Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Birth

:

1955

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Contemporary

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Vocal

 

Larry Alan Smith was an American composer, pianist, and educator who was born on December 12, 1955, in New York City. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a jazz pianist and his mother a singer. Smith began playing the piano at a young age and showed a natural talent for music. He attended the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied composition with John Corigliano and piano with Constance Keene. After completing his studies, Smith began his career as a composer, pianist, and educator. He taught at various institutions, including the University of Southern Maine, the University of Hartford, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He also served as the director of the New England Music Camp and the Bowdoin International Music Festival. Smith's compositions were influenced by a variety of musical styles, including classical, jazz, and world music. He was known for his use of unconventional instruments, such as the didgeridoo and the steel drum, in his works. His music was often characterized by its rhythmic complexity, harmonic richness, and emotional depth. One of Smith's most notable works is his Symphony No. 1, which was commissioned by the Portland Symphony Orchestra in 1990. The symphony is a four-movement work that explores themes of love, loss, and redemption. It features a large orchestra, including a full percussion section, and incorporates elements of jazz and world music. Another significant work by Smith is his Piano Concerto, which was premiered by the Portland Symphony Orchestra in 1995. The concerto is a three-movement work that showcases Smith's virtuosic piano playing and his ability to blend classical and jazz styles. It has been performed by numerous orchestras and pianists around the world. In addition to his orchestral works, Smith also composed chamber music, vocal music, and solo piano pieces. His chamber music includes works for string quartet, woodwind quintet, and brass quintet. His vocal music includes art songs and choral works, such as his setting of Walt Whitman's poem "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd." Smith was also a prolific pianist and recorded several albums of his own compositions, as well as works by other composers. He was known for his expressive playing style and his ability to bring out the emotional depth of the music. Throughout his career, Smith received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to music. He was a recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship, the National Endowment for the Arts Composer Fellowship, and the Aaron Copland Award. He was also inducted into the Maine Music Educators Association Hall of Fame in 2015. Sadly, Larry Alan Smith passed away on June 17, 2019, at the age of 63. However, his legacy as a composer, pianist, and educator lives on through his music and the many students he inspired throughout his career.

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