iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Sam Reenan @sam-reenan.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Impromptu Mahler 9 with Alan Gilbert and the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra at Berwaldhallen, Stockholm!

Sam Reenan @sam-reenan.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

In The Prison, Smyth uses the symphonic medium as a venue for the subversive retelling of a personally significant narrative. Smyth’s compositional and textual decisions reveal aspects of her ideological conception of the woman’s voice.

cover image of the chandos album Dame Ethel Smyth: The Prison

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Sam Reenan @sam-reenan.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

In Black, Brown & Beige, Ellington composes, revises, and recasts his longest work over a 30-year period, making structural changes in order to engender more positive reception and intelligibility after its early panning in the press.

cover image of 1958 Columbia album Duke Ellington and his Orchestra featuring Mahalia Jackson

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Sam Reenan @sam-reenan.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

In this colloquium, I’ll introduce the central themes of the book before presenting two case studies. We’ll examine form, narrative, and reception in Duke Ellington’s Black, Brown & Beige and Ethel Smyth’s The Prison, both of which employ symphonic techniques mixed with other genre signifiers.

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Sam Reenan @sam-reenan.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

Update: still cute, this is now a kitten account

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Sam Reenan @sam-reenan.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

Macaroni (aka Big Mac) wants to know how handsome he is

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Sam Reenan @sam-reenan.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

This paper analyzes string chamber works of the last half century to examine contemporary relationships between chamber music and the natural world. I focus on the music of Anna Thorvaldsdottir, who describes much of her recent music as "as an ecosystem of materials." Read the abstract here:

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Sam Reenan @sam-reenan.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

Heading to Manchester, UK tomorrow for the Manchester Music Analysis conference hosted by the Society for Music Analysis. If you'll be there, I invite you to check out my paper on Monday morning, titled "Chamber Music Ecosystems." View the program and register here: www.sma.ac.uk/mcrmac2025/

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Sam Reenan @sam-reenan.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

This chapter establishes a theoretical foundation for considering the book's repertoire by critically examining three framing concepts: Structure, Spectacle, and the Symphony The chapter begins with a vignette concerning the 1953 performances of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's Song of Hiawatha, op. 30

cover image of the novello score of the Song of Hiawatha, op. 30

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Sam Reenan @sam-reenan.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

Interested in trying Symphonic Spectacles before you buy? You can read Chapter 1, "Structure, Spectacle, Symphony," for FREE on Oxford Academic now until July 21. Follow this link: academic.oup.com/book/59824/c... And remember that you can purchase your own discounted copy with code AUFLY30

A graphic notice inviting you to read the free first chapter of Symphonic Spectacles at the link https://academic.oup.com/book/59824/chapter/511160563

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Sam Reenan @sam-reenan.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

Life update! 📣 This fall I will begin a new position as Assistant Professor of Music Theory at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. I’ve enjoyed getting to know the vibrant community of faculty and students at CCM over the past few months. Excited for this next opportunity!

Geno, our golden retriever, looking at Nippert Stadium

Geno on the UC campus, wearing a bearcats bandana

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Sam Reenan @sam-reenan.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

If you’re interested in Symphonic Spectacles, you can now use the discount code AUFLY30 for 30% off global.oup.com/academic! You can also read the book online if your institution provides access to Oxford Academic: academic.oup.com/book/59824

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Sam Reenan @sam-reenan.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

The analysis explores how Smyth combines symphonic and operatic elements to create a transgressive retelling of Brewster’s story. Smyth splits the main character in Brewster’s tale, a Prisoner, into two characters, the Prisoner and his Soul, who interact in a variety of dialogues across the work.

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Sam Reenan @sam-reenan.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

I might be most excited about the chapter on Ethel Smyth’s late work The Prison. This is the first comprehensive analysis of the work. Smyth adapts a metaphysical story from her close friend Henry Brewster.

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Sam Reenan @sam-reenan.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

Symphonic Spectacles integrates large-scale formal mixture and histories of identity and reception in case studies of six symphonic works of the early twentieth century. Table of contents below!

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Sam Reenan @sam-reenan.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

It’s publication day! Symphonic Spectacles is officially out today with Oxford University Press @oxfordacademic.bsky.social I couldn’t be more thrilled with how the book came out! You can find it for purchase at the link below, or read online with Oxford Academic. global.oup.com/academic/pro...

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Sam Reenan @sam-reenan.bsky.social · 11/05/2025

Made it to Amsterdam! Visiting with some family, and very excited to attend the Mahler Festival this week at the Concertgebouw!

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Sam Reenan @sam-reenan.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

And they finished with a superbly virtuosic recital of Duos and Trios by living composers including Aaron Travers, Clay Mettens, David Hier, David Liptak, and Margaret Brouwer. I’m immensely grateful for their generosity, sharing their expertise and artistry with Miami’s Music Department!

Ketter and Johnson speaking before a performance on Souers Recital Hall’s stage

The trio of guests performing on Souers Recital Hall’s stage

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Sam Reenan @sam-reenan.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

They presented an engaging lecture, “New Music, Meaning and Context,” with support from the @miamiuniversity.bsky.social Humanities Center, and graciously visited with our composition students for a Q&A.

Ketter and Johnson speaking for the Humanities Center lecture to a room of students and faculty

All three guests leading a Q&A with the composition studio

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Sam Reenan @sam-reenan.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

What a special residency from the founders and members of the American Wild Ensemble this week! @danielketter.com, Emlyn Johnson, and Ellen Breakfield-Glick taught me, my colleagues, and our students a ton about thematic programming, community partnerships, and funding for innovative arts projects!

Emlyn Johnson and Daniel Ketter presenting their work with American Wild Ensemble

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Sam Reenan @sam-reenan.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

I’m excited to present research from my forthcoming book, Symphonic Spectacles, at the Society for American Music conference this week in Tacoma, WA. I’ll be part of what looks to be a terrific session on Friday, I hope you’ll come hear all of these excellent presentations!

Presentation titles for the “Session Race and Gender in Symphonic Composition”

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Sam Reenan @sam-reenan.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

Very excited to have received proofs for my book Symphonic Spectacles, coming this spring with Oxford University Press! Details below: global.oup.com/academic/pro...

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Sam Reenan @sam-reenan.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

Relatedly, 2025 will welcome my first book: Symphonic Spectacles: Form, Identity, and Hybridity in the Early Twentieth Century Coming out at Oxford University Press this spring! Details here: global.oup.com/academic/pro...

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Sam Reenan @sam-reenan.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

Made a plan to read three fiction books in 2024 (since it had been many years since I’d read any….) Ended up reading a dozen. Two real highlights from last year: The Parisian (Isabella Hammad) The Annual Banquet of the Gravedigger’s Guild (Mathias Énard) Looking forward to new stories in 2025!