WAPS COMPOSER OF THE WEEK

  Don't forget to leave a comment. American composer John Corigliano was born in and still lives in New York City. His father was the concertmaster for the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, and his mother was a pianist. He has written more than 100 major compositions, many of them award-winning ( he has: A Pulitzer, 5 grammy awards, and an oscar) He is also a well-respected music teacher at the Julliard School and CUNY (he still teaches at 85!), and has influenced many composers of the 20th and 21st centuries. Here are some examples try to listen to a bit of the all: The Red Violin - The Legend of the Haunted Violin -- spooky music for October! Longer version of "The Red Violin"  Symphony No. 3 (Circus Maximus) the music begins at 8:20 , however the introduction is interesting , listen at 32:30 for the sirens! Fern Hill  this is choral music (performed by a choir) listen around 5:00 for the most exciting part!

  Don't forget to leave a comment. British composer Errollyn Wallen writes amazing music that is a joy to hear!  She was born in Belize in 1958, but moved to the U.K. when she was two.  She studied dance and music while in school. Currently, Ms. Wallen is Master of The Kings Music , a very high honor in the United Kingdom. She is also the very first Black woman to be featured in The Proms ! Here are some examples of her music Peace on Earth Concerto Grosso Chrome for Brass Band Mighty River The composer talks about her Piano Concerto Piano Concerto (part I) Mighty River  (with the composer and conductor explaining the music)

Leave a comment. American composer Steve Reich uses Ostinatos in almost all of his music. He took piano lessons as a child but did not decide on a career in music until he was in college. Reich said this about his inspiration: "I became a composer because I'd heard the  Rite of Spring  of  Stravinsky , I'd heard  Bach 's Fifth Brandenburg, I'd heard bebop —  Charlie Parker ,  Miles Davis  — music that had a lot of rhythmic energy, music which was finally harmonic. I know the  Rite of Spring 's harmonic quality is not that of Charlie Parker. Neither are they that of Johann Sebastian Bach. But they all had what Stravinsky called the magnetic attraction, the polaric attraction of sound." (NPR-2016) He is considered to be one of the most influential composers of the 20th and 21st century, introducing the use of pre-recorded music in a concert and the use of ostinatos. Radiohead gives him credit for some of their music. He won a Grammy i...