Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

1961 in Oklahoma City, OK

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Crossover

 

Edgar Meyer is a renowned American bassist, composer, and arranger who has made significant contributions to the world of classical music. Born on November 24, 1960, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Meyer grew up in a musical family. His father was a double bassist in the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, and his mother was a piano teacher. Meyer started playing the piano at the age of five and later switched to the double bass at the age of nine. Meyer's talent for music was evident from a young age, and he quickly became a prodigy on the double bass. He studied with Stuart Sankey, the principal bassist of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, and later with James Clute, the principal bassist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Meyer also attended the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with bassist and composer Donald Erb. In 1982, Meyer made his debut as a soloist with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, performing Bottesini's Double Bass Concerto No. 2. This performance marked the beginning of a long and successful career as a soloist, chamber musician, and composer. Meyer's unique style of playing, which combines elements of classical, bluegrass, and jazz music, has earned him critical acclaim and a loyal following of fans. Throughout his career, Meyer has collaborated with some of the most prominent musicians in the world of classical music. He has performed with the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, among others. He has also worked with renowned conductors such as Leonard Bernstein, Seiji Ozawa, and James Levine. In addition to his work as a performer, Meyer is also a prolific composer and arranger. He has written numerous works for the double bass, including concertos, sonatas, and chamber music pieces. He has also arranged music for a variety of ensembles, including string quartets, orchestras, and bluegrass bands. One of Meyer's most significant achievements as a composer was the creation of a concerto for double bass and orchestra, which he premiered with the Minnesota Orchestra in 1994. The concerto, which was later recorded by Meyer and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, has become one of his most popular works. Meyer's contributions to the world of classical music have not gone unnoticed. He has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including a MacArthur Fellowship in 2002. He has also been nominated for several Grammy Awards and has won five, including Best Classical Crossover Album for his collaboration with Yo-Yo Ma and Mark O'Connor on the album "Appalachian Journey." In addition to his work as a classical musician, Meyer is also an accomplished bluegrass musician. He has performed with some of the biggest names in bluegrass music, including Bela Fleck, Sam Bush, and Jerry Douglas. He has also recorded several albums of bluegrass music, including "The Goat Rodeo Sessions," a collaboration with Yo-Yo Ma, Chris Thile, and Stuart Duncan that won a Grammy Award for Best Folk Album in 2013. Meyer's versatility as a musician and his ability to bridge the gap between different genres of music have made him one of the most respected and admired musicians of his generation. His contributions to the world of classical music and bluegrass music have earned him a place in the pantheon of great American musicians.

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