John Harris Harbison (born December 20, 1938) is an American
composer
A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music.
Etymology and Defi ...
, known for his symphonies, operas, and large choral works.
Life
John Harris Harbison was born on December 20, 1938, in
Orange, New Jersey
The City of Orange is a township in Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 U.S. census, the township's population was 30,134, reflecting a decline of 2,734 (−8.3%) from the 32,868 counted in 2000.
Orange was original ...
, to the historian Elmore Harris Harbison and Janet German Harbison. The Harbisons were a musical family; Elmore had studied composition in his youth and Janet wrote songs. Harbison's sisters Helen and Margaret were musicians as well. He won the prestigious
BMI Foundation The BMI Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization founded in 1985 by executives of Broadcast Music Incorporated for the purpose of "encouraging the creation, performance and study of music through awards, scholarships, internships, grants, and c ...
's Student Composer Awards for composition at the age of 16 in 1954. He studied music at
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...
(BA 1960), where he sang with the
Harvard Glee Club
The Harvard Glee Club is a 60-voice, Tenor-Bass choral ensemble at Harvard University. Founded in 1858 in the tradition of English and American glee clubs, it is the oldest collegiate chorus in the United States. The Glee Club is part of the H ...
, and later at the Berlin Musikhochschule and at
Princeton
Princeton University is a private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the ni ...
(MFA 1963). He is an
Institute Professor
An institute is an organisational body created for a certain purpose. They are often research organisations (research institutes) created to do research on specific topics, or can also be a professional body.
In some countries, institutes can ...
of music at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private land-grant research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1861, MIT has played a key role in the development of modern technology and science, and is one of the ...
. He is a former student of
Walter Piston
Walter Hamor Piston, Jr. (January 20, 1894 – November 12, 1976), was an American composer of classical music, music theorist, and professor of music at Harvard University.
Life
Piston was born in Rockland, Maine at 15 Ocean Street to Walter Ha ...
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 ...
. His works include several symphonies, string quartets, and concerti for violin, viola, and double bass.
He won the
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 music in 1987 for ''
The Flight into Egypt
The flight into Egypt is a story recounted in the Gospel of Matthew ( Matthew 2:13– 23) and in New Testament apocrypha. Soon after the visit by the Magi, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream telling him to flee to Egypt with Mary and the i ...
'', and in 1989 he received a $305,000
MacArthur Fellowship
The MacArthur Fellows Program, also known as the MacArthur Fellowship and commonly but unofficially known as the "Genius Grant", is a prize awarded annually by the MacArthur Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation typically to ...
. In 1998 he was awarded the 4th Annual
Heinz Award
The Heinz Awards are individual achievement honors given annually by the Heinz Family Foundation. The Heinz Awards each year recognize outstanding individuals for their innovative contributions in three areas: the Arts, the Economy and the Enviro ...
in the Arts and Humanities. He was awarded the Harvard Arts Medal in 2000. In 2006 a recording of his ''Mottetti di Montale'' was nominated for a
Grammy Award
The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...
in the Best Small Ensemble Performance category.
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 ...
commissioned Harbison's ''
The Great Gatsby
''The Great Gatsby'' is a 1925 novel by American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald. Set in the Jazz Age on Long Island, near New York City, the novel depicts First-person narrative, first-person narrator Nick Carraway's interactions with mysterious mil ...
'' to celebrate
James Levine
James Lawrence Levine (; June 23, 1943 – March 9, 2021) was an American conductor and pianist. He was music director of the Metropolitan Opera from 1976 to 2016. He was terminated from all his positions and affiliations with the Met on March 1 ...
's 25th anniversary with the company. The opera premiered on December 20, 1999, conducted by Levine and starring
Jerry Hadley
Jerry Hadley (June 16, 1952 – July 18, 2007) was an American operatic tenor. He received three Grammy awards for his vocal performances in the recordings of ''Jenůfa'' (2004 Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording), ''Susannah'' (1995 Grammy Awar ...
,
Dawn Upshaw
Dawn Upshaw (born July 17, 1960) is an American soprano. She is the recipient of several Grammy Awards and has released a number of Edison Award-winning discs; she performs both opera and art song, and her repertoire spans Baroque to contempor ...
,
Susan Graham
Susan Graham (born July 23, 1960) is an American mezzo-soprano.
Life and career
Susan Graham was born in Roswell, New Mexico on July 23, 1960. Raised in Midland, Texas, Graham is a graduate of Texas Tech University and the Manhattan School o ...
,
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson (March 1, 1954 – July 3, 2006) was an American mezzo-soprano. She was noted for her performances of both Baroque era and contemporary works. Her career path to becoming a singer was unconventional – formerly a pro ...
, Mark Baker,
Dwayne Croft
Dwayne Croft is an American baritone who has sung in more than 500 performances in 38 roles at the Metropolitan Opera.
He won the Richard Tucker Award in 1996.
He created the role of Nick Carraway in John Harbison's ''The Great Gatsby'' in 1999, ...
, and Richard Paul Fink.
In 1991, Harbison was the music director of the
Ojai Music Festival
The Ojai Music Festival is an annual classical music festival in the United States. Held in Ojai, California (75 miles northwest of Los Angeles), for four days every June, the festival presents music, symposia, and educational programs emphasizi ...
in conjunction with
Peter Maxwell Davies
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies (8 September 1934 – 14 March 2016) was an English composer and conductor, who in 2004 was made Master of the Queen's Music.
As a student at both the University of Manchester and the Royal Manchester College of Music ...
.
Harbison was jointly commissioned by the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity and the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue to write a piece for the
Papal Concert of Reconciliation The Papal Concert of Reconciliation was a historic musical event in the pontificate of Pope John Paul II. The concert took place in the Paul VI Auditorium at the Vatican on January 17, 2004, in the presence of the Pontiff, Rav Elio Toaff, the Emeri ...
. The event was co-officiated by the Chief Rabbi of Rome, Rav Elio Toaff, the Imam of the Mosque of Rome, Abdulawahab Hussein Gomaa, and
Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II ( la, Ioannes Paulus II; it, Giovanni Paolo II; pl, Jan Paweł II; born Karol Józef Wojtyła ; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his ...
. ''Abraham'', a six-minute composition for
brass
Brass is an alloy of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn), in proportions which can be varied to achieve different mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties. It is a substitutional alloy: atoms of the two constituents may replace each other with ...
and antiphonal
choirs
A choir ( ; also known as a chorale or chorus) is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform. Choirs may perform music from the classical music repertoire, which sp ...
, had its world premiere on January 17, 2004, performed by members of the
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
The ''Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra'' (''PSO'') is an American orchestra based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The orchestra's home is Heinz Hall, located in Pittsburgh's Cultural District, Pittsburgh, Cultural District.
History
The Pittsburgh Sy ...
and a choir made up of members of the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, the
London Philharmonic Choir
The London Philharmonic Choir (LPC) is one of the leading independent British choirs in the United Kingdom based in London. The patron is Princess Alexandra, The Hon Lady Ogilvy and Sir Mark Elder is president. The choir, comprising more than ...
, the Krakow Philharmonic Choir, and the Ankara Polyphonic Choir, under the baton of Sir
Gilbert Levine
Sir Gilbert Levine, GCSG (born January 22, 1948) is an American conductor. He is considered an "outstanding personality in the world of international music television." He has led the PBS concert debuts of the Staatskapelle Dresden, Royal Phi ...
.
Harbison was previously the principal guest conductor for
Emmanuel Music Emmanuel Music is a Boston-based collective group of singers and instrumentalists founded in 1970 by Craig Smith. It was created specifically to perform the complete cycle of over 200 sacred cantatas of J. S. Bach in the liturgical setting for whic ...
in
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
; after founding director Craig Smith's death in 2007, Harbison was named Acting Artistic Director.
Discography (incomplete)
*''
Mirabai
Meera, better known as Mirabai and venerated as Sant Meerabai, was a 16th-century Hindu mystic poet and devotee of Krishna. She is a celebrated Bhakti saint, particularly in the North Indian Hindu tradition.
Mirabai was born into a Rathore ...
Songs / Variations'' (1987). Northeastern Records NR 230-CD. Performed by Janice Felty, mezzo-soprano, Collage New Music Ensemble, conducted by John Harbison — Rose Mary Harbison, violin; David Satz, clarinet;
Ursula Oppens
Ursula Oppens (born February 2, 1944) is an American classical concert pianist and educator. She has received five Grammy Award nominations.
Biography
Ursula Oppens was born on February 2, 1944, in New York City into a highly musical family fr ...
, piano. Tracks 1-6: ''Mirabai Songs'', text from ''Mirabai Versions'' by
Robert Bly
Robert Elwood Bly (December 23, 1926 – November 21, 2021) was an American poet, essayist, activist and leader of the mythopoetic men's movement. His best-known prose book is '' Iron John: A Book About Men'' (1990), which spent 62 weeks on ' ...
. Tracks 7-10: ''Variations'', for violin, clarinet, and piano. Track listing:
#I. It's True, I Went to the Market
#II. All I Was Doing Was Breathing
#III. Why Mira Can't Go Back to Her Old House
#IV. Where Did You Go?
#V. The Clouds
#VI. Don't Go, Don't Go
#Variations i–v
#Variations vi–x
#Variations xi–xv
#Finale and Epilogue
*''The Flight into Egypt and other works by John Harbison'' (1990).
New World Records
New World Records is a record label that was established in 1975 through a Rockefeller Foundation grant to celebrate America's bicentennial (1976) by producing a 100-LP anthology, with American music from many genres.Cantata Singers and Ensemble, The Los Angeles Philharmonic New Music Group, and The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. Conducted by David Hoose, John Harbison, and
André Previn
André George Previn (; born Andreas Ludwig Priwin; April 6, 1929 – February 28, 2019) was a German-American pianist, composer, and conductor. His career had three major genres: Hollywood films, jazz, and classical music. In each he achieved ...
. Tracks:
#''
The Flight into Egypt
The flight into Egypt is a story recounted in the Gospel of Matthew ( Matthew 2:13– 23) and in New Testament apocrypha. Soon after the visit by the Magi, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream telling him to flee to Egypt with Mary and the i ...
Flight into Egypt
The flight into Egypt is a story recounted in the Gospel of Matthew ( Matthew 2:13– 23) and in New Testament apocrypha. Soon after the visit by the Magi, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream telling him to flee to Egypt with Mary and the i ...
in the
Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel of Matthew), or simply Matthew. It is most commonly abbreviated as "Matt." is the first book of the New Testament of the Bible and one of the three synoptic Gospels. It tells how Israel's Messiah, Jesus, comes to his people and for ...
#''The Natural World'': Prelude
#Where We Must Look for Help, text from
Robert Bly
Robert Elwood Bly (December 23, 1926 – November 21, 2021) was an American poet, essayist, activist and leader of the mythopoetic men's movement. His best-known prose book is '' Iron John: A Book About Men'' (1990), which spent 62 weeks on ' ...
#On the Road Home, text from
Wallace Stevens
Wallace Stevens (October 2, 1879 – August 2, 1955) was an American modernist poet. He was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, educated at Harvard and then New York Law School, and spent most of his life working as an executive for an insurance compa ...
#Milkweed, text from James Wright
#''Concerto for Double Brass Choir and Orchestra'': I. Invention on a Motif: Tempo giusto
#II. Invention on a Chord: Cantabile
#III. Invention on a Cadence: Molto allegro
*''At First Light'' (1998). Archetype Records 60106. Performed by
Lorraine Hunt
Lorraine T. Hunt (born March 11, 1939) is an American businesswoman, former politician and entertainer who served as the 32nd Lieutenant Governor of Nevada from 1999 to 2007.
Hunt was elected to the Clark County Commission in 1994, defeating ...
, mezzo-soprano,
Dawn Upshaw
Dawn Upshaw (born July 17, 1960) is an American soprano. She is the recipient of several Grammy Awards and has released a number of Edison Award-winning discs; she performs both opera and art song, and her repertoire spans Baroque to contempor ...
, soprano, Greenleaf Chamber Players, and Metamorphosen Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Scott Yoo. Tracks:
#''Due Libri dei Mottetti di Montale''
#''Snow Country''
#''Chorale Cantata''
#''Concerto for Oboe, Clarinet, and Strings''
*''John Harbison: Ulysses' Bow / Samuel Chapter'' (2004). First Edition ASIN: B0002RQ35C. Tracks:
#''Ulysses' Bow'' ballet performed by
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
The ''Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra'' (''PSO'') is an American orchestra based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The orchestra's home is Heinz Hall, located in Pittsburgh's Cultural District, Pittsburgh, Cultural District.
History
The Pittsburgh Sy ...
and conducted by
André Previn
André George Previn (; born Andreas Ludwig Priwin; April 6, 1929 – February 28, 2019) was a German-American pianist, composer, and conductor. His career had three major genres: Hollywood films, jazz, and classical music. In each he achieved ...
#''Samuel Chapter'' performed by Susan Larson (soprano) and conducted by John Harbison
*''The Reawakening'', String Quartet No. 3, ''Fantasia on a Ground'', ''Thanks Victor'' (2001). Musica Omnia om0110. Lydian String Quartet, Dominique Labelle, soprano.
*World Premiere Recordings: Violin Concerto, Recordare, Seven Motets (1997). Koch 3-7310-2-H1. Emmanuel Music, Craig Smith, conductor, Rose-Mary Harbison, violin.
*Sessions: Symphony No. 2; Harbison: Symphony No. 2, Oboe Concerto (1994). London 443 376-2. San Francisco Symphony, Herbert Blomstedt, conductor, William Bennet, oboe.
*String Quartet No.1/String Quartet No. 2/''November 19, 1828'' (1992). Lydian String Quartet, Yehudi Wyner, piano.
*''Simple Daylight''/''Words from Patterson''/Piano Quintet, (1999). Electra Nonesuch 79189-2. Boston Symphony Chamber Players, Gilbert Kalish, piano, Sanford Sylvan, baritone, Dawn Upshaw, soprano.
*''Four Psalms''/''Emerson'' (2004). New World Records 80613-2. Cantata Singers and Ensemble, David Hoose, conductor.
*''Mottetti di Montale'' (2005). Koch KIC-CD-7545. Collage New Music, David Hoose, music director, Janice Felty and Margaret Lattimore mezzo-sopranos.
* ''Four Songs of Solitude/Variations/Twilight Music'' (2003) Naxos. Daniel Blumenthal, Jannine Jansen, Lars Wouters van der Oudenweijer, Bernhard Krug, Spectrum Concerts Berlin.
Works
Operas
*''Full Moon in March'' (1977) – chamber opera
*''Winter's Tale'' (1979) – based on the play by
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...
*''
The Great Gatsby
''The Great Gatsby'' is a 1925 novel by American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald. Set in the Jazz Age on Long Island, near New York City, the novel depicts First-person narrative, first-person narrator Nick Carraway's interactions with mysterious mil ...
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald (September 24, 1896 – December 21, 1940) was an American novelist, essayist, and short story writer. He is best known for his novels depicting the flamboyance and excess of the Jazz Age—a term he popularize ...
, commissioned by 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 ...
Ballet
*''Ulysses'' (1983)
Orchestral
*Incidental Music from ''The Merchant of Venice'' (1971), for string orchestra
*''Elegiac Songs'' (1974), for mezzo-soprano and chamber orchestra
*:commissioned by the Fromm Music Foundation
*''Diotima'' (1976)
*:commissioned by the Koussevitzky Music Foundation in the
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The library is ...
*Piano Concerto (1978), for piano and chamber orchestra
*:commissioned by the
American Composers Orchestra
The American Composers Orchestra (ACO) is an American orchestra administratively based in New York City, specialising in contemporary American music. The ACO gives concerts at various concert venues in New York City, including:
* Zankel Hall at ...
for Robert Miller
*''Snow Country'' (1979), for oboe and string orchestra
*:commissioned by Dr. Maurice Pechet, New England arts patron
*Violin Concerto (1978–80), for violin and chamber orchestra
*:written for Rose Mary Harbison
* Symphony No. 1 (1981)
*:commissioned by the
Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the second-oldest of the five major American symphony orchestras commonly referred to as the " Big Five". Founded by Henry Lee Higginson in 1881, ...
*Concerto for Oboe, Clarinet and String Orchestra (1985)
*:commissioned by the
National Endowment of the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal ...
for the
Toledo Symphony Orchestra
The Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts was created in 2019 when the Toledo Symphony Orchestra and the Toledo Ballet merged. Based in Toledo, Ohio, it operated with a $13.2 million budget in its fiscal year 2020 and maintains the two brand n ...
, the International Chamber Soloists, the Wall Street Chamber Players, the
Philadelphia College of Performing Arts
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Since ...
, the
Carnegie-Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. One of its predecessors was established in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie as the Carnegie Technical Schools; it became the Carnegie Institute of Technology ...
and the
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
, mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth"
, former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821)
, budget = $10.3 billion (2021)
, endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...
.
*''Remembering Gatsby'' (1985)
*:commissioned by the
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) is an American orchestra based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The ASO's main concert venue is Atlanta Symphony Hall in the Woodruff Arts Center.
History
Though earlier organizations bearing the same name date b ...
San Francisco Symphony
The San Francisco Symphony (SFS), founded in 1911, is an American orchestra based in San Francisco, California. Since 1980 the orchestra has been resident at the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall in the city's Hayes Valley neighborhood. The San Fr ...
in celebration of the orchestra's seventy-fifth anniversary season
*Concerto for Double Brass Choir and Orchestra (1988), for twelve brass soli and chamber orchestra
*:commissioned by the
Los Angeles Philharmonic
The Los Angeles Philharmonic, commonly referred to as the LA Phil, is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at th ...
*
Viola Concerto
A viola concerto is a concerto contrasting a viola with another body of musical instruments such as an orchestra or chamber music ensemble. Early examples of viola concertos include Telemann's concerto in G major and several concertos by Carl St ...
(1988), for viola and orchestra
*:commissioned by the
New Jersey Symphony
The New Jersey Symphony, formerly the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, is an American symphony orchestra based in the state of New Jersey. The New Jersey Symphony is the state orchestra of New Jersey, performing classical subscription concert seri ...
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra based in Baltimore, Maryland. The Baltimore SO has its principal residence at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, where it performs more than 130 concerts a year. In 2005, it bega ...
*''David's Fascinating Rhythm Method'' (1991), for chamber orchestra
*:commissioned by the
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra based in Baltimore, Maryland. The Baltimore SO has its principal residence at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, where it performs more than 130 concerts a year. In 2005, it bega ...
*''Three City Blocks'' (1991), for concert band
*:commissioned by the concert bands of the
New England Conservatory
The New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) is a private music school in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the oldest independent music conservatory in the United States and among the most prestigious in the world. The conservatory is located on Hu ...
,
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati (UC or Cincinnati) is a public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1819 as Cincinnati College, it is the oldest institution of higher education in Cincinnati and has an annual enrollment of over 44,00 ...
,
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 ...
,
U.S. Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Sign ...
,
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly called Ohio State or OSU, is a public land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio. A member of the University System of Ohio, it has been ranked by major institutional rankings among the best publ ...
,
University of Michigan
, mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth"
, former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821)
, budget = $10.3 billion (2021)
, endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...
and
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in C ...
.
*
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 ...
(1991), for oboe and orchestra
*:commissioned by the
San Francisco Symphony
The San Francisco Symphony (SFS), founded in 1911, is an American orchestra based in San Francisco, California. Since 1980 the orchestra has been resident at the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall in the city's Hayes Valley neighborhood. The San Fr ...
*Cello Concerto (1993), for cello and orchestra
*:commissioned by
Yo-Yo Ma
Yo-Yo Ma (''Chinese'': 馬友友 ''Ma Yo Yo''; born October 7, 1955) is an American cellist. Born in Paris to Chinese parents and educated in New York City, he was a child prodigy, performing from the age of four and a half. He graduated from ...
and the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) was founded by Theodore Thomas in 1891. The ensemble makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival. The music director is Riccardo Muti, who began his tenure ...
*''The Most Often Used Chords'' (1993), for chamber orchestra
*:commissioned by the
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) is an American chamber orchestra based in Los Angeles, California. LACO presents its Orchestral Series concerts at two venues, the Alex Theatre in Glendale and UCLA's Royce Hall.
History
James Arkatov, a ...
*Flute Concerto (1994), for flute and orchestra
*:commissioned by
Ransom Wilson
Ransom Wilson (born 25 October 1951 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama) is an American flutist, conductor, and educator.
He currently is an Artist of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Le Train Bleu ensemble ...
and the
American Composers Orchestra
The American Composers Orchestra (ACO) is an American orchestra administratively based in New York City, specialising in contemporary American music. The ACO gives concerts at various concert venues in New York City, including:
* Zankel Hall at ...
*''Olympic Dances'' (1996), for concert band
*:commissioned by the
College Band Directors National Association
William D. Revelli (February 12, 1902 – July 16, 1994) was an American music educator and conductor best known for his association with the University of Michigan, where he directed the university's bands including the Michigan Marching Ban ...
*Partita (2001)
*:commissioned by the
Minnesota Orchestra
The Minnesota Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Founded originally as the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1903, the Minnesota Orchestra plays most of its concerts at Minneapolis's Orchestra Hall.
History
Em ...
Seattle Symphony
The Seattle Symphony is an American orchestra based in Seattle, Washington. Since 1998, the orchestra is resident at Benaroya Hall. The orchestra also serves as the accompanying orchestra for the Seattle Opera.
History
Beginnings
The orchestra ...
*''Crane Sightings'' (2004), for violin and string orchestra
*:written for Rose Mary Harbison, the composer's wife
*''Darkbloom: Overture for an Imagined Opera'' (2004)
*:commissioned by the
Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the second-oldest of the five major American symphony orchestras commonly referred to as the " Big Five". Founded by Henry Lee Higginson in 1881, ...
*''Canonical American Songbook'' (2005)
*:commissioned by the
Albany Symphony Orchestra
The Albany Symphony Orchestra is a professional symphony orchestra based in Albany, New York.
Founded in 1930 as the People's Orchestra of Albany by Italian-born conductor John Carabella, the Albany Symphony is the oldest professional symphony ...
*Concerto for Bass Viol (2005), for double bass and chamber orchestra
*:commissioned by the
International Society of Bassists The International Society of Bassists (ISB) is a 501(C)(3) not-for-profit organization for anybody who enjoys the double bass. The society was founded in 1967 by Gary Karr as the International Institute for String Bass (IISB). After a two-year hiat ...
*'' Milosz Songs'' (2006), for soprano and orchestra
*:commissioned by 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 ...
for
Dawn Upshaw
Dawn Upshaw (born July 17, 1960) is an American soprano. She is the recipient of several Grammy Awards and has released a number of Edison Award-winning discs; she performs both opera and art song, and her repertoire spans Baroque to contempor ...
*''Rubies (after Thelonius Monk's "Ruby, My Dear")'' (2006)
*:commissioned by
Gerard Schwarz
Gerard Schwarz (born August 19, 1947), also known as Gerry Schwarz or Jerry Schwarz, is an American symphony conductor and trumpeter. As of 2019, Schwarz serves as the Artistic and Music Director of Palm Beach Symphony and the Director of Orche ...
and the
Seattle Symphony
The Seattle Symphony is an American orchestra based in Seattle, Washington. Since 1998, the orchestra is resident at Benaroya Hall. The orchestra also serves as the accompanying orchestra for the Seattle Opera.
History
Beginnings
The orchestra ...
*''The Great Gatsby – Suite'' (2007)
*:commissioned by the
Aspen Music Festival and School
The Aspen Music Festival and School (AMFS) is a classical music festival held annually in Aspen, Colorado.
It is noted both for its concert programming and the musical training it offers to mostly young-adult music students. Founded in 1949, the ...
* Symphony No. 5 (2007), for mezzo-soprano, baritone soli and orchestra
*:commissioned by the
Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the second-oldest of the five major American symphony orchestras commonly referred to as the " Big Five". Founded by Henry Lee Higginson in 1881, ...
*''Mary Lou (Four Symphonic Memories of Mary Lou Williams)'' (2008)
*:commissioned by the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony
* Double Concerto for Violin and Cello (2009), for violin, cello and orchestra
*:commissioned by the Friends of the Dresden Music Foundation for the
Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the second-oldest of the five major American symphony orchestras commonly referred to as the " Big Five". Founded by Henry Lee Higginson in 1881, ...
*''Closer to My Own Life'' (2011), for mezzo-soprano and chamber orchestra
* Symphony No. 6 (2011), for mezzo-soprano and orchestra
*:commissioned by
James Levine
James Lawrence Levine (; June 23, 1943 – March 9, 2021) was an American conductor and pianist. He was music director of the Metropolitan Opera from 1976 to 2016. He was terminated from all his positions and affiliations with the Met on March 1 ...
and the
Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the second-oldest of the five major American symphony orchestras commonly referred to as the " Big Five". Founded by Henry Lee Higginson in 1881, ...
*''Crossroads'' (2012), for soprano/mezzo-soprano, oboe and string orchestra ''or'' oboe, two violins, viola, cello and double bass
*''Koussevitzky Said'' (2012), for S.A.T.B. choir and orchestra
*'' What Do We Make of Bach?'' (2018), for organ obbligato and orchestra
*:commissioned by
Minnesota Orchestra
The Minnesota Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Founded originally as the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1903, the Minnesota Orchestra plays most of its concerts at Minneapolis's Orchestra Hall.
History
Em ...
,
Seattle Symphony
The Seattle Symphony is an American orchestra based in Seattle, Washington. Since 1998, the orchestra is resident at Benaroya Hall. The orchestra also serves as the accompanying orchestra for the Seattle Opera.
History
Beginnings
The orchestra ...
*''In Spiritu: Prayer'' (1955), for a cappella male-voice choir
*''Ave Maria'' (1959), for a cappella S.S.A.A. choir
*''He Shall Not Cry'' (1959), for S.A. choir and organ
*''Five Songs of Experience'' (1971), for S.A.T.B. choir, two percussion and string quartet
*:commissioned by the
Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Boston
Emmanuel Episcopal Church, a historic church at 15 Newbury Street in Boston, Massachusetts, was founded in 1860 as part of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts.
History
Designed by architect Alexander Rice Esty and constructed in 1861, it was t ...
for the Cantata Singers
*''Music When Soft Voices Die'' (1966), for S.A.T.B. choir and harpsichord ''or'' organ
*:commissioned by the Cantata Singers
*''Nunc Dimittis'' (1975), for T.B. choir and piano
*:commissioned by the
Harvard Glee Club
The Harvard Glee Club is a 60-voice, Tenor-Bass choral ensemble at Harvard University. Founded in 1858 in the tradition of English and American glee clubs, it is the oldest collegiate chorus in the United States. The Glee Club is part of the H ...
*''The Flower-Fed Buffaloes'' (1976), for baritone solo, S.S.A.T.B.B. choir and instrumental ensemble
*:commissioned by the
New York State Bar Association
The New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) is a voluntary bar association for the state of New York. The mission of the association is to cultivate the science of jurisprudence; promote reform in the law; facilitate the administration of justice ...
*''
The Flight into Egypt
The flight into Egypt is a story recounted in the Gospel of Matthew ( Matthew 2:13– 23) and in New Testament apocrypha. Soon after the visit by the Magi, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream telling him to flee to Egypt with Mary and the i ...
'' (1986), for soprano, baritone soli, S.A.T.B. choir and chamber orchestra
*:commissioned by the Cantata Singers
*''Two Emmanuel Motets'' (1990), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choir
*:commissioned by the
Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Boston
Emmanuel Episcopal Church, a historic church at 15 Newbury Street in Boston, Massachusetts, was founded in 1860 as part of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts.
History
Designed by architect Alexander Rice Esty and constructed in 1861, it was t ...
*''Ave Verum Corpus'' (1991), for a cappella S.S.A.T.B. choir
*:commissioned by the Emmanuel Choir, Boston and the Ojai Festival
*''O Magnum Mysterium'' (1991/92), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choir
*:commissioned by Saturday Evening Brass
*''Veni Creator Spiritus'' (1992), for a cappella T.B. choir
*:commissioned by the Rosalind Denny Lewis Music Library at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private land-grant research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1861, MIT has played a key role in the development of modern technology and science, and is one of the ...
*''Communion Words'' (1994), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choir
*''Concerning Them Which Are Asleep'' (1994), for a cappella S.S.A.T.B.B. choir
*''Emerson'' (1995), a cappella S.A.T.B. double choir
*:commissioned by the
University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Music
The University of Wisconsin–Madison Mead Witter School of Music is a collegiate music school. It was known as the University of Wisconsin - Madison School of Music until 2016, when the Mead Witter Foundation contributed a $25 million gift to th ...
for their 100th anniversary (1995)
*''Juste Judex'' (1995), for mezzo-soprano, baritone soli, S.A.T.B. choir and orchestra
*:commissioned as part of the Requiem of Reconciliation
*''Evening (Der Abend)'' (1997), for a cappella S.A.T.B. double choir
*''Four Psalms'' (1998), for S.A.T.B. soli, S.A.T.B. choir and orchestra
*:commissioned by the Israeli Consulate for the Chicago Symphony
*''Psalm 137'' (1998), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choir
*
Requiem
A Requiem or Requiem Mass, also known as Mass for the dead ( la, Missa pro defunctis) or Mass of the dead ( la, Missa defunctorum), is a Mass of the Catholic Church offered for the repose of the soul or souls of one or more deceased persons, ...
(1985–2002), for S.A.T.B. soli, S.A.T.B. choir and orchestra
*:commissioned by the
Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the second-oldest of the five major American symphony orchestras commonly referred to as the " Big Five". Founded by Henry Lee Higginson in 1881, ...
*''We do not live to ourselves'' (2002), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choir
*''Abraham'' (2004), for double S.A.T.B. choir and two large brass choirs
*:commissioned for the
Papal Concert of Reconciliation The Papal Concert of Reconciliation was a historic musical event in the pontificate of Pope John Paul II. The concert took place in the Paul VI Auditorium at the Vatican on January 17, 2004, in the presence of the Pontiff, Rav Elio Toaff, the Emeri ...
in Rome for the Ankara Polyphonic Choir,
London Philharmonic Choir
The London Philharmonic Choir (LPC) is one of the leading independent British choirs in the United Kingdom based in London. The patron is Princess Alexandra, The Hon Lady Ogilvy and Sir Mark Elder is president. The choir, comprising more than ...
, Krakow Philharmonic Choir and musicians from the
Pittsburgh Symphony
The ''Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra'' (''PSO'') is an American orchestra based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The orchestra's home is Heinz Hall, located in Pittsburgh's Cultural District, Pittsburgh, Cultural District.
History
The Pittsburgh Sy ...
*''Charity Never Faileth'' (2004), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choir
*''Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled'' (2004), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choir
*''My Little Children, Let Us Not Love in Word'' (2004), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choir
*:commissioned by the Cantata Singers
*''But Mary Stood'' (2005), for soprano solo, choir and string orchestra
*:commissioned by the Cantata Singers
*''Umbrian Landscape with Saint'' (2005), for optional choir and chamber ensemble
*:commissioned by the Chicago Chamber Musicians
*''A Clear Midnight'' (2007), for T.T.B.B. choir and five strings
*:commissioned by the Georgina Joshi Foundation for
Indiana University
Indiana University (IU) is a system of public universities in the U.S. state of Indiana.
Campuses
Indiana University has two core campuses, five regional campuses, and two regional centers under the administration of IUPUI.
*Indiana Universit ...
and the Pro Arte Singers
*''Madrigal'' (2007), for a cappella S.A.T.B.B. choir
*:commissioned by the New York Virtuoso Singers
*''The Pool'' (2010), for S.A.T.B. choir and piano
*''Koussevitzky Said: Choral Scherzo with Orchestra'' (2012), for S.A.T.B. choir and orchestra: commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra in Celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the
Tanglewood Music Festival
The Tanglewood Music Festival is a music festival held every summer on the Tanglewood estate in Stockbridge and Lenox in the Berkshire Hills in western Massachusetts.
The festival consists of a series of concerts, including symphonic music, ch ...
*''The Supper at Emmaus'' (2013), for S.A.T.B. choir, two oboes, bassoon, organ and string orchestra
*''Never Time'' (2015), for jazz choir and jazz band
*''Psalm 116'' (2016), for a cappella S.S.S.A.A.A.T.T.T.B.B.B. choir
*:commissioned by Chanticleer
Chamber
*''Andante con moto'' (1955), for cello and piano
*''Duo'' (1961), for flute and piano
*''Canzonetta'' (1962), for bassoon quartet
*''Confinement'' (1965), for twelve players
*:written for the Contemporary Chamber Ensemble and
Arthur Weisberg
Arthur Weisberg (April 4, 1931 – January 17, 2009) was an American clarinetist, bassoonist, conductor, composer and author.
Biography
Weisberg was born in New York City. He attended The High School of Music & Art, majoring in bassoon and s ...
*''Four Preludes from "December Music"'' (1967), for flexible instrumentation: 3 instruments – flute, violin, oboe, clarinet
*Serenade (1968), for flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, violin, viola and cello
*Piano Trio (1969), for violin, cello and piano
*''Bermuda Triangle'' (1970), for tenor saxophone, electric organ and amplified cello
*:commissioned by the New York Camerata
*''Die Kurze'' (1970), for flute, clarinet, piano, violin and cello
*:commissioned by the New York Composer's Forum
*''Snow Country'' (1979), for oboe and string quintet
*:commissioned by Dr. Maurice Pechet
*Wind Quintet (1979), for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon
*:commissioned by the
Naumburg Foundation
The Walter W. Naumburg Foundation sponsors competitions and provides awards for young classical musicians in North America. Founded in 1925, it operates the prestigious Naumburg Competition.
Foundation and concerts
It was founded in 1925 by Wal ...
*''Due Libri'' (1980), for mezzo-soprano and nine players
*:commissioned by the New York Philomusica and Robert Levin
*''Mottetti di Montale'' (1980), for mezzo-soprano and nine players ''or'' piano
*:commissioned by New York Philomusica, the
University of Oregon
The University of Oregon (UO, U of O or Oregon) is a public research university in Eugene, Oregon. Founded in 1876, the institution is well known for its strong ties to the sports apparel and marketing firm Nike, Inc, and its co-founder, billion ...
and
Collage
Collage (, from the french: coller, "to glue" or "to stick together";) is a technique of art creation, primarily used in the visual arts, but in music too, by which art results from an assemblage of different forms, thus creating a new whole. ...
*''Organum for Paul Fromm'' (1981), for glockenspiel, marimba, vibraphone, harpsichord and piano
*:commissioned by the
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, U of C, or UChi) is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois. Its main campus is located in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood. The University of Chicago is consistently ranked among the b ...
*Piano Quintet (1981), for two violins, viola, cello and piano
*:commissioned by the
Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival
The Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival is a six-week-long summer Festival of chamber music held annually in July and August and located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was founded in 1972 and presented its first series of concerts in 1973. Well-known mu ...
*''Exequien for Calvin Simmons'' (1982), for seven players
*''Overture: Michael Kohlhaas'' (1982), for twelve brass
*Variations (1982), for clarinet, violin and piano
*:commissioned by Frank Taplin for the Token Creek Festival,
Wisconsin
Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...
*String Quartet No. 1 (1985), for two violins, viola and cello
*:commissioned by the
Cleveland Quartet
The Cleveland Quartet was a string quartet founded in 1969 by violinist Donald Weilerstein, at the time an instructor at the Cleveland Institute of Music, whose director Victor Babin had secured funding for an in-resident quartet (the institute's f ...
*''Twilight Music'' (1985), for horn, violin and piano
*:commissioned by the
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS) is an American organization dedicated to the performance and promotion of chamber music in New York City. It is the largest organization of its kind in the country for chamber music. CMS's home is ...
*''Fanfare for Foley's'' (1986), for twelve brass and two percussion
*''Music for Eighteen Winds'' (1986)
*:commissioned by the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private land-grant research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1861, MIT has played a key role in the development of modern technology and science, and is one of the ...
*String Quartet No. 2 (1987), for two violins, viola and cello
*''Two Chorale Preludes for Advent (from "Christmas Vespers")'' (1987), for brass quintet
*''Fantasy-Duo'' (1988), for violin and piano
*:commissioned by the McKim Fund in the Library of Congress for David Abel and Julie Steinberg
*''Little Fantasy on "The Twelve Days of Christmas"'' (1988), for brass quintet
*''November 19, 1828'' (1988), for violin, viola, cello and piano
*:commissioned by the
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal ...
for the
Atlanta Chamber Players Founded in 1976 by pianist Paula Peace, the Atlanta Chamber Players (ACP) is a mixed ensemble of strings, winds, and piano, and has performed in more than 250 cities throughout the United States, Europe, and Mexico. In 2014, Paula Peace retired and ...
, the
Da Capo Chamber Players
The Da Capo Chamber Players are an American contemporary music "Pierrot ensemble," founded in 1970. Winners of the Naumburg Award in 1973, its founding members included composer/pianist Joan Tower, violinist Joel Lester (former dean of Mannes Colle ...
and Voices of Change
*''Fanfares and Reflection'' (1990), for two violins
*:commissioned by Token Creek Festival
*''Fourteen Fabled Folksongs'' (1992), for violin and marimba
*Prelude (1993), for cello and piano
*String Quartet No. 3 (1993), for two violins, viola and cello
*''San Antonio'' (1994), for alto saxophone and piano
*''Thanks Victor'' (1994), for string quartet
*:commissioned by the Lydian Quartet
*Trio Sonata (1994), for three clarinets ''or'' three saxophones ''or'' oboe, cor Anglais and bassoon ''or'' string trio
*''Fanfare for a Free Man'' (1997), for three oboes and three bassoons
*''La Primavera di Sottoripa'' (1998), for mezzo-soprano and nine players
*:commissioned by the
Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival
The Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival is a six-week-long summer Festival of chamber music held annually in July and August and located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was founded in 1972 and presented its first series of concerts in 1973. Well-known mu ...
*''North and South'' (2000), for soprano/mezzo-soprano and seven players
*:written for
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson (March 1, 1954 – July 3, 2006) was an American mezzo-soprano. She was noted for her performances of both Baroque era and contemporary works. Her career path to becoming a singer was unconventional – formerly a pro ...
*''Six American Painters'' (2000), for flute/oboe, violin, viola and cello
*:commissioned by the radio station WGUC Cincinnati
*''Chaconne'' (2001), for flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano
*String Quartet No. 4 (2002), for two violins, viola and cello
*:commissioned by the
Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival
The Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival is a six-week-long summer Festival of chamber music held annually in July and August and located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was founded in 1972 and presented its first series of concerts in 1973. Well-known mu ...
*''Cucaraccia and Fugue'' (2003), for four violas
*:commissioned by the Token Creek Festival
*Trio II. (2003), for violin, cello and piano
*:commissioned by the Harris Foundation,
Chamber Music America Chamber Music America (CMA) is an American non-profit organization that provides small ensemble professionals with access to a variety of professional development, networking, and funding resources. CMA's regular initiatives include grants, awards, ...
and
Meet the Composer
New Music USA is a new music organization formed by the merging of the American Music Center with Meet The Composer on November 8, 2011. The new organization retains the granting programs of the two former organizations as well as two media progra ...
for the Amelia Trio
*''Songs America Loves to Sing'' (2004), for flute, clarinet, piano, violin and cello
*:commissioned by the
Atlanta Chamber Players Founded in 1976 by pianist Paula Peace, the Atlanta Chamber Players (ACP) is a mixed ensemble of strings, winds, and piano, and has performed in more than 250 cities throughout the United States, Europe, and Mexico. In 2014, Paula Peace retired and ...
and the
Da Capo Chamber Players
The Da Capo Chamber Players are an American contemporary music "Pierrot ensemble," founded in 1970. Winners of the Naumburg Award in 1973, its founding members included composer/pianist Joan Tower, violinist Joel Lester (former dean of Mannes Colle ...
*''Abu Ghraib'' (2006), for cello and piano
*:commissioned by the Rockport Festival for Rhonda Rider and David Deveau
*''Deep Dances'' (2006), for cello and double bass
*:commissioned by the Bank of America Celebrity Series for Rebecca Rice
*''French Horn Suite'' (2006), for four French horns
*:commissioned by the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private land-grant research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1861, MIT has played a key role in the development of modern technology and science, and is one of the ...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private land-grant research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1861, MIT has played a key role in the development of modern technology and science, and is one of the ...
and Priscilla Myrick Diamond for
Peter Diamond
Peter Arthur Diamond (born , 1940) is an American economist known for his analysis of U.S. Social Security policy and his work as an advisor to the Advisory Council on Social Security in the late 1980s and 1990s. He was awarded the Nobel Memori ...
and pianist Robert Levin
*''Finale, Presto'' (2011), for two violins, viola and cello
*''Sonata No. 1'' (2011), for violin and piano
*String Quartet No. 5 (2011), for two violins, viola and cello
*:written in honor of the 100th anniversary of the
Pro Arte Quartet The Pro Arte String Quartet is a string quartet founded in Belgium, which became affiliated with the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1941.
History Origins 1912-1941
The Pro Arte String Quartet was founded by Alphonse Onnou in Brussels in 1912 ...
*''Crossroads'' (2012), for soprano or mezzo-soprano, oboe, two violins, viola, cello and double bass ''or'' oboe and string orchestra
*''Invention on a Theme of William Shakespeare'' (2012), for solo cello, two violins, viola and double bass
*''The Right to Pleasure'' (2013), for mezzo-soprano, two violins, viola, cello and double bass ''or'' piano
*String Trio (2013), for violin, viola and cello
*:commissioned by Camerata Pacifica audience members
*''The Cross of Snow'' (2015), for countertenor and four violas da gamba ''or'' two violins, viola and cello
*:commissioned by William John Wartmann in memory of Joyce Frances Wartmann
*''Presences'' (2015), for cello solo, two violins, viola, cello and double bass
*:commissioned by Charles Felsenthal in memory of David Anderson
*''Mark the Date'' (2016), for flute and piano
*:commissioned by Asadour Santourian
*''The Nine Rasas'' (2016), for clarinet, viola and piano
*String Quartet No. 6 (2016), for two violins, viola and cello
*:commissioned by the Lark Quartet, Telegraph Quartet and
Tanglewood Music Center
The Tanglewood Music Center is an annual summer music academy in Lenox, Massachusetts, United States, in which emerging professional musicians participate in performances, master classes and workshops. The center operates as a part of the Tanglew ...
*''IF (monodrama for soprano and ensemble)'' (2017), for soprano and eight players
*:commissioned by
Boston Musica Viva
Boston Musica Viva is a Boston, Massachusetts-based music ensemble founded by its Music Director, Richard Pittman, in 1969 and dedicated to contemporary music.
Composers and compositions
In its 44-year history, Boston Musica Viva has performed m ...
for the 50th anniversary of Boston Musica Viva, the
Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival
The Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival is a six-week-long summer Festival of chamber music held annually in July and August and located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was founded in 1972 and presented its first series of concerts in 1973. Well-known mu ...
and the
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS) is an American organization dedicated to the performance and promotion of chamber music in New York City. It is the largest organization of its kind in the country for chamber music. CMS's home is ...
*''Sonata for Viola and Piano'' (2018), for viola and piano
*:commissioned anonymously in honor of John Harbison's 80th birthday
Vocal
*''Autumnal'' (1964), for alto and piano
*''Cantata III'' (1968), for soprano, two violins, viola and cello
*''Moments of Vision'' (1975), for soprano and tenor doubling handbells, alto recorder/sopranino recorder/bass recorder/alto krumhorn, lute/hurdy-gurdy/dulcimer and gamba
*''Samuel Chapter'' (1978), for high voice (woman or boy) and six players
*''Due Libri'' (1980), for mezzo-soprano and nine players
*:commissioned by the New York Philomusica and Robert Levin
*''Mottetti di Montale'' (1980), for mezzo-soprano and nine players ''or'' piano
*:commissioned by New York Philomusica, the
University of Oregon
The University of Oregon (UO, U of O or Oregon) is a public research university in Eugene, Oregon. Founded in 1876, the institution is well known for its strong ties to the sports apparel and marketing firm Nike, Inc, and its co-founder, billion ...
and
Collage
Collage (, from the french: coller, "to glue" or "to stick together";) is a technique of art creation, primarily used in the visual arts, but in music too, by which art results from an assemblage of different forms, thus creating a new whole. ...
*''Mirabai Songs'' (1982), for soprano/mezzo-soprano and eight players ''or'' piano
*''December 1'' (1995), for mezzo-soprano and chamber orchestra
*''La Primavera di Sottoripa'' (1998), for mezzo-soprano and nine players
*:commissioned by the
Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival
The Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival is a six-week-long summer Festival of chamber music held annually in July and August and located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was founded in 1972 and presented its first series of concerts in 1973. Well-known mu ...
*''Il Saliscendi Bianco'' (1999), for mezzo-soprano and nine players
*:commissioned by
Collage
Collage (, from the french: coller, "to glue" or "to stick together";) is a technique of art creation, primarily used in the visual arts, but in music too, by which art results from an assemblage of different forms, thus creating a new whole. ...
*''North and South'' (2000), for soprano/mezzo-soprano and seven players
*:written for
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson (March 1, 1954 – July 3, 2006) was an American mezzo-soprano. She was noted for her performances of both Baroque era and contemporary works. Her career path to becoming a singer was unconventional – formerly a pro ...
*''Ain't Goin' to Study War No More'' (2003), for baritone, two trumpets, snare drum and string orchestra
*'' Milosz Songs'' (2006), for soprano and orchestra
*''Closer to My Own Life'' (2011), for mezzo-soprano and chamber orchestra
*''Crossroads'' (2012), for soprano or mezzo-soprano, oboe, two violins, viola, cello and double bass ''or'' oboe and string orchestra
*:commissioned by 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 ...
for
Dawn Upshaw
Dawn Upshaw (born July 17, 1960) is an American soprano. She is the recipient of several Grammy Awards and has released a number of Edison Award-winning discs; she performs both opera and art song, and her repertoire spans Baroque to contempor ...
*''Seven Poems of Lorine Niedecker'' (2015), for soprano and piano
*:composed in honor of the Tanglewood Music Center's 75th anniversary
*''IF (monodrama for soprano and ensemble)'' (2017), for soprano and eight players
*:commissioned by
Boston Musica Viva
Boston Musica Viva is a Boston, Massachusetts-based music ensemble founded by its Music Director, Richard Pittman, in 1969 and dedicated to contemporary music.
Composers and compositions
In its 44-year history, Boston Musica Viva has performed m ...
in honor of the 50th Anniversary of Boston Musica Viva, the
Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival
The Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival is a six-week-long summer Festival of chamber music held annually in July and August and located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was founded in 1972 and presented its first series of concerts in 1973. Well-known mu ...
, and the
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS) is an American organization dedicated to the performance and promotion of chamber music in New York City. It is the largest organization of its kind in the country for chamber music. CMS's home is ...
Solo
*''Sonata for Viola Alone'' (1961)
*''Amazing Grace'' (1972), for oboe
*:commissioned by oboist Philip West
*''Four Occasional Pieces'' (1978), for piano
*:written for
André Previn
André George Previn (; born Andreas Ludwig Priwin; April 6, 1929 – February 28, 2019) was a German-American pianist, composer, and conductor. His career had three major genres: Hollywood films, jazz, and classical music. In each he achieved ...
, the
Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival
The Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival is a six-week-long summer Festival of chamber music held annually in July and August and located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was founded in 1972 and presented its first series of concerts in 1973. Well-known mu ...
and in memory of John Boros, respectively
*''Parody-Fantasia'' (1980), for piano
*:adapted from ''December Music''
*''Four Songs of Solitude'' (1985), for violin
*:written for the composer's wife, Rose Mary Harbison
*''Four More Occasional Pieces'' (1987), for piano
*:written for
Joan Tower
Joan Tower (born September 6, 1938)http://www.schirmer.com/default.aspx?TabId=2419&State_2872=2&ComposerId_2872=1605 Biography on Schirmer is a Grammy-winning contemporary American composer, concert pianist and conductor. Lauded by ''The New York ...
, Harriet Thiele, Rose Mary Harbison and Milo Feinberg, respectively
*Sonata No. 1 – ''In Memoriam Roger Sessions'' (1987), for piano
*:commissioned by the
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal ...
for
Robert Shannon
Robert Edward Shannon (born November 11, 1962) is an American former professional boxer.
Background
Shannon, who had a white mother and black father, started fighting in the streets as a young boy in Seattle's predominantly black Central Distr ...
,
Ursula Oppens
Ursula Oppens (born February 2, 1944) is an American classical concert pianist and educator. She has received five Grammy Award nominations.
Biography
Ursula Oppens was born on February 2, 1944, in New York City into a highly musical family fr ...
and Alan Feinberg
*Suite (1993), for cello
*Trio Sonata (1994), for piano ''or'' harpsichord ''or''
fortepiano
A fortepiano , sometimes referred to as a pianoforte, is an early piano. In principle, the word "fortepiano" can designate any piano dating from the invention of the instrument by Bartolomeo Cristofori in 1698 up to the early 19th century. Mo ...
''or'' electric keyboard
*:commissioned by the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private land-grant research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1861, MIT has played a key role in the development of modern technology and science, and is one of the ...
*''Gatsby Etudes'' (1999), for piano
*''A Violist's Notebook, Book 1'' (1998–2000), for viola
*Sonata No. 2 (2001), for piano
*:commissioned by G. Schirmer Associated Music for Robert Levin, to whom the work is dedicated
*''A Violist's Notebook, Book 2'' (2002), for viola
*''Montale Sketches'' (2002), for piano
*:after three poems by
Eugenio Montale
Eugenio Montale (; 12 October 1896 – 12 September 1981) was an Italian poet, prose writer, editor and translator, and recipient of the 1975 Nobel Prize in Literature.
Life and works
Early years
Montale was born in Genoa. His family were che ...
*''Ten Micro-Waltzes'' (2004), for piano
*''Leonard Stein Anagrams'' (2009)
*:written for
Leonard Stein
Leonard David Stein (December 1, 1916 – June 24, 2004) was a musicologist, pianist, conductor, university teacher, and influential in promoting contemporary music on the American West Coast. He was for years Arnold Schoenberg's assistant, mu ...
*''For Violin Alone'' (2014), for violin
*:commissioned by
92nd Street Y
92nd Street Y, New York (92NY) is a cultural and community center located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City, at the corner of East 92nd Street and Lexington Avenue. Founded in 1874 as the Young Men's Hebrew Association, the ...
*''Painting the Flowers Blue'' (2015), for violin
*''A Bag of Tails'' (2016), for piano
*''Nocturne'' (2018), for piano
*:commissioned in honor of Linda Reichert’s tenure as Artistic Director of Network for New Music
*''Passage'' (2019), for piano
*''Suite for Solo Violin, on soggetti cavati'' (2019), for violin
Perspectives of New Music
''Perspectives of New Music'' (PNM) is a peer-reviewed academic journal specializing in music theory and analysis. It was established in 1962 by Arthur Berger and Benjamin Boretz (who were its initial editors-in-chief).
''Perspectives'' was first ...
'', 23, no. 2 (Spring–Summer 1985): 12–22.
*Harbison, John. "Six Tanglewood Talks (4, 5, 6)." ''Perspectives of New Music'', 24, no. 1 (Autumn–Winter 1985): 46–60.
*Harbison, John. "Symmetries and the New Tonality." ''Contemporary Music Review'', 6, no. 2 (1992): 71–79.
Del Sol Quartet
The Del Sol Quartet is a string quartet based in San Francisco, California that was founded in 1992 by violist Charlton Lee.
Del Sol has commissioned and premiered thousands of works from a diverse range of international composers, including Terr ...