Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

June 27, 1946

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Avant-Garde

 

Daria Semegen is a renowned composer of contemporary classical music. She was born on August 17, 1946, in Poland, and grew up in a family of musicians. Her father was a composer and conductor, and her mother was a pianist. Semegen began studying piano at the age of six and later learned to play the violin and the cello. In 1964, Semegen moved to the United States to study music at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree in composition in 1968 and a Master of Music degree in composition in 1970. During her time at Eastman, Semegen studied with renowned composers such as Samuel Adler, Warren Benson, and Joseph Schwantner. After completing her studies, Semegen began her career as a composer and educator. She taught at the University of Buffalo from 1970 to 1973 and at the State University of New York at Stony Brook from 1973 to 1976. In 1976, she joined the faculty of the Columbia University School of the Arts, where she taught composition and electronic music until her retirement in 2016. Semegen's music is known for its innovative use of electronic and computer technology. She was one of the first composers to use computer-generated sounds in her compositions, and she has continued to explore the possibilities of electronic music throughout her career. Her works often combine traditional acoustic instruments with electronic sounds, creating a unique and dynamic sonic landscape. One of Semegen's most notable works is her 1972 composition "Electronic Composition No. 1." This piece was created using a computer program that generated a series of random numbers, which were then used to determine the pitch, duration, and other parameters of the music. The result is a complex and unpredictable composition that challenges traditional notions of musical structure and form. Another important work by Semegen is her 1980 composition "Soundings." This piece was commissioned by the New York Philharmonic and was premiered at Lincoln Center in 1981. "Soundings" is a large-scale work for orchestra and electronic sounds, and it explores the relationship between the natural world and human technology. The piece features a wide range of sounds, from the gentle rustling of leaves to the harsh, mechanical sounds of industrial machinery. Semegen's music has been performed by many of the world's leading orchestras and ensembles, including the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the London Sinfonietta. She has received numerous awards and honors for her work, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Fulbright Fellowship, and a National Endowment for the Arts grant. In addition to her work as a composer, Semegen has also been an active advocate for women in music. She has served on the board of the International Alliance for Women in Music and has worked to promote the work of female composers through her teaching and performances. Overall, Daria Semegen is a pioneering composer whose innovative use of electronic and computer technology has helped to shape the landscape of contemporary classical music. Her works are known for their complexity, unpredictability, and unique sonic textures, and she has been a leading voice in the field of electronic music for over five decades.

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