Role

:

Composer  

Birth

:

1942

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Avant-Garde

 

Diane Thome is a renowned American composer of contemporary classical music. She was born on August 22, 1942, in Des Moines, Iowa, and grew up in a musical family. Her father was a jazz pianist, and her mother was a singer. Thome started playing the piano at the age of four and began composing music when she was in high school. Thome received her Bachelor of Music degree from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1964. She then went on to study composition at the University of Iowa, where she earned her Master of Arts degree in 1966 and her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in 1970. Her composition teachers at the University of Iowa included Richard Hervig, Philip Bezanson, and Donald Jenni. Thome's early works were influenced by the serialism and atonality of the mid-20th century. However, she soon began to develop her own unique style, which incorporated elements of jazz, rock, and world music. Her music is characterized by its rhythmic complexity, colorful harmonies, and use of extended techniques. One of Thome's most significant works is her Piano Concerto, which was commissioned by the Iowa City Symphony Orchestra in 1975. The concerto is in three movements and features a virtuosic piano part that showcases Thome's jazz influences. The work has been performed by numerous orchestras, including the Seattle Symphony, the San Francisco Symphony, and the New York Philharmonic. Another notable work by Thome is her chamber opera, The Legend of the Free Lance, which was commissioned by the Minnesota Opera in 1981. The opera is based on a medieval legend and features a libretto by the poet John Ashbery. The work has been praised for its inventive use of percussion and its incorporation of medieval and contemporary musical styles. Thome has also composed a significant amount of music for solo instruments, including her Sonata for Violin and Piano, which was commissioned by the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis in 1986. The sonata is in three movements and features a virtuosic violin part that explores a wide range of techniques and styles. In addition to her work as a composer, Thome has been an influential teacher and mentor to many young composers. She has taught at the University of Washington, the University of Oregon, and the Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. Many of her former students have gone on to successful careers in music composition. Thome has received numerous awards and honors for her work as a composer, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, a National Endowment for the Arts Composer Fellowship, and a Fulbright Fellowship. She has also been recognized for her contributions to the field of music education, receiving the Distinguished Teaching Award from the University of Washington in 2001. Thome continues to compose music and has recently completed a new work for the Seattle Symphony. Her music has been performed by some of the world's leading orchestras and ensembles and has been recorded on several labels, including New World Records and Albany Records. In conclusion, Diane Thome is a highly respected composer of contemporary classical music who has made significant contributions to the field. Her music is characterized by its rhythmic complexity, colorful harmonies, and incorporation of jazz, rock, and world music influences. Thome's Piano Concerto, chamber opera, and Sonata for Violin and Piano are among her most significant works.

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