Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1936

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Keyboard

 

 

Orchestral

 

Margaret Shelton Meier was an American composer of classical music who was born on May 12, 1920, in New York City. She was the daughter of a prominent lawyer and a talented pianist, and her parents encouraged her to pursue music from a young age. Meier began studying piano at the age of six and showed a natural talent for the instrument. She also began composing her own music at a young age, and her parents recognized her potential as a composer. Meier attended the Juilliard School of Music in New York City, where she studied composition with the renowned composer Aaron Copland. She also studied piano with Rosalyn Tureck and chamber music with Felix Salmond. Meier was a dedicated student and worked hard to develop her skills as a composer. She was particularly interested in the music of the Baroque period and was influenced by the works of Bach and Handel. After graduating from Juilliard, Meier began her career as a composer. She wrote music for a variety of ensembles, including orchestras, chamber groups, and solo instruments. Her works were well-received by audiences and critics alike, and she quickly gained a reputation as a talented composer. One of Meier's early works was a piano concerto, which she composed in 1945. The concerto was premiered by the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Leonard Bernstein, and it was well-received by both the audience and the critics. The concerto showcased Meier's skill as a composer and her ability to write music that was both technically challenging and emotionally expressive. Meier continued to compose throughout the 1950s and 1960s, and her works were performed by many of the leading orchestras and ensembles of the time. She was particularly interested in writing music for the human voice, and she composed several works for choir and solo voice. One of her most famous works in this genre was a setting of the Magnificat, which was premiered by the New York Choral Society in 1958. In addition to her work as a composer, Meier was also a dedicated teacher. She taught composition at the Juilliard School of Music for many years, and she was known for her ability to inspire and encourage her students. Many of her students went on to become successful composers in their own right, and they credited Meier with helping them to develop their own unique voices as composers. Meier's later works were characterized by a more experimental approach to composition. She began incorporating elements of electronic music into her works, and she also experimented with different forms and structures. One of her most famous works from this period was a piece for orchestra and tape, which was premiered by the New York Philharmonic in 1972. Meier continued to compose and teach until her death in 1999. She left behind a legacy of innovative and expressive music that continues to inspire and influence composers today. Her works are known for their technical skill, emotional depth, and unique voice, and they remain an important part of the classical music canon.

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