Role

:

Composer Conductor

Birth

:

November 19, 1924

Death

:

April 27, 2014

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Choral

 

Peter Hallock was an American composer, organist, and choir director who was born on November 19, 1924, in Tacoma, Washington. He was the son of a Lutheran pastor and grew up in a musical family. His mother was a pianist, and his father played the organ. Hallock began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the organ. Hallock attended the University of Washington, where he studied music composition and organ performance. He also studied with the renowned composer and conductor, Nadia Boulanger, in Paris. Hallock's early compositions were influenced by the music of Boulanger and the French organ tradition. In 1951, Hallock founded the Compline Choir at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in Seattle. The Compline Choir is a group of singers who perform the ancient monastic office of Compline, a service of night prayer. Hallock's compositions for the Compline service are some of his most well-known works. His music for Compline is characterized by its simplicity, beauty, and reverence. Hallock's compositions for the Compline service include settings of the psalms, hymns, and canticles. His music is often chant-like in style, with simple melodies and harmonies. Hallock's use of silence and space in his compositions is also notable. He believed that silence was an essential part of music and that it allowed the listener to reflect and meditate. In addition to his work with the Compline Choir, Hallock was also the organist and choir director at St. Mark's Cathedral for many years. He was known for his innovative programming and his commitment to new music. Hallock commissioned many new works for the choir and organ, including pieces by composers such as John Cage, Morton Feldman, and Arvo Pärt. Hallock's compositions for the organ are also noteworthy. He was a skilled improviser and often incorporated improvisation into his compositions. His organ music is characterized by its virtuosity and its use of the full range of the instrument. Hallock's organ works include preludes, fugues, and toccatas. Hallock's choral music is also highly regarded. His choral works include settings of the Mass, anthems, and hymns. His music for choir is characterized by its lush harmonies and its use of polyphony. Hallock's choral music is often performed by choirs around the world. Hallock's later compositions were influenced by his interest in Eastern spirituality. He studied Zen Buddhism and incorporated elements of Zen philosophy into his music. His later works are characterized by their simplicity and their use of silence. Hallock continued to compose and perform music until his death on April 27, 2014, at the age of 89. He left behind a legacy of beautiful and innovative music that continues to inspire musicians and listeners around the world.

More....