Ellen Taaffe Zwilich
Info
Miami, Florida
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USA
20th Century
Orchestral, Concerto, Solo Instrumental
Biography
A prolific composer in all media except opera, Ellen Taaffe Zwilich's works have been performed by virtually all of the leading American orchestras and by major ensembles abroad. Her music first came to public attention when Pierre Boulez conducted her Symposium for Orchestra at Juilliard (1975), but it was the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for the Symphony No. 1 that brought her instantly into international focus. Commissions and major performances and recordings soon followed: the Symphony No. 2 "Cello Symphony," premiered by Edo de Waart and the San Francisco Symphony; the Symphony No. 3 written for the New York Philharmonic's 150th anniversary; and the Symphony No. 4 "The Gardens" (with chorus), commissioned by Michigan State University; the string of concertos for solo instruments and orchestra, commissioned and performed by top orchestras. Her orchestral essay Symbolon was commissioned by the New York Philharmonic expressly to receive its world premiere in what was then Leningrad. Zubin Mehta subsequently performed it in Europe and America and recorded it on the New World label; and Carnegie Hall's 1997 family concert series featured Peanuts Gallery for piano and orchestra, based on Charles Schultz's Peanuts characters. Millennium Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra, a commission by a consortium of 27 orchestras, was premiered in September, 2000, by Jeffrey Biegel and the Cincinnati Symphony. At the premiere, the Mayor of Cincinnati issued a proclamation naming September 23, 2000 "Ellen Taaffe Zwilich Day." She was also presented with the Keys to the City.
Main Works
Orchestra:
American Concerto for Trumpet & Orchestra (1994)
Celebration for Orchestra (1984)
Concerto for Bass Trombone, Strings Timpani and Cymbals (1989)
Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra (1992)
Concerto for Flute and Orchestra (1989)
Concerto for Horn and String Orchestra
Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra. (1990)
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (1986)
Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra (1988)
Concerto for Violin Violoncello and Orchestra (1991)
Concerto Grosso (1985)
Fantasy for Orchestra (1994)
Jubilation (1996)
Images (for two pianos and orchestra) (1986)
Immigrant Voices For Chorus (1991)
Passages (1982)
Peanuts Gallery for Piano and Chamber Orchestra (1997)
Prologue and Variations For String Orchestra (1983)
Symbolon (1988)
Symphony No. 1 Three Movements for Orchestra (1982)
Symphony No. 2 (Cello Symphony) (1985)
Symphony No. 3 (1992)
Symphony No. 4 " The Gardens" (2000)
Symposium For Orchestra (1973)
Tanzspiel Ballet in four scenes (1987)
Triple Concerto for Violin, Cello and Piano (1996)
Upbeat! (1999)
Violin Concerto (1998)
Chamber Symphony For Flute (1979)
Clarino Quartet For Four Trumpets or Four Clarinets (1977)
Concerto For TromboneConcerto for Trumpet and Five Players (1984)
Divertimento for Flute, Clarinet, Violin, and Violoncello (1983)
Double Quartet For Strings (1984)
Fantasy For Harpsichord (1983)
Intrada for Flute (1983)
Praeludium for Organ (1987)
Quintet for Clarinet and String Quartet (1990)
Sonata In Three Movements for Violin and Piano (1973-74)
String Quartet (1974)
String Trio for Violin, Viola and Violoncello (1982)
String Quartet No. 2 (1998)
Trio for Piano Violin and Cello (1987)
Band:
Ceremonies for Concert Band (1988)
Vocal:
Einsame Nacht Song cycle for Baritone and Piano (1971)
Emlékezet for Soprano and Piano (1978)
Im Nebel for contralto and piano (1972)
Chorus:
Thanksgiving Song (1986)
