Role

:

Composer  

Birth

:

1960

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Andrea Clearfield is a renowned American composer of classical music, known for her unique and innovative approach to composition. Born in 1960 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Clearfield grew up in a family of musicians and was exposed to music from a young age. Her mother was a pianist and her father was a jazz musician, and they both encouraged her to pursue her passion for music. Clearfield began studying piano at the age of five and later took up the harp, which would become her primary instrument. She attended the Philadelphia High School for Girls, where she was a member of the school's orchestra and choir. She went on to study music at the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in composition. After completing her undergraduate studies, Clearfield continued her education at the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned a Master of Music degree in composition. She also studied at the Yale School of Music and the Darmstadt Summer Courses for New Music in Germany. Clearfield's early works were heavily influenced by the minimalist and post-minimalist movements of the 1970s and 1980s. Her compositions often featured repetitive patterns and simple harmonies, but she also incorporated elements of jazz and world music into her music. One of Clearfield's early works, "Three Songs for Soprano and Piano," was premiered in 1985 and received critical acclaim. The piece showcased Clearfield's ability to create beautiful melodies and harmonies, and it demonstrated her skill at setting text to music. In the 1990s, Clearfield began to incorporate more experimental techniques into her compositions. She began to explore the use of electronics and found objects in her music, and she also began to experiment with different forms and structures. One of Clearfield's most notable works from this period is "The Golem Psalms," a multimedia work that combines music, dance, and video. The piece is based on the legend of the Golem, a creature from Jewish folklore, and it explores themes of creation, destruction, and redemption. Clearfield's music continued to evolve in the 2000s, as she began to incorporate more improvisation and collaboration into her compositions. She began to work with musicians from different genres and cultures, and she also began to incorporate elements of improvisation into her music. One of Clearfield's most recent works, "Translucent Rocks," is a collaboration with the Chinese pipa player Min Xiao-Fen. The piece combines Western classical music with traditional Chinese music, and it features improvisation and extended techniques. Clearfield's music has been performed by some of the world's leading orchestras and ensembles, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, the American Composers Orchestra, and the Kronos Quartet. She has also received numerous awards and honors for her work, including a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Pew Fellowship in the Arts. In addition to her work as a composer, Clearfield is also a dedicated educator and mentor. She has taught at numerous universities and conservatories, including the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, and the Curtis Institute of Music. Clearfield's contributions to the world of classical music have been significant and far-reaching.

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