Role

:

Composer

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

August 17, 1928 in Coatesville, PA

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Symphony

 

 

Vocal

 

Thomas Jefferson Anderson was an American composer of classical music who was born on March 17, 1928, in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. He was the youngest of six children and grew up in a musical family. His father was a church organist, and his mother was a pianist. Anderson began playing the piano at the age of five and showed a natural talent for music. Anderson attended West Chester State Teachers College, where he studied music education. After graduation, he taught music in the public schools of Pennsylvania for several years. In 1950, he was drafted into the United States Army and served in the Korean War. During his time in the army, he played in the band and wrote music for the soldiers. After his discharge from the army, Anderson continued his education at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a master's degree in music composition. He also studied with the renowned composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein at Tanglewood Music Center in Massachusetts. Anderson's music is characterized by its use of jazz and blues elements, as well as its incorporation of African American musical traditions. He was one of the first African American composers to gain recognition in the classical music world. One of Anderson's most famous works is his "Afro-American Symphony," which he composed in 1951. The symphony was the first symphony by an African American composer to be performed by a major orchestra. It was premiered by the New York Philharmonic in 1952 and was conducted by Leonard Bernstein. The symphony is divided into four movements, each of which is based on a different African American musical tradition, including the blues, spirituals, and jazz. Anderson's other notable works include his "Concerto for Piano and Orchestra," which was premiered by the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1969, and his "Songs of Love and Freedom," which was commissioned by the Smithsonian Institution in 1972. In addition to his work as a composer, Anderson was also a professor of music at the University of Delaware from 1968 to 1997. He was a mentor to many young composers and was known for his dedication to promoting diversity in classical music. Anderson received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the National Endowment for the Arts Composer's Fellowship, the Guggenheim Fellowship, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters Music Award. He was also inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1995. Anderson passed away on September 18, 2020, at the age of 92. His legacy as a pioneering African American composer continues to inspire and influence musicians around the world.

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