Role

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Composer

Birth

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1968 in New York City, NY

Period

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Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

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Keyboard

 

Charles B. Griffin is a contemporary classical music composer who was born on December 22, 1968, in New York City. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a jazz pianist and his mother a classical pianist. Griffin began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the trumpet and guitar. Griffin attended the Manhattan School of Music, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in composition. He later went on to earn a Master of Music degree in composition from the University of Michigan. During his time at the University of Michigan, Griffin studied with William Bolcom, Michael Daugherty, and Evan Chambers. Griffin's music is known for its unique blend of classical, jazz, and world music influences. He has composed works for a variety of ensembles, including orchestra, chamber groups, and solo instruments. Some of his most notable works include "Concerto for Jazz Trumpet and Orchestra," "The Seven Deadly Sins," and "The Passion of St. Thomas More." One of Griffin's early works, "Concerto for Jazz Trumpet and Orchestra," was composed in 1995 and premiered by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. The piece features a solo trumpet improvising over a jazz-influenced orchestra. The concerto has been performed by several orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. In 2001, Griffin composed "The Seven Deadly Sins," a song cycle for soprano and chamber ensemble. The piece is based on the seven deadly sins of Christianity and features texts by various poets, including William Blake and Emily Dickinson. The work has been performed by several ensembles, including the New York New Music Ensemble and the Da Capo Chamber Players. Griffin's "The Passion of St. Thomas More" is a choral work that was commissioned by the University of Michigan Men's Glee Club in 2009. The piece is based on the life and writings of St. Thomas More, a 16th-century English lawyer and statesman who was executed for refusing to acknowledge King Henry VIII as the head of the Church of England. The work has been performed by several choirs, including the University of Michigan Men's Glee Club and the University of Michigan Chamber Choir. In addition to his work as a composer, Griffin is also a professor of music composition at Western Michigan University. He has received numerous awards and honors for his work, including the Aaron Copland Award, the Rome Prize, and the Guggenheim Fellowship. Griffin's music has been praised for its innovative use of different musical styles and its ability to connect with audiences from diverse backgrounds. His works have been performed by some of the world's leading orchestras and ensembles, and he continues to be a prominent figure in the contemporary classical music scene.

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