Role

:

Composer

 

Stephen Albert was an American composer who was born on February 6, 1941, in New York City. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a violinist and his mother a pianist. Albert began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the violin and viola. He attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he studied composition with Bernard Rogers and Howard Hanson. After graduating from Eastman in 1962, Albert moved to Paris to study with Nadia Boulanger. He also studied with Pierre Boulez and Olivier Messiaen at the Paris Conservatory. During his time in Paris, Albert was exposed to the avant-garde music of the time, which would later influence his own compositions. In 1965, Albert returned to the United States and settled in New York City. He began working as a freelance composer and also taught at various universities, including the Juilliard School, the Manhattan School of Music, and the Peabody Institute. In 1985, he was appointed composer-in-residence for the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. Albert's compositions are known for their complexity and use of unconventional techniques. He often incorporated electronic music and non-traditional instruments into his works. One of his most famous works is his Symphony No. 1, which was commissioned by the National Symphony Orchestra and premiered in 1982. The symphony is divided into three movements and features a large orchestra, including a synthesizer and percussion instruments. Another notable work by Albert is his Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra, which was commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra and premiered in 1990. The concerto features a solo cello and a large orchestra, and is known for its intricate rhythms and use of extended techniques. In addition to his orchestral works, Albert also composed chamber music and vocal music. One of his most famous chamber works is his Quintet for Piano and Strings, which was commissioned by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and premiered in 1988. The quintet features a piano and string quartet and is known for its complex rhythms and use of dissonance. Albert's vocal music includes his song cycle To Wake the Dead, which was commissioned by the New York Festival of Song and premiered in 1993. The cycle features settings of poems by Emily Dickinson and is known for its haunting melodies and use of unconventional vocal techniques. Throughout his career, Albert received numerous awards and honors for his compositions, including a Pulitzer Prize in Music in 1985 for his Symphony No. 1. He was also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Tragically, Albert's life was cut short when he was killed in a car accident on December 27, 1992, at the age of 51. Despite his untimely death, his legacy lives on through his music, which continues to be performed and admired by musicians and audiences around the world.

More....