Rhododendrons from his home state of Washington color her face shy pink, Indiana tulip trees make for hot white cheeks when viewed by doctoral composers. Young assistant professors see Texas prickly pear flash her eyes electric yellow. Not-as-young assistant professors who now live in Oregon wait for the cherry trees, which make our beloved's lips the color of fruit, the kind with free stones. And the shape of what her dress dresses, and sweet sleep of air moved by music that brings an end to pain: you can see this, as well. Whenthe stone comes free, you find at last that you have a little boy named Aidan, more music than a heart can handle, and several friends in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
This Bio was for the Are You Brave Too? Festival
Forrest David Pierce has not yet drowned. This is certainly not due to an aversion
to water, since he bathes frequently, and is known for spending hours upon end sitting
in small mountain streams in the state of Idaho. Up to his neck in cold silver water,
hot rocks all around, he has spent a great deal of time reflecting on his musical
life at the University of Puget Sound, the University of Minnesota, and Indiana University.
More recently he has taught on the faculty of the University of Texas at Austin,
where deep water is scarce, and cold water unheard of. Pierce suspects that Dominick
Argento, Don Freund, and Judith Lang Zaimont might also like Jeru Creek on a blistering
summer day, with the red cedar waving honey-green needles far above, and the white
of alpine glaciers distant against purple-blue skies. Sadly, one thing these fine
composers all have in common is an unfamiliarity with the wonders of the Idaho Rockies
and their snowfed streams. They have all, however, been teachers of the gently irreverent
Forrest Pierce, which may or may not make up for it. Forrest Pierce wishes to express
his gratitude to the musicians of Brave New Works.
Back to Are You Brave Too ? Festival 2000
This Bio was for the Duo concert in February, 2000
Forrest David Pierce composer and angler of little blue streams, has been haunted
lately by the fifty-meter lilac hedge that bounded his childhood home in Pullman,
Washington. Late spring lilacs have regularly harried his studies in Tacoma, Minneapolis,
and Bloomington, Indiana since he left home ten years ago. His alternately lyrical,
irreverent, sinister, and elegant voice has traveled as well: at each stop a new
dialect; in each piece the same sweet hankering. He likewise remembers Dominick Argento,
Judith Zaimont, and Don Freund, although more for their teaching than for their flowers
or perfume. Though a pianist and cellist in his youth, he has been captivated by
the human voice, leading to twelve song cycles, an opera, and 15 works for chorus
in the past five years. It may be that spring in Austin, where he now teaches at
the University of Texas, will bring no lilacs, since bluebells and cacti dominate
the browner, hotter landscape. Like the sea-run cutthroat he chases each northwest
June, however, Forrest Pierce hopes to return home.