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Composer

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Deborah Drattell is a renowned American composer of classical music. She was born on March 5, 1956, in Brooklyn, New York, to a family of musicians. Her father was a violinist, and her mother was a pianist. Drattell grew up in a musical environment and started playing the piano at a young age. She showed a natural talent for music and began composing her own pieces when she was just eight years old. Drattell received her formal education in music at the Juilliard School in New York City. She studied composition with Milton Babbitt, a prominent American composer and music theorist. She also studied piano with Beveridge Webster and chamber music with Felix Galimir. Drattell graduated from Juilliard with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1977 and a Master of Music degree in 1978. After completing her studies, Drattell began her career as a composer. She has composed music for a wide range of ensembles, including orchestras, chamber groups, and solo performers. Her works have been performed by some of the world's leading musicians and ensembles, including the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Kronos Quartet. One of Drattell's most notable works is her opera, "Lilith." The opera tells the story of Lilith, a figure from Jewish mythology who was Adam's first wife. Lilith is often portrayed as a demon or a seductress, but Drattell's opera presents her as a complex and sympathetic character. The opera premiered in 2001 at the New York City Opera and received critical acclaim. The New York Times called it "a work of considerable power and originality." Drattell has also composed several works for orchestra, including "The Fire Within," "The Seven Gates of Jerusalem," and "The Still Point." "The Seven Gates of Jerusalem" was commissioned by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and premiered in 1997. The work is a tribute to the city of Jerusalem and its rich cultural heritage. It features a large orchestra, a choir, and a narrator who recites texts from the Bible and other sources. In addition to her orchestral and operatic works, Drattell has also composed chamber music and solo pieces. Her chamber music includes works for string quartet, piano trio, and wind quintet. Her solo pieces include works for piano, violin, and cello. One of her most popular solo works is "The Fire Within," a piece for solo piano that was inspired by the poetry of Emily Dickinson. Drattell's music is known for its emotional depth and expressive power. She often draws on literary and mythological sources for inspiration, and her works are characterized by their rich harmonies and intricate textures. Her music has been described as "intensely personal" and "visceral." In addition to her work as a composer, Drattell is also a professor of music at the City College of New York. She has received numerous awards and honors for her work, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship, and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Overall, Deborah Drattell is a highly respected composer of classical music who has made significant contributions to the field. Her works are performed and admired by musicians and audiences around the world, and she continues to be an important figure in contemporary classical music.

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