Nancy Bloomer Deussen
Composer
"For me, melody is foremost."
Comments from Critics and Conductors
"A tremendous musical climax, ending in triumph and bringing the cheering audience to their feet. Without a doubt, this work is Deussen's finest achievement"
21st CENTURY MUSIC on the World Premiere of "A Silver, Shining Strand" for orchestra
"I immediately fell in love with the melodius qualities of this music as well as its high level of craftmanship. The piece for violin and piano titled "Julia's Song" is truly one of the most beautiful pieces for violin and piano I have ever heard."
Marvin Rosen, classical disc jockey on radio station WPRB in Princeton, New Jersey commenting on the music of Nancy Bloomer Deussen
"Nancy Bloomer Deussen is based in the SF Bay area and her work is distinguished by a genuinely sweet lyricism which is most satisfying in the tunefulness of its slow movements."
FANFARE
"Slow movements are songful; fast ones perky, with every note in place. She is not afraid to be beautiful"
21st CENTURY MUSIC
"Of note is Nancy Bloomer Deussen's Peninsula Suite" which I enjoyed greatly, particularly the last movement"
Carson P. Cooman's on-line review of "Masterworks of the New Era-Vol 2 CD at Amazon.com
"Deussen's "Piano Prelude", "Amber Waves" and "Cascades(Toccata)are the most charming works on the CD. The "Piano Prelude" demonstrates Deussen's aptitude for lyrical, tonal writing. "Amber Waves" portrays the rolling fields of Eastern Oregon...autumn grasses sway freely in the breezes. Deussen captures this idyllic picture with a beautiful cantibile melody that rises and falls. "Cascades"was inspired by waterfalls and provides the pianist with a tour de force. These delightful pieces by Deussen have immediate appeal through their tonal orientation, creative melodic lines and variety of pianistic styles"
Katherine Boyes review of the North/South CD "Diversions" in IAWM Journal 2004
"The music is gorgeous. This work possesses a tremendous range of expression. It touches on sadness and
reflection, but also has a very bright. rhythmic Latin movement, beautiful melodic material and a powerful build to the end of the final movement. It was a priviledge to be selected as the orchestra to premiere this lovely work".
Comments from Joyce Johnson-Hamilton, the conductor of The Diablo Symphony Orchestra regarding the World Premiere of "A Silver, Shining Strand", a new Bloomer Deussen suite for orchestra.
Brief Biography
Nancy Bloomer Deussen(whose maiden name was Nancy Van Norman) is a prominent San Francisco Bay Area composer and co-founder of the Bay Area chapter of The National Association of Composers,USA. She has been a dedicated champion of more accessible contemporary music, a viewpoint amply demonstrated in all of her works. A composer who is well-loved by audiences, Bloomer Deussen has received numerous commissions from such performing ensembles and soloists as The Oakland Chamber Orchestra,The Walnut Street Chamber Ensemble (PA), The Baton Rouge and Augustana Concert Bands, The Santa Clara Chorale, De Anza College Chorale and Women's Chorus, The Women's Caucus in the Arts, Opus 90 Chamber Ensemble, The Gabrieli Brass, The Mission Chamber Orchestra, Sempervirens Environmental Club, Mu Phi Epsilon Ann and Lee E Mueller Chamber Music Commission, Jim and Pat Watt, the San Jose Choral Project, guitarist Thomas Amoriello, the Foundation for Universal Sacred Music, the US Continental Army Band and others.
Her works encompass a wide spectrum of performers and include works for band, chorus, orchestra (full, string and chamber), many chamber music combinations, recorder consort, flute, clarinet and violin solo, piano solo, brass ensemble and solo voice and piano. She has received performances by such orchestras as The Marin Symphony Orchestra,The New England Philharmonic, The James Madison University Symphony, the Redlands Symphony, The Diablo Symphony, the Lowell Philharmonic (MA), The Iowa State University Orchestra, Kenyon College Orchestra (Ohio), The Mission Chamber Orchestra, The Vermont Youth Symphony, The Sandusky Music Festival(Ohio), Kona Symphony Orchestra (Hawaii), the Providence College Orchestra (RI), The Baytown Symphony (Texas). The Los Angeles Doctor's Orchestra, the Florida West Coast Symphony and many others. She has also had numerous performances by chamber ensembles, brass ensembles, bands and soloists across the country.
Ms Bloomer Deussen is the recipient of a number of awards which include: First Prize Winner of the Mu Phi Epsilon Original Composition Contest (for chamber works) in 1987 for "Woodwind Quintet", The Bay Area Composer's Symposium Performance Award for her orchestral work "Reflections on the Hudson" in 1994, The Britten on-the -Bay First Prize for "Trio for Violin, Clarinet and Piano" in 1996 ,the Mu Phi Epsilon Original Composition Contest (for large works) for "Concerto for Clarinet and Small Orchestra" in 1999. the Second Marmor Chamber Music Composition Competition sponsored by Stanford University in 2002 for "Woodwind Quintet # 2" and selection in a competition by The Foundation for Universal Sacred Music in 2004 to compose an original choral work which was premiered in New York City in October, 2004. Her most recent awards were First and 2nd Prize in Orchestral Category and First Prize in Choral Music in the 2006 Composition Competition of the National League of American Pen Women.
Ms. Bloomer Deussen is available for commissions,lectures,coaching and residencies,as well as performances and her works are available (scores and Cds)for perusal.
She can be reached directly at:
(650) 858-0361
Fax: (650) 858-2072
Address: 3065 Greer Rd in Palo Alto, CA 94303
If you would like to receive E-mail announcements of future concerts featuring works by Nancy Bloomer Deussen, click here and leave your E-mail address
Following are links to some audio files of works by Nancy Bloomer Deussen that may be of interest to you. Enjoy!:
Web page constructed by Felicia Volkman, BMVolkman@aol.com
This page accessed 
times.
