Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

December 30, 1910 in New York City, NY

Death

:

November 18, 1999 in Tangier, Morocco

Genre

:

Keyboard

 

 

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Paul Bowles was an American composer, author, and translator who was born on December 30, 1910, in New York City. He was the only child of Rena and Claude Bowles, who were both successful and wealthy. Bowles showed an early interest in music and began studying piano at the age of six. He also showed an interest in literature and began writing poetry and short stories at a young age. Bowles attended the University of Virginia, where he studied music with composer Darius Milhaud. Milhaud was a major influence on Bowles and introduced him to the music of Stravinsky, Satie, and other modern composers. After graduating from college, Bowles moved to Paris, where he continued his studies with Milhaud and began composing his own music. In 1938, Bowles returned to the United States and settled in New York City. He quickly became involved in the city's vibrant music scene and began collaborating with other composers and musicians. He also began writing music for theater productions and ballets. One of Bowles' most famous works is his opera "The Wind Remains," which he composed in 1943. The opera is based on a play by Federico Garcia Lorca and tells the story of a young woman who is forced to marry a man she does not love. The opera was well-received and helped establish Bowles as a major composer. In addition to his work as a composer, Bowles was also an accomplished author and translator. He wrote several novels, including "The Sheltering Sky," which was later adapted into a film by director Bernardo Bertolucci. Bowles also translated the works of several French and North African writers, including Jean-Paul Sartre and Mohammed Mrabet. Bowles was known for his interest in world music and spent much of his life traveling and collecting recordings of traditional music from around the world. He was particularly interested in the music of North Africa and spent several years living in Tangier, Morocco. He also wrote extensively about his travels and experiences in North Africa. Bowles continued to compose music throughout his life, but his output slowed in his later years. He died on November 18, 1999, in Tangier, Morocco, at the age of 88. Overall, Paul Bowles was a talented and influential composer who helped bring modernist music to the United States. His work continues to be studied and performed today, and his legacy as a composer, author, and translator remains strong.

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