Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1949 in Front Royale, VA

Genre

:

Keyboard

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Vocal

 

Maurice Wright was a renowned American composer of classical music, born on October 20, 1929, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the son of a violinist and a pianist, and his parents encouraged him to pursue music from a young age. Wright began playing the piano at the age of five and later learned to play the violin and viola. Wright attended the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music, where he studied composition with Vincent Persichetti. He later earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with Rosario Scalero. Wright continued his studies at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a Master of Music degree and a Ph.D. in composition. Throughout his career, Wright composed a wide range of works, including orchestral, chamber, and vocal music. His music was known for its complexity and technical virtuosity, as well as its emotional depth and expressive power. One of Wright's most notable works is his Symphony No. 1, which was premiered by the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1963. The symphony is a complex and challenging work that showcases Wright's technical skill and musical imagination. It features intricate rhythms, dense harmonies, and a wide range of instrumental colors and textures. Another significant work by Wright is his String Quartet No. 2, which was premiered by the Arditti Quartet in 1987. The quartet is a highly expressive and emotionally charged work that explores themes of loss, grief, and redemption. It features intricate counterpoint, complex harmonies, and a wide range of extended techniques. Wright also composed a number of vocal works, including his song cycle "Songs of Love and Death," which was premiered by soprano Phyllis Bryn-Julson and pianist Lambert Orkis in 1981. The cycle features settings of poems by Emily Dickinson, William Butler Yeats, and other poets, and explores themes of love, loss, and mortality. Throughout his career, Wright received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to classical music. He was a recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship, the National Endowment for the Arts Composer Fellowship, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters Award in Music. He was also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Wright was a highly respected teacher and mentor, and he taught composition at the University of Pennsylvania for over 40 years. He was known for his rigorous and demanding approach to teaching, and many of his students went on to become successful composers in their own right. Wright passed away on May 17, 2019, at the age of 89. His legacy as a composer and teacher continues to inspire and influence generations of musicians and music lovers around the world.

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