Role

:

Composer

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

1947 in Wales, UK

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Hilary Tann is a Welsh-born composer who has made a significant contribution to the world of classical music. Born in South Wales in 1947, Tann grew up in a musical family and began playing the piano at a young age. She went on to study music at the University of Wales, Cardiff, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in 1968. She then pursued further studies at the University of Wales, Bangor, where she earned a Master of Music degree in 1970. Tann's early compositions were influenced by the music of her Welsh heritage, as well as by the natural world. She often drew inspiration from the landscapes and seascapes of Wales, and her music frequently incorporates elements of Welsh folk music. Her early works include pieces for solo piano, chamber ensembles, and choral groups. In the 1980s, Tann moved to the United States, where she continued to compose and teach music. She became a professor of music at Union College in Schenectady, New York, where she taught for over 30 years. During this time, she continued to compose music that was inspired by the natural world, as well as by her experiences living in the United States. One of Tann's most notable works is her composition "From the Feather to the Mountain," which was commissioned by the Albany Symphony Orchestra in 2002. The piece is a musical depiction of the journey of a feather as it is carried by the wind from a mountaintop to the valley below. The piece features a solo cello, which represents the feather, and a full orchestra, which represents the wind and the landscape. The piece has been performed by orchestras around the world and has received critical acclaim for its innovative use of orchestration and its evocative depiction of the natural world. Another notable work by Tann is her composition "The Open Field," which was commissioned by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in 2011. The piece is a musical depiction of the Welsh countryside, and it features a full orchestra, as well as a solo violin and a solo cello. The piece has been praised for its use of traditional Welsh melodies and its evocative depiction of the Welsh landscape. Tann's music has been performed by orchestras and ensembles around the world, and she has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to the world of classical music. In 2015, she was awarded the Arts and Letters Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, which recognizes outstanding artistic achievement in the United States. She has also been awarded the Welsh Arts Council Composition Prize and the Barlow Prize for Orchestral Music. In addition to her work as a composer, Tann has also been an advocate for the promotion of women in classical music. She has served as a mentor to many young female composers and has spoken out about the need for greater representation of women in the classical music world. Overall, Hilary Tann is a composer who has made a significant contribution to the world of classical music. Her music is characterized by its evocative depictions of the natural world, as well as by its use of traditional Welsh melodies. Her work has been performed by orchestras and ensembles around the world, and she has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to the world of classical music.

More....