Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

April 24, 1946

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Choral

 

 

Vocal

 

Bruce Stuart Saylor was an American composer of classical music, born on August 6, 1946, in New York City. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a jazz pianist and his mother a singer. Saylor began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the trumpet and French horn. He attended the High School of Music and Art in New York City and went on to study composition at the Manhattan School of Music. Saylor's early compositions were influenced by the avant-garde music of the 1960s, particularly the works of John Cage and Morton Feldman. He was also interested in the music of the Second Viennese School, including Arnold Schoenberg, Alban Berg, and Anton Webern. Saylor's early works were characterized by their use of extended techniques, unconventional notation, and aleatoric elements. In the 1970s, Saylor began to incorporate more traditional elements into his music, including tonality and melody. He also began to explore the possibilities of electronic music, using synthesizers and tape manipulation in his compositions. Saylor's music from this period is often described as "post-modern," combining elements of modernism and traditionalism in a unique and innovative way. One of Saylor's most significant works from this period is his Symphony No. 1, which was premiered by the American Symphony Orchestra in 1979. The symphony is a large-scale work in four movements and features a wide range of orchestral colors and textures. The work is notable for its use of extended techniques, including glissandi, harmonics, and microtonal intervals. In the 1980s, Saylor continued to explore the possibilities of electronic music, creating a series of works that combined live performers with electronic sounds. One of his most significant works from this period is his Concerto for Piano and Electronic Sounds, which was premiered by pianist Ursula Oppens in 1985. The concerto features a solo piano part that is accompanied by a tape of electronic sounds, creating a unique and innovative sonic landscape. Saylor's music from the 1990s and 2000s is characterized by its use of tonality and melody, as well as its incorporation of elements from popular music. One of his most significant works from this period is his Symphony No. 2, which was premiered by the American Symphony Orchestra in 1997. The symphony is a large-scale work in three movements and features a wide range of orchestral colors and textures. The work is notable for its use of tonal harmonies and melodic themes, as well as its incorporation of elements from jazz and rock music. Saylor's other significant works from this period include his String Quartet No. 2, which was premiered by the Arditti Quartet in 1993, and his Piano Sonata No. 2, which was premiered by pianist Marc Peloquin in 2001. Both works are characterized by their use of tonality and melody, as well as their incorporation of elements from popular music. Saylor was also a respected teacher and mentor, serving on the faculty of the Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard School. He was known for his innovative and creative approach to composition, as well as his dedication to his students. Many of his former students have gone on to successful careers in music, including composers Michael Torke and David Lang. Saylor passed away on December 17, 2015, at the age of 69. He left behind a significant body of work that continues to be performed and admired by musicians and audiences around the world.

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