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Ervan F. Bud Coleman was an American composer of classical music, born on December 28, 1925, in the small town of Lamesa, Texas. He was the youngest of three children born to a family of farmers. His father was a self-taught musician who played the fiddle, and his mother was a homemaker who sang in the church choir. From an early age, Coleman showed a keen interest in music, and his parents encouraged him to pursue his passion. Coleman's musical education began at the age of six when he started taking piano lessons from a local teacher. He quickly showed a natural talent for the instrument and began composing his own music. By the time he was a teenager, he had already written several pieces for piano and had started to experiment with other instruments. After graduating from high school, Coleman enrolled at Texas Tech University, where he studied music theory and composition. He also played in the university's orchestra and was a member of the marching band. During his time at Texas Tech, Coleman was exposed to a wide range of musical styles, including jazz, blues, and folk music, which would later influence his own compositions. After completing his degree, Coleman moved to New York City to pursue a career as a composer. He studied with some of the most prominent composers of the time, including Aaron Copland and Leonard Bernstein. He also worked as a freelance composer, writing music for films, television, and theater productions. In the 1960s, Coleman began to focus more on composing classical music. He was particularly interested in exploring the possibilities of electronic music and started experimenting with synthesizers and other electronic instruments. His early electronic works, such as "Electronic Music for Tape" and "Music for Synthesizer," were groundbreaking for their time and helped establish Coleman as a leading figure in the field of electronic music. Throughout his career, Coleman composed a wide range of music, including orchestral works, chamber music, and vocal music. His compositions were known for their innovative use of harmony and rhythm, as well as their incorporation of elements from various musical traditions. One of Coleman's most famous works is his "Concerto for Piano and Orchestra," which was premiered in 1972 by the New York Philharmonic. The concerto is a virtuosic showcase for the piano, with complex rhythms and harmonies that push the limits of what is possible on the instrument. The piece has since become a staple of the classical piano repertoire and is widely regarded as one of Coleman's greatest achievements. Another notable work by Coleman is his "String Quartet No. 1," which was premiered in 1965 by the Juilliard String Quartet. The quartet is a complex and challenging work, with intricate counterpoint and shifting harmonies that require a high level of technical skill from the performers. Despite its difficulty, the piece has become a favorite of many string quartets and is considered a masterpiece of the genre. In addition to his work as a composer, Coleman was also a respected teacher and mentor. He taught at several universities throughout his career, including the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of Texas at Austin. Many of his students went on to become successful composers in their own right, and Coleman's influence can be heard in their work. Coleman continued to compose and perform music well into his later years.

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