Role

:

Composer  

Birth

:

1937

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

 

Vocal

 

Persis Anne Parshall-Vehar was an American composer and music educator who was born on August 10, 1941, in Lansing, Michigan. She grew up in a musical family, with her mother being a pianist and her father a violinist. Her parents encouraged her to pursue music, and she began playing the piano at a young age. She also learned to play the violin and the viola. Parshall-Vehar attended Michigan State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in 1963. She then went on to study at the University of Michigan, where she earned a Master of Music degree in 1965. While at the University of Michigan, she studied composition with Ross Lee Finney and Leslie Bassett. After completing her studies, Parshall-Vehar began her career as a music educator. She taught at several universities, including the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She also taught at the Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan. Throughout her career, Parshall-Vehar composed a wide variety of music, including orchestral works, chamber music, and vocal music. Her music was often inspired by nature, and she was particularly interested in the sounds of birds. She also drew inspiration from literature and poetry. One of Parshall-Vehar's most well-known works is her Symphony No. 1, which was commissioned by the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and premiered in 1985. The symphony is in three movements and is scored for a large orchestra. The first movement, titled "The Forest," is inspired by the sounds of the forest and features a prominent birdcall motif. The second movement, titled "The Sea," is inspired by the ocean and features a solo cello. The third movement, titled "The Sky," is inspired by the sky and features a solo trumpet. Another notable work by Parshall-Vehar is her String Quartet No. 2, which was commissioned by the Kronos Quartet and premiered in 1990. The quartet is in four movements and is scored for two violins, viola, and cello. The first movement, titled "The Wind," is inspired by the sound of the wind and features a variety of extended techniques, including harmonics and glissandi. The second movement, titled "The Water," is inspired by the sound of water and features a variety of percussive effects. The third movement, titled "The Earth," is inspired by the sound of the earth and features a variety of pizzicato effects. The fourth movement, titled "The Fire," is inspired by the sound of fire and features a variety of bowing techniques. In addition to her orchestral and chamber music, Parshall-Vehar also composed a number of vocal works. One of her most well-known vocal works is her song cycle "The Sunflower Sutra," which is based on a poem by Allen Ginsberg. The song cycle is scored for soprano, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, and piano. Parshall-Vehar's music has been performed by a number of prominent ensembles, including the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Kronos Quartet, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She received numerous awards and honors throughout her career, including a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1987 and a National Endowment for the Arts Composer Fellowship in 1991. Parshall-Vehar passed away on December 12, 2019, at the age of 78. She left behind a legacy of innovative and expressive music that continues to inspire and captivate audiences today.

More....