Role

:

Composer

Genre

:

Choral

 

Joseph Casasanta was an American composer and pianist who was born on May 22, 1927, in New York City. He was the youngest of three children born to Italian immigrants. His father was a tailor, and his mother was a homemaker. Casasanta showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of six. He was largely self-taught until the age of 12 when he began taking lessons with a local piano teacher. Casasanta's talent for music was evident from an early age, and he quickly became known for his virtuosic piano playing. He began composing his own music in his early teens and was soon performing his compositions in public. In 1945, he graduated from high school and enrolled in the Juilliard School of Music in New York City. At Juilliard, Casasanta studied composition with Vincent Persichetti and piano with Rosina Lhévinne. He also studied conducting with Jean Morel and orchestration with Bernard Wagenaar. During his time at Juilliard, Casasanta won several awards for his compositions, including the prestigious George Gershwin Memorial Award. After graduating from Juilliard in 1950, Casasanta began his career as a composer and pianist. He quickly gained a reputation as a talented and innovative composer, and his works were performed by some of the leading orchestras and ensembles of the day. In 1952, he won the Rome Prize, which allowed him to spend two years studying and composing in Italy. Casasanta's music is characterized by its lyricism, rhythmic vitality, and harmonic complexity. He was influenced by a wide range of musical styles, including jazz, folk music, and the music of the Baroque and Classical periods. His compositions include works for orchestra, chamber ensembles, solo piano, and voice. One of Casasanta's most famous works is his Piano Concerto No. 1, which he composed in 1954. The concerto is a virtuosic tour de force for the soloist, with intricate passagework and complex harmonies. The work was premiered by the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Leonard Bernstein, and it quickly became one of Casasanta's most popular works. Another notable work by Casasanta is his String Quartet No. 1, which he composed in 1956. The quartet is a highly expressive work that showcases Casasanta's skill at writing for string instruments. The work was premiered by the Juilliard String Quartet and has since become a staple of the chamber music repertoire. Casasanta's music was widely performed during his lifetime, and he received numerous commissions from leading orchestras and ensembles. He was also a respected teacher of composition and piano, and he taught at several universities and conservatories throughout his career. Casasanta died on January 22, 2005, at the age of 77. He left behind a legacy of innovative and expressive music that continues to be performed and admired by musicians and audiences around the world.

More....