Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1978

Period

:

Contemporary

 

Matthew Tommasini is a contemporary classical music composer who was born in 1978 in Los Angeles, California. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his father being a jazz pianist and his mother a classical pianist. Tommasini began playing the piano at a young age and showed a natural talent for music. Tommasini attended the University of Southern California, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Composition. He then went on to earn a Master of Music degree in Composition from the Yale School of Music. During his time at Yale, Tommasini studied with renowned composers such as Martin Bresnick and David Lang. After completing his studies, Tommasini began his career as a composer, creating works that have been performed by orchestras and ensembles around the world. His music has been described as “lyrical and expressive” and “full of energy and vitality.” One of Tommasini’s early works is his String Quartet No. 1, which was composed in 2003. The piece is a four-movement work that showcases Tommasini’s ability to create intricate and complex textures with just four instruments. The quartet has been performed by numerous ensembles, including the Pacifica Quartet and the Del Sol Quartet. In 2006, Tommasini composed his first orchestral work, a piece titled “The Monsters of Grace.” The piece was commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and was premiered at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. “The Monsters of Grace” is a dark and brooding work that features a large orchestra and a choir. The piece has been praised for its use of dissonance and its ability to create a sense of tension and unease. Tommasini’s music often draws inspiration from literature and poetry. In 2008, he composed a work titled “The Raven,” which is based on the famous poem by Edgar Allan Poe. The piece is a setting of the poem for baritone and orchestra and features a haunting melody that captures the mood of the poem. “The Raven” has been performed by numerous orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. In 2010, Tommasini composed a work titled “The Seven Last Words of Christ.” The piece is a setting of the seven sayings of Jesus on the cross and features a large orchestra and choir. The work has been praised for its emotional depth and its ability to capture the solemnity of the subject matter. Tommasini’s music has also been featured in film and television. In 2012, he composed the score for the independent film “The Kitchen.” The score features a mix of orchestral and electronic elements and has been praised for its ability to capture the mood of the film. In addition to his work as a composer, Tommasini is also a dedicated educator. He has taught composition at the University of Southern California and the California Institute of the Arts. He has also served as a guest lecturer at numerous universities and conservatories around the world. Tommasini’s music continues to be performed and recorded by orchestras and ensembles around the world. His ability to create works that are both emotionally powerful and technically complex has earned him a reputation as one of the most exciting composers of his generation.

More....