Role

:

Composer Conductor

Birth

:

1963 in Pittsburgh, PA

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

David Sanford is a contemporary classical music composer who was born on December 27, 1963, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a jazz pianist and his mother a classical pianist. Sanford began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the saxophone, which became his primary instrument. Sanford attended the University of Northern Colorado, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in saxophone performance. He then went on to study composition at the New England Conservatory of Music, where he earned a Master of Music degree. Sanford also studied with renowned composers such as George Russell, Gunther Schuller, and John Harbison. Sanford's early works were heavily influenced by jazz and improvisation, but he later began incorporating elements of rock and other popular music genres into his compositions. His music is known for its complex rhythms, unconventional harmonies, and use of extended techniques. One of Sanford's most notable works is his opera "The Memory of All That," which premiered in 2001 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. The opera is based on the life of Peggy Guggenheim, a prominent art collector and socialite. The music combines elements of jazz, rock, and classical music, and the libretto was written by poet and playwright Mark Doty. Another notable work by Sanford is his "Seven Kings," a concerto for saxophone and orchestra. The piece was commissioned by the Boston Modern Orchestra Project and premiered in 2007. The concerto is divided into seven movements, each inspired by a different king from history or mythology. Sanford has also composed works for chamber ensembles, including his "Scherzo Grosso" for string quartet and his "Klatka Still" for clarinet, cello, and piano. In addition to his work as a composer, Sanford is also a professor of music at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts. Throughout his career, Sanford has received numerous awards and honors for his compositions, including the Rome Prize, the Guggenheim Fellowship, and the Goddard Lieberson Fellowship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. His music has been performed by orchestras and ensembles around the world, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the Kronos Quartet. In conclusion, David Sanford is a contemporary classical music composer known for his innovative and eclectic style. His works combine elements of jazz, rock, and classical music, and often feature complex rhythms and unconventional harmonies. Sanford's notable works include his opera "The Memory of All That" and his concerto for saxophone and orchestra, "Seven Kings." He has received numerous awards and honors for his compositions and continues to be a prominent figure in the contemporary classical music world.

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