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Composer  

 

Keith Calmes is a contemporary classical music composer who was born in 1963 in New York City. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his father being a jazz pianist and his mother a classical pianist. Calmes began playing the guitar at the age of 10 and quickly developed a passion for music. Calmes attended the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied classical guitar with David Starobin and composition with Richard Danielpour. He later earned a Master of Music degree in composition from the Juilliard School, where he studied with Milton Babbitt and David Diamond. Calmes’ early compositions were heavily influenced by his classical guitar training, and he often incorporated the instrument into his works. His first major composition, “Guitar Concerto,” was premiered in 1987 by the New York Virtuosi Chamber Symphony, with Calmes himself as the soloist. Throughout the 1990s, Calmes continued to compose works for guitar, including “Sonata for Guitar” and “Three Pieces for Guitar.” He also began to explore other instruments and genres, including chamber music, orchestral music, and electronic music. One of Calmes’ most notable works from this period is “String Quartet No. 1,” which was premiered in 1995 by the Cassatt String Quartet. The piece is a complex and intricate exploration of the string quartet form, with each instrument playing a unique and interlocking role. In the early 2000s, Calmes began to incorporate electronic elements into his compositions, creating a unique blend of acoustic and electronic sounds. His work “Electric Counterpoint,” for guitar and tape, is a prime example of this style. The piece features a live guitar performance that is layered and manipulated with electronic effects, creating a rich and complex sonic landscape. Calmes’ later works continued to push the boundaries of classical music, incorporating elements of jazz, rock, and world music. His “Concerto for Electric Guitar and Orchestra” is a particularly notable example of this fusion, featuring a virtuosic guitar soloist backed by a full orchestra. In addition to his work as a composer, Calmes is also an accomplished performer and educator. He has performed extensively as a soloist and chamber musician, and has taught at several prestigious institutions, including the Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard School. Overall, Keith Calmes’ career as a composer has been marked by a constant exploration of new sounds and styles, as well as a deep commitment to the classical tradition. His works are characterized by their technical complexity, innovative use of electronic elements, and fusion of diverse musical genres.

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