Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

March 30, 1935 in Bryn Mawr, PA

Death

:

December 2, 2015 in New York City, NY

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Electronic/Computer

 

 

Keyboard

 

John Eaton was an American composer and music theorist who was born on March 30, 1935, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He was the son of a prominent physicist, John Henry Eaton, and a pianist, Mary Louise Eaton. Growing up, Eaton was exposed to music from an early age, and he began playing the piano at the age of four. He also showed an early interest in science and mathematics, which would later influence his approach to music composition. Eaton attended Harvard University, where he studied music composition with Walter Piston and Roger Sessions. He also studied mathematics and physics, which he believed were essential to understanding the structure of music. After graduating from Harvard in 1957, Eaton went on to study music composition at the Paris Conservatory with Nadia Boulanger, one of the most influential music teachers of the 20th century. In the early 1960s, Eaton began experimenting with electronic music, using tape recorders and synthesizers to create new sounds and textures. He also became interested in microtonal music, which uses intervals smaller than the traditional half-step of Western music. Eaton believed that microtonal music allowed for greater expressiveness and flexibility in composition, and he began incorporating it into his own works. One of Eaton's most significant works is his opera "The Cry of Clytaemnestra," which premiered in 1960. The opera is based on the Greek myth of Clytaemnestra, who murders her husband Agamemnon in revenge for sacrificing their daughter Iphigenia. Eaton's opera explores the psychological motivations behind Clytaemnestra's actions, and it features a complex score that incorporates microtonal intervals and electronic sounds. In the 1970s, Eaton became interested in the music of the ancient Greeks, particularly their use of microtonal intervals. He began studying ancient Greek music theory and developed a system of notation that allowed him to notate microtonal intervals in a way that was accessible to modern musicians. Eaton's interest in ancient Greek music culminated in his opera "Heracles," which premiered in 1985. The opera is based on the myth of Heracles, and it features a score that incorporates both ancient Greek and modern microtonal music. Eaton's other notable works include "The Tempest," an opera based on Shakespeare's play, and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," an opera based on the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Eaton also wrote numerous chamber works, including string quartets and piano sonatas, as well as works for orchestra and choir. Throughout his career, Eaton was a prolific writer and music theorist. He wrote several books on music theory, including "Microtonality: A Guide for Composers and Performers" and "The Structure of Musical Sound." Eaton was also a professor of music at the University of Chicago and the University of Michigan, where he taught composition and music theory. Eaton's music has been performed by numerous orchestras and ensembles around the world, including the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Kronos Quartet. He received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including a Guggenheim Fellowship and a MacArthur Fellowship. John Eaton passed away on December 2, 2015, at the age of 80. He left behind a legacy of innovative and groundbreaking music that continues to inspire and challenge musicians and audiences alike.

More....