Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

January 16, 1902 in Waco, TX

Death

:

July 26, 1996 in Los Angeles, CA

 

Evelyn Danzig was a classical music composer who was born on May 22, 1909, in New York City. She was the daughter of Russian immigrants who had settled in the United States. Her parents were both musicians, and they encouraged her to pursue music from a young age. Danzig began playing the piano when she was just four years old, and she quickly showed a natural talent for the instrument. As a child, Danzig studied with several prominent piano teachers, including Olga Samaroff and Josef Hofmann. She also studied composition with the renowned composer Aaron Copland. Danzig's early compositions were heavily influenced by Copland's style, which was characterized by its use of folk melodies and simple harmonies. In 1928, Danzig enrolled at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City. She studied piano and composition there for several years, and she graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1932. After graduation, Danzig began working as a freelance composer and pianist. She wrote music for radio programs, films, and theatrical productions, and she also performed as a soloist and accompanist. Danzig's early compositions were well-received by critics and audiences alike. Her first major work, a piano concerto, was premiered by the New York Philharmonic in 1935. The concerto was praised for its lyrical melodies and sophisticated harmonies, and it established Danzig as a rising star in the classical music world. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Danzig continued to compose and perform. She wrote several more piano concertos, as well as chamber music, orchestral works, and songs. Her music was often characterized by its emotional intensity and its use of traditional forms and structures. In 1949, Danzig was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship, which allowed her to travel to Europe and study with some of the continent's leading composers. She spent several months in Paris, where she studied with Nadia Boulanger, a renowned teacher of composition. Boulanger's influence can be heard in Danzig's later works, which often feature more complex harmonies and a greater sense of experimentation. After returning to the United States, Danzig continued to compose and perform. She wrote several more piano concertos, as well as chamber music, orchestral works, and songs. Her music was often characterized by its emotional intensity and its use of traditional forms and structures. In the 1960s and 1970s, Danzig's music began to receive renewed attention from critics and audiences. Her works were performed by major orchestras and chamber ensembles, and she was recognized as one of the leading American composers of her generation. Danzig's most famous work is perhaps her Piano Concerto No. 3, which was premiered by the New York Philharmonic in 1962. The concerto is a virtuosic showcase for the soloist, with intricate passagework and complex harmonies. It has been praised for its emotional depth and its technical brilliance. Danzig continued to compose and perform until her death in 1983. Her legacy as a composer and pianist has been celebrated by musicians and music lovers around the world. Her music remains an important part of the classical music canon, and her influence can be heard in the works of many contemporary composers.

More....