Role

:

Composer

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Evan Hause is a contemporary classical music composer who was born on August 22, 1959, 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. Hause began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the trumpet and guitar. He attended the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied composition with John Corigliano and David Del Tredici. Hause's early works were heavily influenced by the minimalist movement, which was popular in the 1970s and 1980s. His compositions often featured repetitive patterns and simple harmonies, but he also experimented with more complex structures and textures. In the 1990s, Hause began to incorporate electronic music into his compositions, using synthesizers and computer software to create new sounds and textures. One of Hause's most notable works is his Symphony No. 2, which was commissioned by the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and premiered in 2001. The symphony is divided into three movements, each of which explores a different aspect of the human experience. The first movement, titled "Birth," is a celebration of new beginnings and features a lively, rhythmic melody. The second movement, "Life," is more introspective and contemplative, with a haunting melody that builds to a powerful climax. The final movement, "Death," is a somber reflection on mortality, with a mournful melody that gradually fades away. Another notable work by Hause is his String Quartet No. 1, which was commissioned by the Cassatt String Quartet and premiered in 1995. The quartet is divided into four movements, each of which explores a different mood or emotion. The first movement, "Agitated," is a frenzied and chaotic piece that features dissonant harmonies and jagged rhythms. The second movement, "Meditative," is a more introspective and contemplative piece, with a gentle melody that gradually builds in intensity. The third movement, "Energetic," is a lively and upbeat piece that features a driving rhythm and playful melodies. The final movement, "Reflective," is a somber and introspective piece that features a mournful melody and sparse harmonies. Hause has also composed several works for solo instruments, including his Sonata for Trumpet and Piano, which was commissioned by the International Trumpet Guild and premiered in 1997. The sonata is divided into three movements, each of which explores a different aspect of the trumpet's sound and technique. The first movement, "Fanfare," is a bold and brassy piece that features a virtuosic trumpet solo. The second movement, "Lament," is a mournful and introspective piece that features a lyrical trumpet melody. The final movement, "Dance," is a lively and energetic piece that features a playful trumpet melody and driving rhythms. In addition to his work as a composer, Hause is also a professor of music at the University of Michigan, where he teaches composition and electronic music. He has received numerous awards and honors for his work, including a Guggenheim Fellowship and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. His music has been performed by orchestras and ensembles around the world, and he continues to be an influential figure in the contemporary classical music scene.

More....