John Harbison

Encyclopedia : J : JO : JOH : John Harbison

John Harbison

John Harris Harbison (born December 20, 1938 in Orange, New Jersey) is a composer, best known for his operas and large choral works.

Harbison won a prize for composition at the age of sixteen. He studied music at Harvard University, where he sang with the Harvard Glee Club, and later at Princeton. He is an Institute Professor of music at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a former student of Walter Piston and Roger Sessions. His works include several symphonies, string quartets and concerti for violin, viola and double bass.

He won the Pulitzer Prize for music in 1987 for The Flight Into Egypt (see Discography). He was nominated for a 2006 Grammy Award for Best Small Ensemble Performance for his composition, Mottetti di Montale.

When asked for his "artistic Credo" Harbison (1990) replied: "to make each piece different from the others, to find clear, fresh large designs, to reinvent traditions."

Harbison was commissioned by the late Pope John Paul II to write a piece for the Vatican to be performed at the "Reconciliation Between Jews, Christians and Muslims" concert. Abraham, a 6 minute composition for brass and choir, had its world premiere on January 17, 2004.

He is married to violinist Rose Mary Pederson.

Discography

Mirabai Songs / Variations (1987). Northeastern Records NR 230-CD. Performed by Janice Felty, mezzo-soprano, Collage New Music Ensemble, conducted by John Harbison — Rose Mary Harbison, violin; David Satz, clarinet; Ursula Oppens, piano. Tracks:

Mirabai Songs, text from Mirabai Versions by Robert Bly: I. It's True, I Went to the Market
II. All I Was Doing Was Breathing
III. Why Mira Can't Go Back to Her Old House
IV. Where Do You Go?
V. The Clouds
VI. Don't Go, Don't Go
Variations, for violin, clarinet, and piano

The Flight into Egypt and other works by John Harbison (1990). New World Records 80395-2. Performed by The Cantata Singers and Ensemble, The Los Angeles Philharmonic New Music Group, and The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. Conducted by David Hoose, John Harbison, and Andre Previn. Tracks:

The Flight Into Egypt, text from the King James translation of the story of the Flight into Egypt in the Gospel of Matthew

The Natural World: Prelude

Where We Must Look for Help, text from Robert Bly

On the Road Home, text from Wallace Stevens

Milkweed, text from James Wright

Concerto for Double Brass Choir and Orchestra: I. Invention on a Motif: Tempo giusto

II. Invention on a Chord: Cantabile

III. Invention on a Cadence: Molto allegro

At First Light (1998). Archetype Records 60106. Performed by Lorraine Hunt, mezzo-soprano, Dawn Upshaw, soprano, Greenleaf Chamber Players, and Metamorphosen Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Scott Yoo. Tracks:

Due Libri dei Mottetti di Montale

Snow Country

Chorale Cantata

Concerto for Oboe, Clarinet, and Strings

External links

[Schirmer.com: John Harbison]
[Harbison bio at MIT]
[Art of the States: John Harbison]
[Del Sol Quartet: Tear] includes Harbison's Fantasia from quartet no. 2 performed by Del Sol Quartet

From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.