WAPS COMPOSER OF THE WEEK

When he was still a child Thelonious Monk taught himself how to play the piano and began working as a musician when he was a teenager. He had a full-time job playing piano and writing music before he was 25 years old! His music defined the style known as be-bop and inspired many other musicians to follow in his footsteps. Born in North Carolina, his family moved to New York City, when he was six years old, into a neighborhood full of musicians (see if you can find Thelonius in the picture above). Thelonious also earned a Pulitzer Prize for his music! Here are just a few of his many hits: In Walked Bud 'Round Midnight Straight, No Chaser And If you really like Thelonius, an entire concert!

American composer Jennifer Higdon has earned a Pulitzer Prize and Grammy award! She is also a self-taught musician and did not study music with a teacher until she was in college. Ms. Higdon was born in New York City but lived in Atlanta for 10 years during her youth. Higdon has composed several pieces of music for The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Currently, she teaches music at The Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, where she wrote "Blue Cathedral" one of her most popular compositions. She recently picked up her third Grammy award for "Harp Concerto"! Blue Cathedral (link has been fixed) Percussion Concerto (this is a short excerpt, for the entire work click here ) - Grammy Award Winner! Violin Concerto (Pulitzer Prize Winner) Harp Concerto - part three "Joy Ride" (Grammy 2020)

  As a child, Edward Ellington was such a snazzy dresser that his friends started calling him "Duke," and that is how the rest of the world knows him today. He was born in Washington, D.C., in 1899 and was more interested in baseball than music!  Even so, Duke studied piano as a child, and by the age of 14, he was writing his own music --  at 18 he put together his first jazz band. His music is still popular today, and his orchestra continues to perform around the world. Even though his music is popularly labeled as "jazz," Duke called it "American Music."  Another interesting fact:  Duke is the first and only composer to appear on American money-the Washington D.C. quarter! Here are some of his most well-known works: Take The "A" Train Caravan (one of the best versions out there- quality isn't great) Satin Doll Sacred Music ( a large scale jazz cantata) more than an hour-long just listen to the first

Florence Price Florence Price was the first African-American female composer to have her music performed by a major symphony orchestra! She also was the head of the music department at Clark Atlanta University for many years. Her most well-known compositions include: Symphony No.1 in e minor Piano Sonata No.1 in e minor Dance: Nimble Feet

He is the most famous composer you've never heard of -- Scott Joplin was born near the end of 1867( the actual date is unknown) in Northern Texas. His parents were formerly enslaved and gave Scott some of his earliest music lessons. Scott taught himself to play the piano while his mother cleaned the houses of wealthy people who owned pianos (the Joplins did not have a piano at home). Later in his life, he began to write music and became known as "The King Of Ragtime" because of the style of music he created. An opera, music for ballet, and more than 44 ragtime dances for the piano are just a part of the music Joplin wrote in his life. Here are some of his most well-known compositions: The Entertainer Maple Leaf Rag The Strenuous Life Easy Winners Treemonisha- Scott Joplin's Opera!  In English!

Joan Tower is one of the most well-known, and important American composers either living or dead! She is also one of the most successful female composers ever. In addition to writing music, she is also an accomplished pianist. Joan was born in 1938 in New York; when she was a child her family moved to South America. She returned to the states many years later to go to college and continue her music career. Listen to the following examples: For The Uncommon Woman Listen to Joan Tower talk about her music! Silver Ladders(Grawemeyer Award For Music Winner) Sequoia Petroushskates Copperwave Piano Concerto  - you will love this!