Role

:

Composer  

Birth

:

1948

Death

:

2016

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Choral

 

Bern Herbolsheimer was an American composer of classical music who was born on August 13, 1949, in Seattle, Washington. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a jazz pianist and his mother a singer. Herbolsheimer began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the trumpet and French horn. He attended the University of Washington, where he studied composition with William Bergsma and earned a Bachelor of Music degree in 1971. After completing his undergraduate studies, Herbolsheimer continued his education at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a Master of Music degree in 1973. He then went on to study at the University of California, San Diego, where he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in 1978. While at UCSD, Herbolsheimer studied with composers such as Robert Erickson, Roger Reynolds, and Bernard Rands. Herbolsheimer's early works were influenced by the avant-garde music of the 1960s and 1970s, particularly the music of John Cage and Morton Feldman. However, he later developed a more personal style that incorporated elements of jazz, rock, and popular music. His music often featured complex rhythms, intricate harmonies, and unconventional instrumentation. One of Herbolsheimer's most notable works is his Symphony No. 1, which was commissioned by the Seattle Symphony Orchestra and premiered in 1985. The symphony is a large-scale work that features a wide range of musical styles and influences, including jazz, rock, and classical music. It is divided into four movements, each of which explores a different musical idea or theme. Another significant work by Herbolsheimer is his opera The Wake World, which was commissioned by the Seattle Opera and premiered in 1998. The opera is based on a story by Aleister Crowley and tells the story of a young girl's journey through a dream world. The music is highly atmospheric and features a variety of vocal and instrumental textures. In addition to his orchestral and operatic works, Herbolsheimer also composed a number of chamber music pieces, including several string quartets and a piano trio. His chamber music often featured intricate counterpoint and complex rhythmic structures. Throughout his career, Herbolsheimer received numerous awards and honors for his work, including a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1987 and a commission from the Koussevitzky Music Foundation in 1990. He also served as a professor of music at the University of Washington from 1980 until his death in 2018. Overall, Bern Herbolsheimer was a highly respected composer of classical music who was known for his innovative and eclectic style. His works continue to be performed and recorded by orchestras and ensembles around the world.

More....