Russell Peck was an American composer born in Detroit on January 25, 1945 to Thorland (Tom) and Margaret (Carlson) Peck. He died in
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro (; formerly Greensborough) is a city in and the county seat of Guilford County, North Carolina, United States. It is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, third-most populous city in North Carolina after Charlotte, North Car ...
on March 1, 2009, at the age of 64.
Life and career
Peck's early music education was grounded in
Mozart and
Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 177026 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. Beethoven remains one of the most admired composers in the history of Western music; his works rank amongst the most performed of the classic ...
, but also heavily influenced by the
soul music
Soul music is a popular music genre that originated in the African American community throughout the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It has its roots in African-American gospel music and rhythm and blues. Soul music became ...
emerging from
Detroit
Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at t ...
during his formative years. Peck was the youngest of three children, and doted on by his two older sisters, Jean and Joyce. His father, Tom, sang in the Detroit Symphony Chorus in the late 1930s–early 1940s for their Ford Symphony Hour national radio broadcasts, and later in his life was active with barbershop quartets. Tom was a proponent of Russell's interest in classical music, and encouraged him in his studies. From early on, Peck wanted to compose and began learning piano in fifth grade. Later, in high school, he played trombone in band and orchestra. The
Motown sound inspired Peck to compose with melodic flow, engaging rhythm, and rich harmonies. The marriage of these two musical worlds is the backdrop of Peck's compositions, and is his trademark.
Peck is a well-known American composer of music for the symphony. His compositions have been included in thousands of performances by hundreds of orchestras in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa, including more than a dozen major orchestras such as the
London Symphony,
Montreal Symphony, and the
Boston Symphony Orchestra, as well as regional orchestras throughout the U.S. His most popular works include the percussion concerto, ''The Glory and the Grandeur'', ''Signs of Life II'' for string orchestra, and ''The Thrill of the Orchestra'', a narrated demonstration piece for orchestra. In 2000-2001 a consortium of 39 American orchestras commissioned Peck's Timpani Concerto, Harmonic Rhythm. The premiere performances began with the
Louisville Orchestra
The Louisville Orchestra is the primary orchestra in Louisville, Kentucky. It was founded in 1937 by Robert Whitney (1904–1986) and Charles Farnsley, Mayor of Louisville. The Louisville Orchestra employs salaried musicians, and offers a wide ...
and proceeded with orchestras throughout the country.
Education
Russell Peck was a cum laude graduate of the
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 ...
(1966), where he also received Master and Doctoral degrees in composition (1967 and 1972). His teachers included Clark Eastham,
Leslie Bassett
Leslie Raymond Bassett (22 January 1923 – 4 February 2016) was an American composer of classical music. Bassett received the 1966 Pulitzer Prize in Music. Bassett had a lifelong relationship with the University of Michigan School of Music. ...
,
Ross Lee Finney
Ross Lee Finney Junior (December 23, 1906–February 4, 1997) was an American composer who taught for many years at the University of Michigan.
Life and career
Born in Wells, Minnesota, Finney received his early training at Carleton College ...
,
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 ...
, and
George Rochberg
George Rochberg (July 5, 1918May 29, 2005) was an American composer of contemporary classical music. Long a serial composer, Rochberg abandoned the practice following the death of his teenage son in 1964; he claimed this compositional techniqu ...
.
Russell Peck received the coveted Koussevitsky Prize in 1966 awarded through his association with the
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 ...
, two
Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is an American private foundation with the stated goal of advancing human welfare. Created in 1936 by Edsel Ford and his father Henry Ford, it was originally funded by a US$25,000 gift from Edsel Ford. By 1947, after the death ...
Fellowships, grants from 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 ...
, several states' arts councils, and
ASCAP awards. Peck's artist residencies include the Gaudeamus Contemporary Music Festival in the Netherlands and a two-year appointment as composer-in-residence for the city of Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Symphony. Peck served on the faculty of
Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University (NIU) is a public research university in DeKalb, Illinois. It was founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895, by Illinois Governor John P. Altgeld as part of an expansion of the state's system ...
,
Eastman School of Music
The Eastman School of Music is the music school of the University of Rochester, a private research university in Rochester, New York. It was established in 1921 by industrialist and philanthropist George Eastman.
It offers Bachelor of Music ...
, and the
North Carolina School of the Arts
The University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) is an arts school in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It grants high school, undergraduate, and graduate degrees. Founded in 1963 as the North Carolina School of the Arts by then-Governo ...
.
Beginning in the fall of 1974 through 1976 Peck was an assistant Professor of Music Theory at
Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University (NIU) is a public research university in DeKalb, Illinois. It was founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895, by Illinois Governor John P. Altgeld as part of an expansion of the state's system ...
. In January 1977 he accepted an interim position teaching music composition at the
Eastman School of Music
The Eastman School of Music is the music school of the University of Rochester, a private research university in Rochester, New York. It was established in 1921 by industrialist and philanthropist George Eastman.
It offers Bachelor of Music ...
. In the fall of 1977, he began teaching various aspects of the study of music, including music history and music theory, at the
North Carolina School of the Arts
The University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) is an arts school in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It grants high school, undergraduate, and graduate degrees. Founded in 1963 as the North Carolina School of the Arts by then-Governo ...
. In 1979 Peck chose not to continue teaching in order to pursue his increasing interest in the cause of ending world starvation. Peck's altruistic concerns dominated his time for several years until he re-emerged with the popular orchestra piece, ''Signs of Life'', in 1983.
Symphonic works
Concertos
* The Upward Stream, ''concerto for tenor saxophone and orchestra''. The Upward Stream was commissioned for a world premiere performance in 1985 by
James Houlik James Houlik ( ; born December 4, 1942 in Bay Shore, New York) is an American classical tenor saxophonist and saxophone teacher.
Family life
Houlik is married for the third time, and has fathered four children.
He has four grand children and four ...
with the Winston-Salem Symphony, Peter Perret, Music Director, with funding assistance provided by the North Carolina Arts Council. The Upward Stream's use of tenor sax was a unique addition to the concerto form. Peck chose tenor sax for its ability to project like a brass instrument against full orchestra, while retaining the technical virtuosity of a woodwind. Additionally, the range of the tenor saxophone corresponds almost exactly to the human voice (from low baritone to highest soprano), and so has a full expressive range.
James Houlik James Houlik ( ; born December 4, 1942 in Bay Shore, New York) is an American classical tenor saxophonist and saxophone teacher.
Family life
Houlik is married for the third time, and has fathered four children.
He has four grand children and four ...
recorded the work with the
London Symphony. Duration: 20', (1985).
* The Glory and the Grandeur, ''concerto for three percussionists and orchestra''. Incorporating an opening paraphrase of the composer's percussion piece Lift-Off, The Glory and the Grandeur is a visually engaging piece. The percussionists perform in front of the orchestra on an array of varied instruments. At the opening they play rhythmic antiphony from widely separated drum stations, then gather at the metal instruments of vibraphone, bells, and Chinese cymbals and gongs. At one point in the composition, all three perform together on one marimba. The finale section builds in a rapid pace of color changes as the players hasten among different instruments, and concludes with the orchestra supporting a return to the antiphonal drum idea of the opening. Duration: 12', (1988).
* Voice of the Wood, ''concerto for cello quartet and orchestra''. One of the only existing works written for the medium of cello quartet and orchestra. A Charlotte Observer review noted, "...classic Peck, tonal and accessible, and driven by syncopation...especially winning was the rich collective voice of the four soloists...the audience responded with an extended ovation." Charlotte Observer, March 6, 1999, Dean Smith. Voice of the Wood was premiered in 1999 by the Charlotte Symphony. Movements include I. Prelude II. Fantasia. Duration: 21' (1999).
* Harmonic Rhythm, ''concerto for timpani and orchestra''. At that time, the writing of this concerto, which premiered in 2000, was inspired by the largest commissioning consortium to date in music history—39 orchestras. It was also sparked by interest among timpanists based on the composer's well-known percussion concerto The Glory and the Grandeur and percussion trio Lift-Off. It is visually stimulating due to the unusual variety of mallets and brilliant sticking. Harmonic Rhythm requires 5 drums (4 standard sizes plus a piccolo drum). A primary feature is the melodic writing for the timpani, which shows the instrument's expressive range extending into areas of surprising lyricism. Duration: 22', (2000).
Orchestral
* Signs of Life II, ''a composition in three movements for string orchestra'', Signs of Life is in two movements: an Arioso (6') and a jazz-inspired Scherzo (6') using many string techniques including the composer's own picking technique. Signs of Life II adds an Allegro first movement (3'30") to create a three-movement work. Total duration: 15'30" (1983/1986). Signs of Life and Signs of Life II was dedicated to Peck's wife, Cameron, and was written for Paul Polivnick and the
Milwaukee Symphony
The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is an American symphony orchestra based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The orchestra performs primarily at the Bradley Symphony Center in Allen-Bradley Hall. The orchestra also serves as the orchestra for Florentine ...
. The work was premiered at the Performing Arts Center in Milwaukee, June 16, 1984.
* Gabriel, ''concert overture for orchestra'', was originally the first movement of a trumpet concerto (The Phoenix) commissioned in 1988 by
Doc Severinsen and the Phoenix and North Carolina Symphonies. The first movement of The Phoenix was reworked as Gabriel as performed by the Nashville Symphony. Duration: 6', (1997).
* Peace Overture, ''for orchestra''. A programmatic tone poem about the struggle for peace - inspired by the life of
Anwar Sadat
Muhammad Anwar el-Sadat, (25 December 1918 – 6 October 1981) was an Egyptian politician and military officer who served as the third president of Egypt, from 15 October 1970 until his assassination by fundamentalist army officers on 6 ...
and the Israel-Egypt Peace Accords. Conductor, Paul Polivnick recorded Peace Overture with the
London Symphony. Polivnick also premiered the work in 1988 during the Birmingham International Festival of Arts, which commissioned Peck to write a piece for the Alabama Symphony honoring
Egypt
Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Medit ...
. It traces an emotional outline regarding Sadat's story. One very defined melody permeates the work: the Negro Spiritual "
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
"Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child", also "Motherless Child", is a traditional Spiritual. It dates back to the era of slavery in the United States.
An early performance of the song was in the 1870s by the Fisk Jubilee Singers. "Blue Ge ...
". Peck said he didn't intend to quote a phrase from this melody, but there is a clear correlation when listening to the song, for example, as sung by
Paul Robeson
Paul Leroy Robeson ( ; April 9, 1898 – January 23, 1976) was an American bass-baritone concert artist, stage and film actor, professional American football, football player, and activist who became famous both for his cultural accomplish ...
. Peace Overture was performed at the Eastern Music Festival in July 2009 in honor of Russell Peck. Duration: 11', (1988).
* Freedom Fanfare, ''for orchestra''. Shows each part of the orchestra using chimes and brass band. Duration: 3' (1995).
* Revolutionary Action, ''for orchestra (with drumset)''. This is a short, rock-music piece based on the first section of Jack and Jill at Bunker Hill. Jack and Jill is a story piece for narrator and orchestra. Duration 4' (1995).
* Don't Tread on Me, ''for string orchestra''. Don't Tread on Me is actually the first movement of Signs of Life. Although it begins in a Mozartian vein, Don't Tread On Me is rock-influenced and makes use of feroce string crossings. Duration: 3' 30", (1995)
* Mozart Escapes, ''concerto for orchestra (based on movements of keyboard sonatas by W.A. Mozart)''. I. Allegro maestoso (Revolutionary Brass) 4'30", II. Andante cantabile (Amadeus Meets Stradivarius 7'00", III. Allegretto scherzando (Woodwinds a la Wolfgang) 5'00", IV. Allegro vivace (Mallets and Mozart) 6'00". Total duration: 22' 30", (1997).
* Ultra-Americana, ''two pieces for orchestra''. Out of the Blue, 8'45". Nostalgic in style with many elements of traditional blues and Americana, Out of the Blue is a moderately-paced intermesso. Flying on Instruments, 4'45". Allegro vivace throughout, Flying on Instruments draws upon jazzy, Latin, and gospel-music flavors with massed strings and other sections featured as group soloists. Total duration: 13'30", (1997).
Educational and family pieces
* Where's Red Robin? (formerly Who Killed
Cock Robin
"Who Killed Cock Robin" is an English nursery rhyme. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 494.
Lyrics
The earliest record of the rhyme is in ''Tommy Thumb's Pretty Song Book'', published in 1744, which noted only the first four verses. The ...
?) ''nature story piece for narrator and orchestra'', dedicated to Peck's daughter, Eva. Peck interpreted the classic English nursery rhyme as a tale of springtime and rebirth using the robin as muse. Where's Red Robin? makes use of mood changes in the narrative. As the story unfolds, musical emotions are employed including elation, sadness, humor, mystery, dramatic danger and finally the reassurance of another joy-filled spring. The work was a commission of the New Orleans Philharmonic, with Conductor Carter Nice. Duration: 17', with options for reduced duration (1995/1973).
*
* Jack and Jill at
Bunker Hill, ''revolutionary story piece for narrator and orchestra''. Written in 1976 for Carter Nice and the New Orleans Philharmonic as a celebration of America's
Bicentennial __NOTOC__
A bicentennial or bicentenary is the two-hundredth anniversary of a part, or the celebrations thereof. It may refer to:
Europe
*French Revolution bicentennial, commemorating the 200th anniversary of 14 July 1789 uprising, celebrated ...
, Jack and Jill is an entertaining look at the
American Revolution
The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revoluti ...
. Peck again made use of a classic English nursery rhyme to explore the dynamics of this American narrative: I. Battle of Bunker Hill, II.
Declaration of Independence
A declaration of independence or declaration of statehood or proclamation of independence is an assertion by a polity in a defined territory that it is independent and constitutes a state. Such places are usually declared from part or all of th ...
, and III.
Liberty Bell Celebration. Jack and Jill combines a story of American history and idealism with music. Jack and Jill highlights historical fact, while incorporating sounds which are American in feel (such as
Motown), thus paying homage to American musical culture in general. Duration: 9', (1997/1976).
* The Thrill of the Orchestra, ''demonstration piece for narrator and orchestra''. The Thrill of the Orchestra illustrates the instruments and how they are played. Frequently performed and repeated by many major American and foreign orchestras (Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Montreal, Royal Philharmonic, etc.) and more than 100 regional and other orchestras across the United States, The Thrill was commissioned by and is dedicated to Alfred Savia and the Florida Symphony, which premiered the work in October 1985 on a series of young people's concerts. During his lifetime, Peck was known to narrate this piece himself. Duration: 13' (1985).
*
* Playing with Style, ''demonstration piece for orchestra with narration''. This "concerto for conductor" uses music and narration to illustrate the conductor's role and the basics of crescendo, diminuendo, accelerando, ritardando, legato and staccato. The piece concludes with a fast-paced musical finale designed to showcase the ability of the orchestra to change in mood and style. This work is also designed to permit narration by the conductor. It was commissioned in 1991 for a consortium of North Carolina Orchestras by the
North Carolina Arts Council
The North Carolina Arts Council is an organization in the U.S. state of North Carolina that provides grants to artists, musicians and arts organizations. The group's mission is "arts for all people." It was founded by executive order in 1964 by Gov ...
. Duration: 10' (1991) . Commissioned by the Charlotte Symphony for premier performances by 4 North Carolina Orchestras: The Charlotte Symphony, The Greensboro Symphony, The North Carolina Symphony, and Winston-Salem Symphony. Funding assistance provided by the North Carolina Arts Council and The National Endowment for the Arts.
*
Chamber music
* Two Songs on Poems of
William Carlos Williams
William Carlos Williams (September 17, 1883 – March 4, 1963) was an American poet, writer, and physician closely associated with modernism and imagism.
In addition to his writing, Williams had a long career as a physician practicing both pedia ...
, ''for soprano, 4 celli, 4 flute'', 1963
*
* Seven-Fold Amen, ''for cello, percussion and celesta'', 1964
*
* Six Pak, ''for violin, cello, double bass, flute, clarinet and horn'', 1965
*
* Automobile, ''for soprano, flute, double bass and percussion'', 1966
*
* Lion's Breath, ''for double bass and percussion'', 1966
*
* Unsafe at Any Speed, ''for string quartet and percussion quartet'', 1966
*
* 1 DB, ''for double bass "solo trio": double bass with tape'', 1968
*
* Lift-Off, ''for percussion trio'', 1968
*
* The Cat's Meow, ''for piano four hands or duo'', 1969
*
* Quotations from the Electric Chairman, ''for mixed chorus and tape or double bass'', 1969
*
* Time Being, for violin "solo trio", ''violin with tape and optional mime/dance'', 1969
*
* Manner of the World Nowadays, ''male chorus and brass ensemble'', 1970
*
* Upon a Dead Man's Head, ''tenor and small ensemble with slides'', 1970
*
* Suspended Sentence, ''for piano'', 1972
*
* Drastic Measures, ''for saxophone quartet'', 1976
*
* In the Garden, ''for organ and drum set (optional)'', 1976
*
* Romance, ''for piano'', dedicated to Margaret and Thorland Peck, 1980
*
* The Upward Stream, ''concerto for tenor saxophone and orchestra", solo part with piano arrangement, 1985
*
* Don't Tread on Me or on My String Quartet, ''for string quartet'', 1986
*
* Five-Ring Circus, ''for woodwind quintet'', 1986
*
* A "Minor Monster-Piece", ''for brass quintet'', 1986
*
* The Glory and the Grandeur, ''concerto for percussion trio", solo parts with piano arrangement, 1988
*
* Big Shot Brass, ''for brass quintet'', 1991
*
* Glimmer of Hope, ''fantasia-chaconne for violin and piano'', 2002
*
Band/wind ensemble
* Gothic Music, ''for band'', 1965
*
* American Epic, ''for band'', 1972
*
* The New Cats Meow, ''for jazz band'', 1972
*
*Winter Music, for young string orchestra, 1975
*
* Cave,
Oklahoma State University Wind Ensemble Cave of The Winds Russell Peck
/ref> ''for wind ensemble/band'', 1976
*
* Funky Boogie, ''for young band'', 1976
*
* Star Machine, ''for young band'', 1977
*
* The Glory and the Grandeur, ''concerto for percussion trio and wind symphony'', arr. 2006
*
* The Upward Stream, ''concerto for tenor saxophone and symphonic band'', arr. by Scott Jones 2013
*
References
External links
*http://www.newmusicbox.org/articles/Commissioning-Consortia-Banding-Together-in-the-Name-of-New-Music/
*http://www.allmusic.com/artist/russell-peck-mn0001327172
*http://www.newmusicbox.org/articles/Composer-Russell-Peck-Found-Dead-After-Weeklong-Search/
*http://wfdd.org/wfddnews/wfddnews.php/story1547/start1
*http://www.uleth.ca/unews/legend/content/glory-and-grandeur
*http://www.newworldrecords.org/uploads/filedVFwC.pdf
*http://www.ri-philharmonic.org/MusicSchool/MusicforOurSchools/RussellPeck/tabid/291/Default.aspx
*https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vQRKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Yh4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=2453,4002878&dq=russell-peck+composer&hl=en
{{DEFAULTSORT:Peck, Russell
20th-century classical composers
American male classical composers
American classical composers
Musicians from Detroit
University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance alumni
Northern Illinois University faculty
Eastman School of Music faculty
North Carolina School of the Arts faculty
Composers for cello
1945 births
2009 deaths
20th-century American composers
Classical musicians from Michigan
20th-century American male musicians