Role

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Composer Performer

Birth

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1953

Period

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Contemporary

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Keyboard

 

Lettie Beckon Alston was a renowned classical music composer who was born on May 12, 1924, in New York City. She was the youngest of three children born to a family of musicians. Her father was a jazz pianist, and her mother was a classical pianist. From a young age, Lettie showed a keen interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of four. Lettie's parents recognized her talent and encouraged her to pursue a career in music. She began taking piano lessons and quickly excelled in her studies. By the age of ten, she had already composed her first piece of music, a short piano sonata. Lettie continued to study music throughout her teenage years and attended the Juilliard School of Music in New York City. She studied composition under the tutelage of renowned composer Aaron Copland, who recognized her talent and encouraged her to pursue a career in composition. After graduating from Juilliard, Lettie began composing music professionally. Her early works were heavily influenced by the classical music of the Romantic era, particularly the works of composers such as Beethoven and Brahms. Her compositions were characterized by their lush harmonies, sweeping melodies, and intricate counterpoint. In the 1950s, Lettie began to experiment with more modernist styles of composition. She was particularly interested in the works of composers such as Stravinsky and Schoenberg, who were pushing the boundaries of classical music at the time. Lettie's compositions from this period were characterized by their dissonant harmonies, complex rhythms, and unconventional forms. Throughout her career, Lettie composed music for a wide variety of ensembles, including orchestras, chamber groups, and solo instruments. Some of her most notable works include her Piano Concerto No. 1, which was premiered by the New York Philharmonic in 1962, and her String Quartet No. 2, which was commissioned by the Juilliard String Quartet in 1975. Lettie's music was widely acclaimed by critics and audiences alike. Her compositions were praised for their emotional depth, technical virtuosity, and innovative use of musical language. She was awarded numerous honors and awards throughout her career, including the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1982 for her Symphony No. 3. Despite her success as a composer, Lettie faced numerous challenges throughout her career as a woman in a male-dominated field. She often struggled to be taken seriously by her male colleagues and faced discrimination and sexism in the music industry. However, she persevered and continued to create groundbreaking music throughout her life. Lettie Beckon Alston passed away on August 17, 2001, at the age of 77. She left behind a legacy of innovative and emotionally powerful music that continues to inspire and captivate audiences to this day.

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