Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

August 30, 1945

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Vocal

 

David Schiff is an American composer and musicologist who was born on October 4, 1945, in New York City. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his father being a violinist and his mother a pianist. Schiff began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the clarinet and saxophone. He attended Columbia University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music in 1966. He then went on to study composition with Elliott Carter at the Juilliard School, where he received his Master of Music degree in 1968. Schiff's early compositions were influenced by the avant-garde music of the 1960s, particularly the works of Carter and Milton Babbitt. However, he soon began to incorporate elements of jazz and popular music into his compositions, creating a unique style that blended classical and popular music. His works often feature complex rhythms and harmonies, as well as unconventional instrumentation. One of Schiff's early works, "Divertimento for Orchestra," was premiered by the New York Philharmonic in 1970. The piece was well-received and helped establish Schiff as a rising star in the classical music world. He went on to compose a number of other orchestral works, including "Stomp" (1973), "Symphony No. 1" (1976), and "Symphony No. 2" (1987). In addition to his work as a composer, Schiff is also a respected musicologist and writer. He has written extensively on the music of Igor Stravinsky, including the book "The Music of Elliott Carter" (1983) and the essay collection "Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring" (1995). He has also written about jazz and popular music, including the book "The Ellington Century" (1999). One of Schiff's most famous works is his opera "Gimpel the Fool," which is based on a story by Isaac Bashevis Singer. The opera premiered at the Houston Grand Opera in 1984 and was later performed at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. The opera tells the story of a simple-minded man named Gimpel who is constantly tricked and deceived by the people around him. Schiff's music for the opera is both playful and poignant, capturing the humor and pathos of Singer's story. Another notable work by Schiff is his "Sacred Service," which is a setting of the Jewish liturgy for the Sabbath morning service. The piece was commissioned by the Reform synagogue Temple Emanu-El in New York City and premiered there in 1995. The work features a large choir, soloists, and orchestra, and incorporates elements of both traditional Jewish music and contemporary classical music. The piece has been performed by a number of other synagogues and has been praised for its innovative approach to Jewish liturgical music. Schiff has received numerous awards and honors for his work as a composer and musicologist. He was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1975 and a MacArthur Fellowship in 1985. He has also been a fellow at the American Academy in Rome and the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In 2010, he was awarded the Charles Ives Living Award by the American Academy of Arts and Letters, which recognizes outstanding achievement in American music. Overall, David Schiff is a composer and musicologist who has made significant contributions to the world of classical music. His unique style, which blends classical and popular music, has earned him a reputation as one of the most innovative composers of his generation.

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