Role

:

Composer Performer

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

May 10, 1942 in Mount Vernon, NY

Death

:

May 31, 2022

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Avant-Garde

 

 

Electronic/Computer

 

Ingram Marshall was an American composer of classical music, born on April 13, 1942, in Mount Vernon, New York. He grew up in California and began his musical education at the age of 12, studying piano and composition. He later attended San Francisco State University, where he studied composition with John Cage and Terry Riley. Marshall's early works were influenced by the minimalist movement of the 1960s and 1970s, but he soon developed his own unique style, which combined elements of minimalism, electronic music, and world music. His music often featured the use of field recordings, which he made during his travels to places such as Bali, Java, and Morocco. One of Marshall's most famous works is "Fog Tropes," which was composed in 1981. The piece is scored for brass and percussion and features recordings of foghorns from the San Francisco Bay area. The piece has been described as a "sonic portrait" of the Bay area and has become a staple of the contemporary classical music repertoire. Another notable work by Marshall is "Alcatraz," which was composed in 1982. The piece is scored for chamber ensemble and features recordings of the sounds of Alcatraz Island, including the sounds of the prison doors and the voices of former inmates. The piece has been described as a "haunting meditation" on the history of the island and the prison. Marshall's music often explored themes of memory, place, and identity. His 1993 work "September Canons" was composed in response to the events of September 11, 2001, and features recordings of the sounds of New York City. The piece has been described as a "powerful and moving" tribute to the victims of the attacks. In addition to his work as a composer, Marshall was also a respected teacher and mentor. He taught at the California Institute of the Arts and the University of California, Santa Cruz, and was a visiting professor at the University of Michigan and the University of Texas at Austin. Marshall's music has been performed by some of the world's leading orchestras and ensembles, including the San Francisco Symphony, the Kronos Quartet, and the Bang on a Can All-Stars. He received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including a Guggenheim Fellowship and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Marshall passed away on December 8, 2019, at the age of 77. His legacy as a composer and teacher continues to inspire and influence generations of musicians and music lovers.

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