Role

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Composer Conductor

Birth

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1949

 

Frank Wiley was an American composer of classical music who was born on May 22, 1939, in New York City. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his father being a jazz pianist and his mother a classical pianist. Wiley began playing the piano at a young age and showed a natural talent for music. He attended the Juilliard School of Music in New York City, where he studied composition with Vincent Persichetti and piano with Rosina Lhevinne. Wiley's early compositions were influenced by the works of Stravinsky, Bartok, and Schoenberg. He was particularly interested in the use of rhythm and harmony in their music and incorporated these elements into his own compositions. In 1962, Wiley won the BMI Student Composer Award for his String Quartet No. 1, which was performed by the Juilliard String Quartet. After completing his studies at Juilliard, Wiley worked as a freelance composer and pianist in New York City. He composed music for dance companies, theater productions, and television commercials. In 1968, he was commissioned by the New York Philharmonic to write a piece for their Young People's Concerts series. The resulting work, titled "The Magic Flute," was a musical adaptation of Mozart's opera of the same name and was well-received by audiences. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Wiley continued to compose music for a variety of ensembles and genres. He wrote several works for orchestra, including "Symphony No. 1" and "Concerto for Piano and Orchestra." He also composed chamber music, such as his "String Quartet No. 2" and "Sonata for Violin and Piano." In addition, Wiley wrote music for solo piano, including his "Piano Sonata No. 1" and "Three Preludes." Wiley's music is characterized by its use of complex rhythms and harmonies, as well as its incorporation of jazz and popular music elements. He often used unconventional instruments and techniques in his compositions, such as the use of a prepared piano in his "Piano Sonata No. 2." Wiley's music has been described as "bold and adventurous," and he is considered to be one of the leading American composers of his generation. In addition to his work as a composer, Wiley was also a respected pianist and educator. He taught at several universities, including the University of Michigan and the University of California, Berkeley. He also performed as a soloist and chamber musician, and recorded several albums of his own compositions. Wiley's later works were influenced by his interest in world music and spirituality. He composed several works for choir, including his "Requiem" and "Missa Brevis," which incorporate elements of African and Native American music. He also wrote several works for solo voice, such as his "Songs of the Soul," which are based on the poetry of Rumi. Frank Wiley passed away on December 16, 2016, at the age of 77. He left behind a legacy of innovative and adventurous music, and his works continue to be performed and studied by musicians and scholars around the world.

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