Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

September 6, 1938 in New Rochelle, NY

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Orchestral

 

Joan Tower is an American composer and conductor who has made significant contributions to the world of classical music. Born in New Rochelle, New York in 1938, Tower grew up in a musical family and began playing the piano at a young age. Her mother was a pianist and her father was a mining engineer who played the violin as a hobby. Tower's parents encouraged her to pursue music, and she began studying piano and composition in high school. After graduating from high school, Tower attended Bennington College in Vermont, where she studied composition with Otto Luening and piano with Louis Calabro. She later earned a master's degree in composition from Columbia University, where she studied with Jack Beeson and Vladimir Ussachevsky. During this time, Tower also studied with the renowned composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein, who became a mentor and friend. In the 1960s and 1970s, Tower began to establish herself as a composer, writing works for orchestra, chamber ensembles, and solo instruments. Her early works were influenced by the avant-garde and experimental music of the time, but she soon developed her own distinctive style, characterized by rhythmic vitality, colorful orchestration, and a sense of drama and narrative. One of Tower's most famous works is her 1985 composition "Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman," which was inspired by Aaron Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man." Tower's fanfare is a tribute to the many women who have made significant contributions to society but have been overlooked or undervalued. The piece has become a staple of the orchestral repertoire and has been performed by orchestras around the world. Tower has also written a number of other works for orchestra, including her 1990 composition "Silver Ladders," which was commissioned by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. The piece is a virtuosic showcase for the orchestra, featuring intricate rhythms, soaring melodies, and a wide range of colors and textures. In addition to her orchestral works, Tower has written a number of chamber music pieces, including her 1988 composition "Petroushskates," which was inspired by the music of Stravinsky and the choreography of Balanchine. The piece is a lively and playful work for piano and string quartet, featuring intricate rhythms and virtuosic solos. Tower has also written a number of works for solo instruments, including her 1995 composition "Wings," which was written for the flutist Carol Wincenc. The piece is a virtuosic tour-de-force for the flute, featuring rapid-fire runs, soaring melodies, and a wide range of extended techniques. In addition to her work as a composer, Tower has also had a successful career as a conductor. She has conducted orchestras around the world, including the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. She has also served as the composer-in-residence for a number of orchestras, including the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Throughout her career, Tower has been recognized for her contributions to the world of classical music. She has received numerous awards and honors, including the Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition, the National Medal of Arts, and the Kennedy Center Honors. She has also been inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Classical Music Hall of Fame.

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