Role

:

Composer

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

April 12, 1931 in New York City, NY

Death

:

March 6, 2021

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Vocal

 

Martin Boykan is an American composer who was born on March 3, 1931, in New York City. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a violinist and his mother a pianist. Boykan began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the violin and viola. He attended the High School of Music and Art in New York City and went on to study composition at Harvard University with Walter Piston and Randall Thompson. Boykan's early compositions were influenced by the neoclassical style of his teachers, but he soon developed his own unique voice. His music is characterized by its intricate counterpoint, rhythmic complexity, and use of dissonance. Boykan has said that he is interested in exploring the "emotional and psychological implications of musical structure." One of Boykan's early works, "String Quartet No. 1," was premiered in 1955 by the Juilliard String Quartet. The piece is notable for its use of serial techniques and its complex rhythmic patterns. Boykan continued to write for the string quartet throughout his career, and his works in this genre have been performed by many of the world's leading ensembles. In the 1960s, Boykan began to incorporate electronic music into his compositions. He worked with the Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center and created several pieces that combined live instruments with electronic sounds. One of his most famous works from this period is "Electronic Study No. 1," which was premiered in 1965. Boykan's music has been performed by many of the world's leading orchestras and ensembles, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the Cleveland Orchestra. He has received numerous awards and honors for his work, including a Guggenheim Fellowship and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. In addition to his work as a composer, Boykan has also been a respected teacher of music composition. He taught at Brandeis University for many years and has mentored many successful composers, including David Rakowski and Eric Chasalow. Boykan's later works have continued to explore the themes of structure and emotion that have been central to his music throughout his career. His "Symphony No. 2," which was premiered in 2001, is a powerful work that combines elements of the classical and modernist traditions. The piece is notable for its use of complex rhythms and its exploration of the relationship between melody and harmony. Overall, Martin Boykan is a composer who has made significant contributions to the world of classical music. His music is characterized by its complexity and emotional depth, and his works have been performed by many of the world's leading musicians. Boykan's legacy as a composer and teacher will continue to inspire future generations of musicians and composers.

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