Role

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Composer

Period

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Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

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Chamber

 

Omar Daniel is a Canadian composer of classical music who was born on August 28, 1960, in Ottawa, Ontario. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a pianist and his mother a singer. Daniel began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the guitar and the bass. He also sang in choirs and played in rock bands during his teenage years. Daniel studied music at the University of Toronto, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in 1983 and a Master of Music degree in 1985. He then went on to study composition at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in 1991. Daniel's early works were influenced by the minimalist and post-minimalist styles of composers such as Steve Reich and Philip Glass. His compositions often feature repetitive patterns and rhythmic structures, as well as a focus on timbre and texture. He has also been influenced by the music of his Lebanese heritage, incorporating Middle Eastern scales and rhythms into his works. One of Daniel's early works, "Serenade for Strings," was written in 1984 and premiered by the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra. The piece features a lush, romantic melody and showcases Daniel's skill at writing for strings. Another early work, "String Quartet No. 1," was written in 1986 and premiered by the Penderecki String Quartet. The piece features intricate rhythms and harmonies, as well as a haunting melody in the second movement. In the 1990s, Daniel began to incorporate electronic elements into his compositions. His piece "Aurora" for orchestra and electronics was premiered by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in 1994. The piece features shimmering textures and ethereal sounds created by the electronic elements, as well as a driving rhythm and powerful brass and percussion sections. Another notable work from this period is "The Midnight Sun Variations" for piano and electronics, which was premiered by pianist Eve Egoyan in 1997. The piece features a series of variations on a simple melody, with each variation exploring different textures and timbres created by the electronic elements. In the 2000s, Daniel continued to explore new sounds and techniques in his compositions. His piece "The Tower of Diverse Shores" for orchestra and electronics was premiered by the National Arts Centre Orchestra in 2002. The piece features a complex, multi-layered texture created by the combination of acoustic and electronic sounds, as well as a driving rhythm and powerful brass and percussion sections. Another notable work from this period is "The Book of Mirrors" for string quartet and electronics, which was premiered by the Molinari Quartet in 2006. The piece features a series of short movements, each exploring a different texture or timbre created by the electronic elements. The string quartet provides a rich, warm sound that contrasts with the electronic sounds. In recent years, Daniel has continued to write music that explores new sounds and techniques. His piece "The Celestial Machine" for orchestra and electronics was premiered by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in 2015. The piece features a complex, multi-layered texture created by the combination of acoustic and electronic sounds, as well as a driving rhythm and powerful brass and percussion sections. Another recent work is "The Encantadas" for string quartet and electronics, which was premiered by the Penderecki String Quartet in 2018.

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