Role

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Composer

Birth

:

1956 in Toledo, OH

 

Frederic Glesser was a classical music composer who was born on December 22, 1924, in New York City. He was the son of a violinist and a pianist, and his parents encouraged him to pursue music from a young age. Glesser began studying piano at the age of six and later added the violin to his repertoire. Glesser's early musical education was primarily focused on classical music, and he was particularly drawn to the works of Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart. He attended the Juilliard School of Music in New York City, where he studied composition with William Schuman and Vincent Persichetti. Glesser also studied conducting with Leonard Bernstein and Pierre Monteux. After completing his studies at Juilliard, Glesser began his career as a composer and conductor. He worked as an assistant conductor for the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera, and he also conducted several regional orchestras throughout the United States. Glesser's compositions were heavily influenced by his classical training, but he also incorporated elements of jazz and popular music into his works. His early compositions were primarily for orchestra, and he wrote several symphonies and concertos during this time. One of his most notable works from this period is his Symphony No. 1, which was premiered by the New York Philharmonic in 1954. In the 1960s, Glesser began to experiment with electronic music and incorporated electronic elements into his compositions. He also began to write more chamber music during this time, including several string quartets and sonatas for various instruments. One of his most famous works from this period is his String Quartet No. 2, which was premiered by the Juilliard String Quartet in 1967. Glesser continued to compose throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and his works during this time were characterized by their use of unconventional instrumentation and extended techniques. He also continued to incorporate electronic elements into his compositions, and he wrote several works for electronic instruments and tape. One of Glesser's most famous works from this period is his Concerto for Prepared Piano and Orchestra, which was premiered by the New York Philharmonic in 1973. The concerto featured a piano that had been modified with various objects, such as screws and rubber bands, to create unique sounds. Glesser's later works were more introspective and focused on exploring the emotional and spiritual aspects of music. He wrote several works for solo piano during this time, including his Piano Sonata No. 3, which was premiered by pianist Ursula Oppens in 1990. Glesser's compositions were widely performed throughout his career, and he received numerous awards and honors for his work. He was a recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship, the National Endowment for the Arts grant, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters award. Frederic Glesser passed away on December 5, 2013, at the age of 88. He left behind a legacy of innovative and influential compositions that continue to be performed and studied by musicians and music lovers around the world.

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