Joseph Schwantner

His style is coloristic and eclectic, drawing on diverse elements including French impressionism, African drumming, and minimalism. His orchestral work Aftertones of Infinity received the 1979 Pulitzer Prize for Music.

Joseph Schwantner studied at American Conservatory of Music. Evan Ziporyn and Cary Ratcliff are recorded as having studied under Joseph Schwantner. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are classical music. Employment is recorded with Pacific Lutheran University and Ball State University. Distinctions recorded are Guggenheim Fellowship, Pulitzer Prize for Music and Johann Wenzel Stamitz Award.

• Name — Joseph Schwantner • Born — 22 March 1943 • Birthplace — Chicago, Illinois • Occupation — Modern classical composer • Awards — Pulitzer Prize for Music (1979) Joseph H. Bearns Prize • Notable Works — Aftertones of Infinity

Schwantner began his musical study at an early age in classical guitar; this study also incorporated the genres of jazz and folk. He also played the tuba in his high school orchestra. His first compositional aspirations were noticed by his guitar teacher who consistently experienced Schwantner elaborating on pieces he would be studying. From this, Schwantner's teacher suggested he collect these ideas and create his own musical composition. One of his earliest compositions was in the jazz idiom. The piece Offbeats won the National Band Camp Award in 1959. Remaining in Chicago, he continued his musical study in composition at the city's American Conservatory, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1964. Here, Schwantner studied with Bernard Dieter. He was exposed to and closely explored the music of Debussy, Bartók, and Messiaen. His graduate study also occurred in Chicago, obtaining master of music and doctorate of music degrees in composition from Northwestern University in 1966 and 1968 respectively. At Northwestern, he was guided under the tutelage of Alan Stout and Anthony Donato. Building on his experiences at the American Conservatory, Schwantner was engaged by the music of Berio and Rochberg. These influences, along with those from his undergraduate study, proved to be distinct and effective influences on his compositional output. As a student of composition, Schwantner continued to aspire with three works being recognized with BMI Student Composer Awards. After completing his education, Schwantner obtained an assistant professor position at Pacific Lutheran University in 1968. He moved to a similar position at Ball State University in 1969 and then to the Eastman School of Music as a faculty member in 1970. Briefly leaving academia, Schwantner was composer in residence with the St. Louis Symphony from 1982 to 1984. In 1985, Schwantner's life and music were the subject of a documentary in WGBH Boston's Soundings series. The documentary focused mainly on the composition of his piece New Morning for the World, for narrator and orchestra. His faculty work continued at the Juilliard School in 1986, and he has maintained a position at Yale University since 1999. Schwantner retired from his position at Eastman in 1999. His most notable commissions include the song cycle Magabunda for orchestra in 1983, A Sudden Rainbow in 1986, the guitar concerto From Afar... in 1987, and a piano concerto in 1988.

• A Play of Shadows for Flute and Chamber Orchestra • A Sudden Rainbow • Aftertones of Infinity (1978) • Angelfire (2002), Fantasy for Amplified Violin and Orchestra, written for the violinist Anne Akiko Meyers • Beyond Autumn, Poem for Horn and Orchestra • Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra (1994) • Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (1988) • Distant Runes and Incantations for Piano solo (amplified) and Orchestra • Dreamcaller, three Songs for Soprano, Violin solo, and Orchestra • Evening Land Symphony • Freeflight, Fanfares & Fantasy • From Afar..., Fantasy for Guitar and Orchestra • Magabunda (Witchnomad), "four Poems of Agueda Pizarro" for Soprano and Orchestra • Modus Caelestis • Morning's Embrace (2006) • New Morning for the World "Daybreak of Freedom" for Narrator and Orchestra (1982) • September Canticle Fantasy (In Memoriam) • Toward Light • Chasing Light (2008)

•...and the mountains rising nowhere (1977) • From a Dark Millennium (1980) • In evening's stillness... (1996) • Recoil (2004) • Percussion Concerto (transcribed by Andrew Boysen) (1997) • Beyond Autumn (transcribed by Timothy Miles) (2006) • New Morning for the World "Daybreak of Freedom" (transcribed by Nikk Pilato) (2007) • Luminosity: Concerto for Wind Orchestra (2015) • The Awakening Hour (2017)

• Black Anemones, for soprano and piano • Canticle of the Evening Bells, for solo flute, oboe/English horn, clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, horn, trombone, piano, percussion, and strings • Chronicon, for bassoon and piano • Consortium I, for flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello • Consortium II, for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, and percussion • Distant Runes and Incantations, for flute, clarinet, 2 violins, viola, cello, piano, and percussion • Elixir, for flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, and piano • Diaphonia Intervallum, for alto saxophone, flute, clarinet, 2 violins, viola, 2 celli, string bass, and piano • In Aeternum (Consortium IV), for cello/bowed crotales, alto flute (flute, piano watergong, 2 crystal glasses), bass clarinet (clarinet, watergong, 2 crystal glasses), viola (violin, crotales), and percussion • Music of Amber, for flute, clarinet/bass clarinet, violin, cello, piano and percussion • Rhiannon's Blackbirds, for flute/piccolo, clarinet/bass clarinet, violin/viola, cello, piano, and percussion • Soaring, for flute and piano • Sparrows, for flute/piccolo, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano, soprano, and percussion

• Velocities (Moto Perpetuo) for solo marimba (1990)

Concerto for Percussion, Movement 1: Con Forza • University of Michigan Band, 8 March 2012 • Michael Haithcock, conductor • Jonathan Ovalle, percussion • The President's Own United States Marine Band: The Bicentennial Collection New Morning for the World: Daybreak of Freedom • The Lamont Wind Ensemble • Dr. Joseph Martin, conductor • Mayor Michael B. Hancock, guest narrator • Florida State University Wind Orchestra • Dr. Nikk Pilato, conductor • Dr. David Eccles, narrator From A Dark Millennium • North Texas Wind Symphony • Eugene Migliaro Corporon, conductor

Joseph Schwantner is recorded as having received Guggenheim Fellowship, Pulitzer Prize for Music and Johann Wenzel Stamitz Award.