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Composer

 

Robert Convery was an American composer of classical music, born on August 22, 1954, in New York City. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a jazz pianist and his mother a singer. Convery began playing the piano at a young age and showed a natural talent for music. He attended the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied composition with Ludmila Ulehla and piano with Constance Keene. Convery's early works were heavily influenced by the minimalist movement of the 1960s and 1970s, particularly the music of Steve Reich and Philip Glass. However, he soon developed his own unique style, which blended elements of minimalism with traditional tonality and a strong sense of melody. One of Convery's early successes was his composition "The Seven Last Words of Christ," which was commissioned by the New York Choral Society in 1982. The piece, which is based on the seven sayings of Jesus on the cross, is a powerful and moving work that showcases Convery's skill as a composer. It has since been performed by choirs around the world and has become one of Convery's most popular works. In the years that followed, Convery continued to compose a wide range of works, including orchestral pieces, chamber music, and choral works. One of his most notable works is "The Lamb," a setting of William Blake's poem of the same name. The piece, which was commissioned by the New York Virtuoso Singers, is a hauntingly beautiful work that showcases Convery's ability to create rich and complex harmonies. Another highlight of Convery's career was his collaboration with the choreographer Mark Morris. The two worked together on several ballets, including "Gloria," which was set to the music of Antonio Vivaldi and premiered at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 1990. The ballet was a critical and commercial success and helped to establish Convery as one of the leading composers of his generation. Throughout his career, Convery received numerous awards and honors for his work, including grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York State Council on the Arts. He was also a sought-after teacher and mentor, and he taught composition at several universities, including the Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard School. Sadly, Convery's life was cut short when he passed away on December 29, 2015, at the age of 61. However, his legacy lives on through his music, which continues to be performed and admired by musicians and audiences around the world. Convery's contributions to the world of classical music are significant, and his unique style and approach to composition have left an indelible mark on the genre.

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