Role

:

Composer

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Choral

 

Michael Gordon: Michael Gordon is an American composer of contemporary classical music. He was born on July 20, 1956, in Florida, and grew up in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. He began his musical career as a drummer in a rock band, but later turned to classical music. He studied at Yale University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music in 1978. Gordon's music is characterized by its use of repetition and minimalism. He often uses large ensembles, such as orchestras and choirs, to create a dense and powerful sound. Some of his most famous works include "Trance," "Decasia," and "Timber." "Trance" is a piece for large ensemble that was first performed in 1995. It is a hypnotic and intense work that features repetitive rhythms and pulsing harmonies. "Decasia" is a multimedia work that was first performed in 2001. It features a film by Bill Morrison that is set to Gordon's music. The film is made up of decaying footage from old movies, and the music is similarly fragmented and distorted. "Timber" is a piece for six percussionists playing wooden planks. It was first performed in 2009 and has since become one of Gordon's most popular works. Gordon has received numerous awards and honors for his work, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Creative Capital grant, and a Grammy nomination. He is also a co-founder of the Bang on a Can music festival and ensemble, which has become one of the most important organizations in contemporary classical music. David Lang: David Lang is an American composer of contemporary classical music. He was born on January 8, 1957, in California, and grew up in Los Angeles. He began his musical career as a rock musician, but later turned to classical music. He studied at Stanford University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music in 1978. Lang's music is characterized by its simplicity and directness. He often uses small ensembles, such as string quartets and vocal groups, to create intimate and emotional works. Some of his most famous works include "The Little Match Girl Passion," "The Difficulty of Crossing a Field," and "The National Anthems." "The Little Match Girl Passion" is a choral work that was first performed in 2007. It is based on the story by Hans Christian Andersen and features a small ensemble of singers and percussionists. The work is a meditation on suffering and redemption, and has been praised for its beauty and emotional power. "The Difficulty of Crossing a Field" is an opera that was first performed in 2002. It is based on a short story by Ambrose Bierce and tells the story of a man who disappears while crossing a field. The work is a haunting and surreal exploration of memory and identity. "The National Anthems" is a collection of pieces for solo piano that was first performed in 1991. Each piece is based on a different national anthem, and Lang uses the music to explore themes of nationalism and identity. Lang has received numerous awards and honors for his work, including a Pulitzer Prize, a Grammy Award, and a MacArthur Fellowship. He is also a co-founder of the Bang on a Can music festival and ensemble, and is a professor of music composition at Yale University. Julia Wolfe: Julia Wolfe is an American composer of contemporary classical music. She was born on December 18, 1958, in Pennsylvania, and grew up in Montgomeryville. She began her musical career as a pianist, but later turned to composition.

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