Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1927

 

Tikey Zes was a Greek-American composer, conductor, and educator who was born on October 15, 1927, in Athens, Greece. He was the son of a Greek Orthodox priest and grew up in a musical family. His father was a singer and his mother played the piano. Zes began his musical education at a young age, studying piano and music theory with his mother. In 1947, Zes immigrated to the United States and settled in San Francisco, California. He continued his musical education at San Francisco State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music in 1951. He then went on to study composition with Darius Milhaud at Mills College in Oakland, California, where he earned a Master of Arts degree in music in 1953. After completing his studies, Zes began his career as a composer and conductor. He served as the music director of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension in Oakland, California, from 1953 to 1962. During this time, he also founded the Oakland Civic Orchestra, which he conducted from 1955 to 1962. In 1962, Zes moved to New York City, where he continued his career as a composer and conductor. He served as the music director of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America from 1962 to 1992. During this time, he also founded the New York Greek Choral Society, which he conducted from 1965 to 1992. Zes was a prolific composer who wrote music in a variety of genres, including choral music, orchestral music, chamber music, and opera. His music was influenced by his Greek heritage and his Orthodox faith. He often incorporated Greek folk melodies and Byzantine chant into his compositions. One of Zes's most famous works is his choral setting of the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, which he composed in 1984. The work is a setting of the liturgy used in the Greek Orthodox Church and is scored for choir, soloists, and orchestra. The work has been performed by choirs around the world and has become a staple of the Greek Orthodox liturgical repertoire. Another notable work by Zes is his opera, "The Ecclesiastical Trial of Byzantium," which he composed in 1987. The opera tells the story of the trial of the 14th-century Byzantine theologian Gregory Palamas, who was accused of heresy by his opponents. The opera is scored for soloists, choir, and orchestra and features a libretto in English and Greek. Zes's other notable works include his "Greek Dances" for orchestra, his "Byzantine Chant Variations" for piano, and his "Three Hymns for the Virgin Mary" for choir and orchestra. His music has been performed by orchestras and choirs around the world and has received critical acclaim for its beauty and originality. In addition to his career as a composer and conductor, Zes was also a respected educator. He taught music theory and composition at the City College of New York from 1962 to 1992 and at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College from 1992 to 2002. He also served as a guest lecturer and conductor at universities and music festivals around the world. Zes received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the ASCAP Deems Taylor Award for his book "The Music of Multicultural America" in 1997. He was also awarded the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America in 2002. Tikey Zes passed away on March 13, 2021, at the age of 93.

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