Role

:

Composer  

Birth

:

1948 in Washington, D.C.

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Symphony

 

 

Vocal

 

Steven R. Gerber was an American composer known for his contributions to contemporary classical music. He was born on September 28, 1948, in Washington D.C. and grew up in a family of musicians. His father was a violinist, and his mother was a pianist. Gerber began playing the piano at the age of five and later learned to play the violin and the viola. Gerber attended the Juilliard School in New York City, where he studied composition with Vincent Persichetti and Roger Sessions. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in 1970 and his Master of Music degree in 1972. During his time at Juilliard, Gerber was awarded the Naumburg Award for composition, which helped launch his career as a composer. Gerber's early works were influenced by the serialism and atonality of the mid-20th century. However, he later developed a more tonal and melodic style that was influenced by the music of Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven. Gerber's music is characterized by its lyricism, clarity, and emotional depth. One of Gerber's most significant works is his Symphony No. 1, which he composed in 1980. The symphony is in four movements and is scored for a large orchestra. The work is notable for its use of tonality and its emotional intensity. The symphony has been performed by many orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Gerber's other orchestral works include his Violin Concerto, which was premiered by the New York Philharmonic in 1992, and his Cello Concerto, which was premiered by the National Symphony Orchestra in 2002. Both concertos are characterized by their virtuosic solo parts and their expressive melodies. In addition to his orchestral works, Gerber also composed chamber music, vocal music, and operas. His chamber music includes several string quartets, a piano trio, and a wind quintet. His vocal music includes art songs and choral works, such as his cantata "The Sun, the Great Luminary of the Universe," which was premiered by the New York Philharmonic in 1996. Gerber's operas include "The Glass Hammer," which was premiered by the New York City Opera in 2001, and "The Scarlet Letter," which was premiered by the Boston Lyric Opera in 2008. Both operas are based on classic works of literature and are characterized by their dramatic intensity and emotional depth. Throughout his career, Gerber received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to contemporary classical music. In addition to the Naumburg Award, he was also awarded the Rome Prize, the Guggenheim Fellowship, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters Award. He was also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Gerber continued to compose music until his death on April 28, 2015, at the age of 66. His music continues to be performed and recorded by orchestras and ensembles around the world, and his contributions to contemporary classical music have had a lasting impact on the genre.

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