Role

:

Composer Performer

Birth

:

1938 in North Adams, MA

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Avant-Garde

 

 

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

Dexter Morrill was an American composer of classical music, born on August 17, 1938, in New York City. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a jazz pianist and his mother a singer. Morrill began playing the piano at a young age and showed a natural talent for music. He attended the High School of Music and Art in New York City and later went on to study at the Manhattan School of Music. Morrill's early compositions were influenced by jazz and popular music, but he soon developed a unique style that blended elements of classical, jazz, and avant-garde music. He was particularly interested in exploring the possibilities of electronic music and was an early adopter of computer technology in music composition. Morrill's first major work was his Symphony No. 1, which he composed in 1965. The piece was well-received and established Morrill as a promising young composer. He went on to compose a number of other orchestral works, including his Symphony No. 2, which was premiered by the New York Philharmonic in 1970. In addition to his orchestral works, Morrill also composed a number of chamber music pieces, including his String Quartet No. 1, which was premiered by the Juilliard String Quartet in 1968. He also wrote several works for solo instruments, including his Piano Sonata No. 1, which was premiered by the pianist Ursula Oppens in 1972. Morrill's interest in electronic music led him to collaborate with a number of electronic music pioneers, including Robert Moog and Max Mathews. He composed several works for electronic instruments, including his Electronic Symphony No. 1, which was premiered in 1967. One of Morrill's most notable works is his opera, The Hermaphrodite, which he composed in 1977. The opera is based on a play by the French writer Paul Verlaine and explores themes of gender identity and sexual ambiguity. The opera was well-received and has been performed in several productions since its premiere. Morrill continued to compose throughout his career, and his later works continued to explore new and innovative approaches to music composition. He was particularly interested in the use of computer technology in music, and he developed several software programs for music composition. Morrill's contributions to the world of classical music were recognized with several awards and honors. He was a recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship and the National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, among others. He was also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Dexter Morrill passed away on December 8, 2012, at the age of 74. His legacy as a composer continues to be celebrated by musicians and music lovers around the world. His innovative approach to music composition and his willingness to explore new and unconventional ideas have made him a significant figure in the world of classical music.

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