Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Birth

:

January 12, 1927 in Yonkers, NY

Death

:

November 17, 1995 in Urbana, IL

Genre

:

Avant-Garde

 

 

Chamber

 

 

Choral

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Vocal

 

Salvatore Martirano was an American composer of classical music, born on January 12, 1927, in Yonkers, New York. He was the son of Italian immigrants and grew up in a musical family. His father played the mandolin, and his mother sang in the church choir. Martirano began playing the piano at a young age and showed a natural talent for music. Martirano attended the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied composition with Nicolas Slonimsky and Vittorio Giannini. He also studied at the Juilliard School of Music with Vincent Persichetti and William Bergsma. After completing his studies, Martirano served in the United States Army during the Korean War. In 1955, Martirano joined the faculty of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he taught composition until his retirement in 1993. During his tenure at the university, he founded the Center for Experimental Music and Intermedia (CEMI), which became a leading center for electronic music research and performance. Martirano's music is characterized by its experimental and avant-garde nature. He was influenced by the works of composers such as John Cage, Karlheinz Stockhausen, and Edgard Varèse. Martirano's compositions often incorporated electronic music, and he was known for his use of unconventional instruments and techniques. One of Martirano's most famous works is "L's GA," which he composed in 1968. The piece is a tribute to the Italian-American sculptor Louise Nevelson and features a large ensemble of instruments, including a siren, a car horn, and a tape recording of Nevelson's voice. "L's GA" is considered a landmark work in the field of electronic music and has been performed by orchestras around the world. Another notable work by Martirano is "Sal-Mar Construction," which he composed in 1965. The piece is a concerto for piano and tape and features the pianist playing along with a pre-recorded tape of electronic sounds. "Sal-Mar Construction" is an example of Martirano's use of unconventional techniques and instruments in his compositions. Martirano's other works include "Underworld," a piece for orchestra and tape, "Octet," a work for eight instruments, and "O, O, O, O," a vocal work that features the performers singing the letters "O" and "E" in various combinations. In addition to his work as a composer, Martirano was also a respected teacher and mentor. Many of his students went on to become successful composers and performers in their own right. Salvatore Martirano passed away on November 17, 1995, at the age of 68. His legacy as a composer and innovator in the field of electronic music continues to influence musicians and composers today.

More....