Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

February 20, 1953 in Tacoma, WA

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Avant-Garde

 

 

Band

 

 

Chamber

 

 

Orchestral

 

Cindy McTee is a renowned American composer of classical music, known for her innovative and expressive works that blend traditional and contemporary styles. Born on May 19, 1953, in Tacoma, Washington, McTee grew up in a musical family and began playing the piano at a young age. Her father was a jazz musician and her mother was a singer, and they encouraged her to pursue her passion for music. McTee attended Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance. She then went on to study composition at the University of Washington, where she earned a Master of Music degree and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree. Her teachers included William Bergsma, William Bolcom, and Leslie Bassett, all of whom had a significant influence on her musical style. McTee's early works were heavily influenced by the avant-garde and experimental music of the 1960s and 1970s. Her compositions often featured unconventional instrumentation, extended techniques, and complex rhythms and harmonies. One of her earliest works, "Circuits," for example, was written for a chamber ensemble that included electric guitar, synthesizer, and percussion. In the 1980s, McTee began to incorporate more traditional elements into her music, such as tonality and melody. Her works from this period, such as "Einstein's Dream" and "The Unquestioned Answer," were characterized by their lyrical beauty and emotional depth. McTee's music also began to reflect her interest in literature and poetry, with many of her works inspired by the writings of authors such as James Joyce and Emily Dickinson. One of McTee's most famous works is "Timepiece," a concerto for percussion and orchestra that was commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1999. The piece features a wide range of percussion instruments, including marimba, vibraphone, and timpani, and is known for its virtuosic solo passages and intricate rhythms. "Timepiece" has been performed by orchestras around the world and has become a staple of the percussion repertoire. Another notable work by McTee is "Adagio for String Orchestra," which was commissioned by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra in 1992. The piece is a hauntingly beautiful meditation on loss and grief, and has been described as one of the most moving works of contemporary classical music. "Adagio for String Orchestra" has been performed by orchestras and chamber ensembles around the world, and has become one of McTee's most beloved works. McTee's music has been recognized with numerous awards and honors throughout her career. She has received grants and commissions from organizations such as the National Endowment for the Arts, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In 2010, she was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Washington School of Music, in recognition of her contributions to the field of classical music. Today, McTee is considered one of the most important and influential composers of contemporary classical music. Her works are performed regularly by orchestras and ensembles around the world, and she continues to be an active and prolific composer. Her music is characterized by its emotional depth, technical virtuosity, and innovative use of traditional and contemporary musical elements.

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