Role

:

Composer  

Birth

:

December 9, 1938 in New Kensington, PA

Death

:

February 3, 2015 in Reading, MA

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Symphony

 

William Thomas McKinley was an American composer, born on January 9, 1938, in New Kensington, Pennsylvania. He was the son of a steelworker and a homemaker, and he grew up in a working-class family. McKinley showed an early interest in music, and he began playing the piano at the age of six. He later learned to play the trumpet and the French horn. McKinley attended the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where he studied composition with Walter Piston and Lukas Foss. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in 1960 and his Master of Music degree in 1962. After completing his studies, McKinley taught at the New England Conservatory and at Boston University. McKinley's early works were influenced by the serialism of Arnold Schoenberg and the neoclassicism of Igor Stravinsky. However, he soon developed his own style, which combined elements of jazz, rock, and classical music. McKinley's music is characterized by its rhythmic vitality, its colorful orchestration, and its melodic inventiveness. McKinley's first major work was his Symphony No. 1, which he composed in 1965. The symphony was premiered by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Erich Leinsdorf. The work was well-received, and it established McKinley as a promising young composer. McKinley's next major work was his Piano Concerto, which he composed in 1967. The concerto was premiered by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, with McKinley himself as the soloist. The work was praised for its virtuosity and its inventive use of jazz and rock rhythms. In the 1970s, McKinley began to incorporate electronic music into his compositions. He composed a number of works for electronic tape, including his Electronic Etudes and his Electronic Symphony. These works were notable for their use of synthesizers and other electronic instruments, and they demonstrated McKinley's interest in exploring new sonic possibilities. McKinley's later works include his Symphony No. 5, which he composed in 1990. The symphony was commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and it was premiered by the orchestra, conducted by Seiji Ozawa. The work was praised for its lyrical beauty and its emotional depth. McKinley also composed a number of works for chamber ensembles, including his String Quartet No. 2 and his Wind Quintet. These works were notable for their intricate counterpoint and their inventive use of timbre. In addition to his work as a composer, McKinley was also a respected teacher. He taught at Boston University for over 30 years, and he mentored a number of young composers who went on to successful careers in music. McKinley received numerous awards and honors throughout his career. He was a recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship, the National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters Award. He was also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. McKinley died on February 3, 2015, at the age of 77. He left behind a legacy of innovative and expressive music, and he remains an important figure in the world of contemporary classical music.

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