Role

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Composer  

Genre

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Chamber

 

Eric Mandat is a renowned American composer and clarinetist, known for his innovative and experimental approach to classical music. Born on August 14, 1957, in Mishawaka, Indiana, Mandat grew up in a family of musicians. His father was a clarinetist and his mother was a pianist, and they both encouraged him to pursue music from a young age. Mandat began playing the clarinet at the age of nine and quickly showed a natural talent for the instrument. He studied with several renowned clarinetists, including Robert Marcellus and Larry Combs, and went on to earn a Bachelor of Music degree from Indiana University in 1979. He then continued his studies at Northwestern University, where he earned a Master of Music degree in 1981. Throughout his early career, Mandat performed as a clarinetist with several orchestras and ensembles, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Lyric Opera of Chicago. However, he soon began to focus more on composition, and in 1984 he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in composition from Northwestern University. Mandat's early compositions were heavily influenced by the avant-garde and experimental music of the 20th century. He was particularly interested in the works of composers such as John Cage and Karlheinz Stockhausen, who were known for pushing the boundaries of traditional classical music. Mandat's own compositions often featured unconventional techniques and extended techniques, such as multiphonics and microtones, which were not commonly used in classical music at the time. One of Mandat's most notable early works is his 1983 composition "Trilogy for Clarinet," which consists of three movements that explore different extended techniques on the clarinet. The first movement, "Multiphonics," features a series of complex and dissonant chords created by playing multiple notes at once. The second movement, "Microtones," explores the use of notes that fall between the traditional half-steps of the Western musical scale. The third movement, "Circular Breathing," showcases the technique of playing continuously without pausing to take a breath. In the years that followed, Mandat continued to experiment with new techniques and styles in his compositions. He became particularly interested in the use of improvisation in classical music, and began incorporating improvisation into many of his works. He also began to explore the use of non-traditional instruments and sounds, such as the human voice and electronic instruments. One of Mandat's most well-known works is his 1991 composition "The Garden of Love," which is based on the poetry of William Blake. The piece features a narrator reciting Blake's poetry while the clarinetist performs a series of improvisations and extended techniques. The result is a haunting and atmospheric work that blurs the lines between spoken word and music. Another notable work by Mandat is his 1995 composition "The Starry Dynamo," which is based on a poem by Walt Whitman. The piece features a solo clarinetist performing a series of improvisations and extended techniques, while a chorus recites Whitman's poetry in the background. The result is a powerful and evocative work that explores the themes of nature and the cosmos. In addition to his work as a composer, Mandat has also been a dedicated teacher and mentor to many young musicians.

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