Role

:

Composer

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

October 30, 1885 in Hailey, ID

Death

:

November 1, 1972 in Venice, Italy

Genre

:

Vocal

 

Ezra Pound was an American poet, critic, and classical music composer who was born on October 30, 1885, in Hailey, Idaho. He was the son of Homer Loomis Pound, a government land agent, and Isabel Weston Pound, a music teacher. Pound's family moved to Pennsylvania when he was a child, and he began studying music at a young age. He learned to play the violin and the piano, and he also studied harmony and counterpoint. Pound attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied music and literature. He was particularly interested in the works of the French symbolist poets, and he began writing poetry himself. In 1908, Pound moved to London, where he became involved in the literary and artistic circles of the time. He met and befriended many of the leading writers and artists of the day, including T.S. Eliot, James Joyce, and Wyndham Lewis. Pound's interest in music continued throughout his life, and he composed a number of works for various instruments and ensembles. His early compositions were influenced by the music of Debussy and Stravinsky, and he later became interested in the music of the Italian Renaissance. Pound's music is characterized by its use of complex rhythms and harmonies, and its incorporation of elements from various musical traditions. One of Pound's most famous works is his opera, "Le Testament de Villon," which he composed in 1926. The opera is based on the life of the French poet François Villon, and it features a libretto by Pound himself. The work is notable for its use of a variety of musical styles, including medieval chant, jazz, and modernist dissonance. Pound also composed a number of works for solo instruments, including his "Sonata for Flute and Piano," which he wrote in 1912. The work is characterized by its use of complex rhythms and harmonies, and its incorporation of elements from various musical traditions. Pound's "String Quartet" is another notable work, which he composed in 1915. The work is characterized by its use of dissonant harmonies and complex rhythms, and it is considered to be one of the earliest examples of modernist chamber music. In addition to his work as a composer, Pound was also a noted critic and scholar of music. He wrote extensively on the subject, and he was particularly interested in the music of the Italian Renaissance. Pound's book, "ABC of Reading," which was published in 1934, includes a section on music, in which he discusses the importance of rhythm and melody in poetry. Pound's life and work were not without controversy, however. He was a vocal supporter of fascism and anti-Semitism, and he was a strong critic of the United States government. In 1945, Pound was arrested by the U.S. Army for his support of fascism, and he was held in a mental hospital for over a decade. During this time, Pound continued to write and compose, and he produced a number of works, including his "Pisan Cantos," which were written during his time in Italy. Despite the controversy surrounding his life and work, Pound remains an important figure in the history of modernist literature and music. His contributions to the development of modernist poetry and music are significant, and his work continues to be studied and performed today.

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