Ellen Taaffe Zwilich ( ; born April 30, 1939) is an American composer, the first female composer to win the

Pulitzer Prize for Music The Pulitzer Prize for Music is one of seven Pulitzer Prizes awarded annually in Letters, Drama, and Music. It was first given in 1943. Joseph Pulitzer arranged for a music scholarship to be awarded each year, and this was eventually converted ...

. Her early works are marked by

atonal Atonality in its broadest sense is music that lacks a tonal center, or key. ''Atonality'', in this sense, usually describes compositions written from about the early 20th-century to the present day, where a hierarchy of harmonies focusing on a ...

exploration, but by the late 1980s, she had shifted to a

postmodernist Postmodernism is an intellectual stance or mode of discourseNuyen, A.T., 1992. The Role of Rhetorical Devices in Postmodernist Discourse. Philosophy & Rhetoric, pp.183–194. characterized by skepticism toward the " grand narratives" of modern ...

, neoromantic style. She has been called "one of America's most frequently played and genuinely popular living composers."Schwartz, K. Robert. "Ellen Taaffe Zwilich." Grove Music Online. Ed. L. Macy. Accessed December 20, 2006. www.grovemusic.com. She was a 1994 inductee into the

Florida Artists Hall of Fame Florida Artists Hall of Fame recognizes artists who have made significant contributions to art in Florida. It was established by the Florida Legislature in 1986. There is a Florida Artists Hall of Fame Wall on the Plaza Level in the rotunda of the ...

.Ellen Taaffe Zwilich
Florida Artists Hall of Fame Zwilich has served as the Francis Eppes Distinguished Professor at

Florida State University Florida State University (FSU) is a public research university in Tallahassee, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida. Founded in 1851, it is located on the oldest continuous site of higher education in the st ...

Biography

Ellen Taaffe was born in

Miami, Florida Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...

, and began her studies as a violinist, earning a

bachelor of music Bachelor of Music (BM or BMus) is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of a program of study in music. In the United States, it is a professional degree, and the majority of work consists of prescr ...

from

in 1960. She moved to New York City to play with the American Symphony Orchestra under

Leopold Stokowski Leopold Anthony Stokowski (18 April 1882 – 13 September 1977) was a British conductor. One of the leading conductors of the early and mid-20th century, he is best known for his long association with the Philadelphia Orchestra and his appeara ...

. She later enrolled at Juilliard, eventually (in 1975) becoming the first woman to earn the degree of

doctor of musical arts The Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) is a doctoral academic degree in music. The DMA combines advanced studies in an applied area of specialization (usually music performance, music composition, or conducting) with graduate-level academic study in su ...

in composition. Her teachers included John Boda,

Elliott Carter Elliott Cook Carter Jr. (December 11, 1908 – November 5, 2012) was an American modernist composer. One of the most respected composers of the second half of the 20th century, he combined elements of European modernism and American "ultra- ...

, and

Roger Sessions Roger Huntington Sessions (December 28, 1896March 16, 1985) was an American composer, teacher and musicologist. He had initially started his career writing in a neoclassical style, but gradually moved further towards more complex harmonies and ...

. She first came to prominence when

Pierre Boulez Pierre Louis Joseph Boulez (; 26 March 1925 – 5 January 2016) was a French composer, conductor and writer, and the founder of several musical institutions. He was one of the dominant figures of post-war Western classical music. Born in Mont ...

programmed her '' Symposium for Orchestra'' with the Juilliard Symphony Orchestra in 1975."Ellen Taaffe Zwilich." Theodore Presser Online. Accessed December 20, 2006. Availabl
here
Some of her work during this period was written for her husband, violinist Joseph Zwilich, who played in the orchestra of the

Metropolitan Opera The Metropolitan Opera (commonly known as the Met) is an American opera company based in New York City, resident at the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center, currently situated on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The company is operat ...

. He died in 1979, after which Taaffe Zwilich refocused her compositional efforts on "communicating more directly with performers and listeners," softening her somewhat harsh, jagged style. Her Symphony No. 1 (''Three Movements for Orchestra'') was premiered by the American Composers Orchestra in 1982, conducted by

Gunther Schuller Gunther Alexander Schuller (November 22, 1925June 21, 2015) was an American composer, conductor, horn player, author, historian, educator, publisher, and jazz musician. Biography and works Early years Schuller was born in Queens, New York City, ...

. It won the 1983 Pulitzer Prize, after which her popularity and income from commissions ensured that she could devote herself to composing full-time. From 1995-99, she was the first occupant of the Composer's Chair at

Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhatta ...

;"Women of Historic Note"
''Washington Post'', By Gayle Worl March 9, 1997 while there, she created the "Making Music" concert series, which focuses on performances and lectures by living composers, a series that is still in existence. She has received a number of other honors, including the Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge Chamber Music Prize, the

Arturo Toscanini Arturo Toscanini (; ; March 25, 1867January 16, 1957) was an Italian conductor. He was one of the most acclaimed and influential musicians of the late 19th and early 20th century, renowned for his intensity, his perfectionism, his ear for orch ...

Music Critics Award, the

Ernst von Dohnányi Ernst von Dohnányi (Hungarian: ''Dohnányi Ernő'', ; 27 July 1877 – 9 February 1960) was a Hungarian composer, pianist and conductor. He used a German form of his name on most published compositions. Biography Dohnányi was born in Pozsony ...

Citation, an Academy Award from the

American Academy of Arts and Letters The American Academy of Arts and Letters is a 300-member honor society whose goal is to "foster, assist, and sustain excellence" in American literature, music, and art. Its fixed number membership is elected for lifetime appointments. Its headqu ...

, a Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship, and four Grammy nominations. She was elected to the

and the

American Academy of Arts and Sciences The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (abbreviation: AAA&S) is one of the oldest learned societies in the United States. It was founded in 1780 during the American Revolution by John Adams, John Hancock, James Bowdoin, Andrew Oliver, and ...

, and in 1999, she was designated

Musical America ''Musical America'' is the oldest American magazine on classical music, first appearing in 1898 in print and in 1999 online, at musicalamerica.com. It is published by Performing Arts Resources, LLC, of East Windsor, New Jersey. History 1898–19 ...

's Composer of the Year. She has been professor at Florida State University, and has served for many years on the advisory panel of the BMI Foundation, Inc. In 2009, she became the chair of the BMI Student Composer Awards following Milton Babbitt and William Schuman. She has received six honorary doctorates.

Musical career

Taaffe Zwilich's compositional style is marked by an obsession with "the idea of generating an entire work – large-scale structure, melodic and harmonic language, and developmental processes – from its initial motives." In addition to large scale orchestral works like '' Symbolon'' (1988), Symphony No. 2 (''Cello Symphony'') (1985), and Symphony No. 3 (1992), she has written a number of notable, smaller-scale concertos. These include works for

trombone The trombone (german: Posaune, Italian, French: ''trombone'') is a musical instrument in the Brass instrument, brass family. As with all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player's vibrating lips cause the Standing wave, air column ...

(1988),

bass trombone The bass trombone (german: Bassposaune, it, trombone basso) is the bass instrument in the trombone family of brass instruments. Modern instruments are pitched in the same B♭ as the tenor trombone but with a larger bore, bell and mouthpiece to ...

(1989),

flute The flute is a family of classical music instrument in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, meaning they make sound by vibrating a column of air. However, unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is a reedless ...

(1989),

oboe The oboe ( ) is a type of double reed woodwind instrument. Oboes are usually made of wood, but may also be made of synthetic materials, such as plastic, resin, or hybrid composites. The most common oboe plays in the treble or soprano range. A ...

(1990),

bassoon The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family, which plays in the tenor and bass ranges. It is composed of six pieces, and is usually made of wood. It is known for its distinctive tone color, wide range, versatility, and virtuo ...

(1992),

horn Horn most often refers to: *Horn (acoustic), a conical or bell shaped aperture used to guide sound ** Horn (instrument), collective name for tube-shaped wind musical instruments *Horn (anatomy), a pointed, bony projection on the head of various ...

(1993),

trumpet The trumpet is a brass instrument commonly used in classical and jazz ensembles. The trumpet group ranges from the piccolo trumpet—with the highest register in the brass family—to the bass trumpet, pitched one octave below the standard ...

(1994) and

clarinet The clarinet is a musical instrument in the woodwind family. The instrument has a nearly cylindrical bore and a flared bell, and uses a single reed to produce sound. Clarinets comprise a family of instruments of differing sizes and pitches ...

(2002). She has also written a small number of choral works and

song cycle A song cycle (german: Liederkreis or Liederzyklus) is a group, or cycle (music), cycle, of individually complete Art song, songs designed to be performed in a sequence as a unit.Susan Youens, ''Grove online'' The songs are either for solo voice ...

s. Her music was conducted by

at Juilliard in 1975. Her major breakthrough came after winning the 1983

Pulitzer Prize The Pulitzer Prize () is an award for achievements in newspaper, magazine, online journalism, literature, and musical composition within the United States. It was established in 1917 by provisions in the will of Joseph Pulitzer, who had made h ...

for her Symphony No. 1. Following this, she was commissioned to work on two more symphonies, for the San Francisco Symphony and for the

New York Philharmonic The New York Philharmonic, officially the Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York, Inc., globally known as New York Philharmonic Orchestra (NYPO) or New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, is a symphony orchestra based in New York City. It is ...

's 150th anniversary. ''Symbolon'' has been performed in Europe, Asia, and America.

Symphonies

* Symphony No. 1 ''Three Movements for Orchestra'' (1982,

, 1983) * Symphony No. 2 ''Cello Symphony'' (1985) * ''Symphony for Winds'' (1989) * Symphony No. 3 (1992) * Symphony No. 4 ''The Gardens'' for chorus, children's chorus and orchestra (1999, commissioned by

Michigan State University Michigan State University (Michigan State, MSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, the fi ...

) * Symphony No. 5 ''Concerto for Orchestra'' (2008, commissioned by

The Juilliard School The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Established in 1905, the school trains about 850 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama, and music. It is widely regarded as one of the most elit ...

; Premiere on October 27, 2008, Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard Orchestra, James Conlon, conductor)

Other symphonic works

* ''Symposium'' (1973) * ''Passages'' (1982) * ''Prologue and Variations'', for String orchestra (1983) * ''Tanzspiel'', ballet in four scenes (1983) * ''Celebration for Orchestra'' (Overture) (1984) * '' Concerto Grosso 1985'' (in commemoration of the 300th anniversary of

George Frideric Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque music, Baroque composer well known for his opera#Baroque era, operas, oratorios, anthems, concerto grosso, concerti grossi, ...

's birth) * '' Symbolon'' (1988) * ''Ceremonies for Concert Band'' (1988) * ''Fantasy for orchestra'' (1993) * ''Jubilation Overture'' (1996) * ''Upbeat!'' (1998) * ''Openings'' (2001)

Concertante works

Piano Concerto A piano concerto is a type of concerto, a solo composition in the classical music genre which is composed for a piano player, which is typically accompanied by an orchestra or other large ensemble. Piano concertos are typically virtuoso showpiec ...

(No. 1) (1986) * ''Images'' (Suite in five movements) for two pianos and orchestra (1986) * Trombone Concerto (1988) * Concerto for bass trombone, strings, timpani and cymbals (1989) * Flute Concerto (No. 1) (1989) *

Oboe Concerto A number of concertos (as well as non-concerto works) have been written for the oboe, both as a solo instrument as well as in conjunction with other solo instrument(s), and accompanied by string orchestra, chamber orchestra, full orchestra, conce ...

(1990) *

Double Concerto A double concerto (Italian: ''Doppio concerto''; German: ''Doppelkonzert'') is a concerto featuring two performers—as opposed to the usual single performer, in the solo role. The two performers' instruments may be of the same type, as in Bach's ...

for violin, cello and orchestra (1991) *

Bassoon Concerto A bassoon concerto is a concerto for bassoon accompanied by a musical ensemble, typically orchestra. Like bassoon sonatas, bassoon concerti were relatively uncommon until the twentieth century, although there are quite a few bassoon concerti ...

(1992) * Concerto for horn and string orchestra (1993) * ''Romance'' for violin and chamber Orchestra (or for violin and piano) (1993) * '' American Concerto'' for trumpet and orchestra (1994) * Triple Concerto for piano, violin, cello and orchestra (1995) * '' Peanuts Gallery'', six pieces for piano and chamber orchestra (1996) *

Violin Concerto A violin concerto is a concerto for solo violin (occasionally, two or more violins) and instrumental ensemble (customarily orchestra). Such works have been written since the Baroque period, when the solo concerto form was first developed, up thro ...

(No. 1) (1997) * '' Millennium Fantasy'' (Piano Concerto No. 2) (2000; commissioned for Pianist Jeffrey Biegel, project featuring 27 orchestras in the USA; premiere with Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Jesus Lopez-Cobos conductor; recorded for Naxos with the Florida State University Orchestra, Alexander Jimenez conductor * ''Partita'' (Violin Concerto No. 2) for violin and string orchestra (2000) *

Clarinet Concerto A clarinet concerto is a concerto for clarinet; that is, a musical composition for solo clarinet together with a large ensemble (such as an orchestra or concert band). Albert Rice has identified a work by Giuseppe Antonio Paganelli as possibly th ...

(2002) * ''Rituals'' for five percussion players and orchestra (2003) (Invocation ; Ambulation ; Remembrances ; Contests) * ''Shadows'' (Piano Concerto No. 3) (2011; commissioned for pianist Jeffrey Biegel, 8 orchestras in the US, Canada and England; premiere with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Carlos Miguel Prieto conductor; October 28/29, 2011) * ''Commedia dell'Arte'' (Violin Concerto No. 3) for violin and string orchestra (2012) * ''Concerto Elegia'' (Elegy, Soliloquy and Finale) for flute and string orchestra (2015) * ''Pas de Trois'' (Piano Trio, 2016) * Cello Concerto (2020)

Chamber music

* Violin Sonata in Three Movements (1973–74) * String Quartet No. 1 (1974) * Clarinet Quintet (1977) * Chamber Symphony for flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello and piano (1979) * ''Passages'' (1981) * String Trio (1982) * ''Divertimento'' for flute, clarinet, violin and cello (1983) * ''Intrada'' (1983) * Concerto for trumpet and five instruments (flute, clarinet, percussion, double bass and piano) (1984) * ''Double Quartet'' for strings (1984) * Piano Trio (1987) * Clarinet Quintet (1990) * ''Romance'' for violin and piano (or for violin and chamber orchestra) (1993) * String Quartet No. 2 (1998) * ''Lament'' for cello and piano (2000) * ''Episodes'' for violin and piano (2003) * Quartet for oboe and strings (2004) * Quintet for alto saxophone and string quartet (2007) * ''Episodes'' for soprano saxophone and piano (2007) * Septet for piano trio and string quartet (2008) * Quintet for violin, viola, cello, double bass and piano (2010) * ''Voyage'' (String Quartet No. 3) (2012)

Notes

External links

* * *
ENCOUNTERS: Ellen Taaffe Zwilich
by George Sturm
Ellen Taafe Zwilich's page at Theodore Presser Company

January 13, 1986
Ellen Zwilich with David Dubal in 1991
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zwilich, Ellen Taaffe 20th-century classical composers 21st-century classical composers American women classical composers American classical composers Florida State University alumni Pulitzer Prize for Music winners MacDowell Colony fellows Members of the American Academy of Arts and Letters American people of German descent 1939 births Living people Florida State University faculty Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Musicians from Miami Pupils of Roger Sessions 21st-century American composers 20th-century American women musicians 20th-century American composers 21st-century American women musicians 20th-century women composers 21st-century women composers American women academics