Role

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Composer

Period

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Modern

Genre

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Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

Alvin Etler was an American composer of classical music who was born on October 26, 1913, in Odessa, Texas. He was the youngest of four children and grew up in a musical family. His father was a violinist and his mother was a pianist, and they both encouraged their children to pursue music. Etler began playing the piano at a young age and showed a natural talent for music. He later learned to play the clarinet and saxophone and became interested in jazz music. He attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied composition with Karl Korte and earned a Bachelor of Music degree in 1935. After graduation, Etler moved to New York City to pursue a career in music. He studied composition with Aaron Copland and Roger Sessions at the New School for Social Research and later with Paul Hindemith at Yale University. He also played saxophone in jazz bands and worked as a copyist for other composers. Etler's early compositions were influenced by jazz and popular music, but he later developed a more classical style. His music was characterized by its rhythmic vitality, harmonic complexity, and use of counterpoint. He was also interested in incorporating non-Western musical traditions into his compositions. Etler's first major work was his Symphony No. 1, which he composed in 1940. The symphony was premiered by the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Artur Rodzinski and received favorable reviews. Etler continued to compose symphonies throughout his career, including Symphony No. 2 (1942), Symphony No. 3 (1946), and Symphony No. 4 (1952). In addition to his symphonies, Etler composed a variety of other works, including chamber music, vocal music, and music for orchestra. Some of his most notable works include his String Quartet No. 2 (1943), Concerto for Saxophone and Orchestra (1951), and Sonata for Clarinet and Piano (1953). Etler was also interested in electronic music and composed several works using tape and other electronic instruments. His electronic works include Electronic Study No. 1 (1959) and Electronic Study No. 2 (1960). Etler's music was performed by many of the leading orchestras and ensembles of his time, including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Juilliard String Quartet. He also taught composition at several universities, including the University of Illinois, the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of Michigan. Despite his success as a composer, Etler struggled with depression and alcoholism throughout his life. He died on January 22, 1973, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, at the age of 59. In conclusion, Alvin Etler was a talented American composer who made significant contributions to the classical music world. His music was characterized by its rhythmic vitality, harmonic complexity, and use of counterpoint, and he was interested in incorporating non-Western musical traditions into his compositions. Although he struggled with personal demons, his music continues to be performed and appreciated by audiences around the world.

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