Role

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Composer

Period

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Contemporary

Genre

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Orchestral

 

 

Vocal

 

Martin Mailman was an American composer of classical music, born on January 7, 1932, in New York City. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a violinist and his mother a pianist. Mailman began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the clarinet and saxophone. He attended the High School of Music and Art in New York City and went on to study at the Juilliard School of Music. Mailman's early compositions were influenced by the works of Igor Stravinsky and Aaron Copland. He was also inspired by jazz music and incorporated elements of it into his compositions. In 1955, Mailman won the BMI Student Composer Award for his piece "Three Pieces for Orchestra." After completing his studies at Juilliard, Mailman served in the United States Army as a musician in the Army Band. He later returned to Juilliard to teach composition and music theory. In 1963, Mailman joined the faculty at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he taught for over 30 years. Throughout his career, Mailman composed a wide range of works, including orchestral pieces, chamber music, vocal music, and music for the theater. One of his most well-known works is his Symphony No. 2, which was commissioned by the North Carolina Symphony and premiered in 1976. The symphony is a tribute to the state of North Carolina and features elements of Appalachian folk music. Mailman also composed several works for the theater, including the opera "The Juniper Tree," which was based on a Brothers Grimm fairy tale. The opera premiered in 1985 and was later performed by the New York City Opera. Mailman also composed music for several plays, including "The Glass Menagerie" by Tennessee Williams. In addition to his work as a composer, Mailman was also a respected music educator. He was a founding member of the Society of Composers, Inc. and served as its president from 1972 to 1974. He also served as the president of the American Society of University Composers from 1980 to 1982. Mailman's compositions have been performed by orchestras and ensembles around the world, including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra. He received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the North Carolina Award for Fine Arts in 1991. Martin Mailman passed away on May 17, 2000, at the age of 68. His legacy as a composer and educator continues to inspire musicians and audiences alike.

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