Jacob Druckman
Encyclopedia
Jacob Druckman was an American composer
born in Philadelphia. A graduate of the Juilliard School
, Druckman studied with Vincent Persichetti
, Peter Mennin
, and Bernard Wagenaar
. In 1949 and 1950 he studied with Aaron Copland
at Tanglewood
and later continued his studies at the École Normale de Musique in Paris (1954-55). He worked extensively with electronic music
, in addition to a number of works for orchestra or for small ensembles. In 1972 he won the Pulitzer Prize
for his first large orchestral work Windows. He was composer-in-residence of the New York Philharmonic
from 1982-1985. Druckman taught at Juilliard, The Aspen Music Festival, Tanglewood, Brooklyn College
, Bard College
, and Yale University
, among other appointments. He is Connecticut's state Composer laureate.
Druckman died of lung cancer
at age 67. His music is published by Boosey & Hawkes. He is the father of percussionist Daniel Druckman.
Notable musicians who have recorded his works include David Zinman
, Wolfgang Sawallisch
, Zubin Mehta
, Leonard Slatkin
, Dawn Upshaw
, Jan DeGaetani
, and the American Brass Quintet
.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
born in Philadelphia. A graduate of the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
, Druckman studied with Vincent Persichetti
Vincent Persichetti
Vincent Ludwig Persichetti was an American composer, teacher, and pianist. An important musical educator and writer, Persichetti was a native of Philadelphia...
, Peter Mennin
Peter Mennin
Peter Mennin was an American composer and teacher. He directed the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, then for many years ran the Juilliard School, succeeding William Schuman in this role...
, and Bernard Wagenaar
Bernard Wagenaar
Bernard Wagenaar was a Dutch/American composer, conductor and violinist.Wagenaar, not related to the Dutch composer Johan Wagenaar, was born in Arnhem. He studied at Utrecht University before starting his career as a teacher and conductor in 1914. He moved to the USA in 1920, where he became a...
. In 1949 and 1950 he studied with Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland was an American composer, composition teacher, writer, and later in his career a conductor of his own and other American music. He was instrumental in forging a distinctly American style of composition, and is often referred to as "the Dean of American Composers"...
at Tanglewood
Tanglewood
Tanglewood is an estate and music venue in Lenox and Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It is the home of the annual summer Tanglewood Music Festival and the Tanglewood Jazz Festival, and has been the Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer home since 1937. It was the venue of the Berkshire Festival.- History...
and later continued his studies at the École Normale de Musique in Paris (1954-55). He worked extensively with electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
, in addition to a number of works for orchestra or for small ensembles. In 1972 he won the Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
for his first large orchestral work Windows. He was composer-in-residence of the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
from 1982-1985. Druckman taught at Juilliard, The Aspen Music Festival, Tanglewood, Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College is a senior college of the City University of New York, located in Brooklyn, New York, United States.Established in 1930 by the New York City Board of Higher Education, the College had its beginnings as the Downtown Brooklyn branches of Hunter College and the City College of New...
, Bard College
Bard College
Bard College, founded in 1860 as "St. Stephen's College", is a small four-year liberal arts college located in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York.-Location:...
, and Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, among other appointments. He is Connecticut's state Composer laureate.
Druckman died of lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
at age 67. His music is published by Boosey & Hawkes. He is the father of percussionist Daniel Druckman.
Notable musicians who have recorded his works include David Zinman
David Zinman
David Zinman is an American conductor and violinist.After early violin studies at the Oberlin Conservatory, Zinman studied theory and composition at the University of Minnesota and took up conducting at Tanglewood...
, Wolfgang Sawallisch
Wolfgang Sawallisch
Wolfgang Sawallisch is a retired German conductor and pianist.-Biography:Sawallisch was born in Munich, and studied composition and pianoforte there privately: at the conclusion of the war, in 1946 he continued his studies at the Munich High School for Music and passed his final examination for...
, Zubin Mehta
Zubin Mehta
Zubin Mehta is an Indian conductor of western classical music. He is the Music Director for Life of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.-Biography:...
, Leonard Slatkin
Leonard Slatkin
Leonard Edward Slatkin is an American conductor and composer.-Early life and education:Slatkin was born in Los Angeles to a musical family that came from areas of the Russian Empire now in Ukraine. His father Felix Slatkin was the violinist, conductor and founder of the Hollywood String Quartet,...
, Dawn Upshaw
Dawn Upshaw
Dawn Upshaw is an American soprano described as "one of the most consequential performers of our time" by the Los Angeles Times. The recipient of several Grammy Awards and Edison Prize-winning discs, Upshaw is at home both in opera and art song, and in repertoire from Baroque to contemporary...
, Jan DeGaetani
Jan DeGaetani
Jan DeGaetani was an American mezzo-soprano known for her performances of contemporary classical vocal compositions.DeGaetani was born in Massillon, Ohio...
, and the American Brass Quintet
American Brass Quintet
When the American Brass Quintet gave its first public performance on December 11, 1960, brass chamber music was still relatively unknown to concert audiences...
.
Notable students
- Daniel AsiaDaniel AsiaDaniel Asia is an American composer.Daniel Asia was born in Seattle, Washington, in the United States of America. He received a B.A. degree from Hampshire College and a M.M. from the Yale University School of Music...
- Robert BeaserRobert BeaserRobert Beaser is an American composer.-Biography:Beaser was brought up in a non-musical family. His father was a physician and mother was a chemist. He grew up in Newton, Massachusetts where he distinguished himself at a young age as a percussionist, composer and conductor...
- Mark Birnbaum
- Sidney CorbettSidney CorbettSidney Corbett is an American composer based in Germany.- Biography :He studied music and philosophy at the University of California, San Diego, and earned his doctorate from Yale University in 1989. From 1985-88 Corbett studied at the Musikhochschule in Hamburg with György Ligeti...
- Robert Cucinotta
- Conrad CummingsConrad CummingsConrad Cummings is an American composer of contemporary classical music. His compositions include works for orchestra, as well as operatic and chamber works. Many of his works are composed in a minimalist style reminiscent of that of Philip Glass.Cummings was born in San Francisco, California,...
- Michael DaughertyMichael DaughertyMichael Kevin Daugherty is an American composer, pianist, and teacher. Influenced by popular culture, Romanticism, and Postmodernism, Daugherty is one of the most colorful and widely performed American concert music composers of his generation...
- Anthony GattoAnthony Gatto (composer)Anthony Gatto is an American composer of music for theater, dance, film, opera, and concert music. He is also the founder of The Festival Dancing in Your Head. His quintet for guitar and string quartet "Black Dog/Lucky Dog" was performed by the new-music string quartet Ethel with Mark Stewart...
- Melissa HuiMelissa HuiMelissa Hui is a composer. Raised in Vancouver, Canada, Hui studied at the University of British Columbia, the California Institute of the Arts and Yale University...
- Daniel KelloggDaniel KelloggDaniel Kellogg is an American composer.Kellogg is currently Assistant Professor of Music at the College of Music of the University of Colorado at Boulder, teaching music composition, counterpoint and orchestration.-Life:...
- Aaron Jay KernisAaron Jay KernisAaron Jay Kernis is an American composer and professor at the Yale School of Music.-Biography:Aaron Jay Kernis is Jewish, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and studied at the Manhattan School of Music, the San Francisco Conservatory, and Yale University .,Notable works include the...
- Douglas KnehansDouglas KnehansDouglas Knehans is an Australian/American composer and academic.Between 2008 and 2010 he was Dean of the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati.-External links:* ²* ¹...
- Graeme KoehneGraeme KoehneGraeme Koehne is an Australian composer and music educator. He is best known for his orchestral and ballet scores, which are characterised by direct communicative style and embrace of triadic tonality...
- David LangDavid Lang (composer)David Lang is an American composer living in New York City. He was awarded the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Music for The Little Match Girl Passion.-Biography:...
- Peter Scott LewisPeter Scott LewisPeter Scott Lewis is an American composer of contemporary classical music. His works have been commissioned and/or performed by the Rotterdam Philharmonic; Chamber Symphony of Princeton; Berkeley Symphony; Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center; Alexander, Orion, and Ciompi String Quartets;...
- Scott LindrothScott LindrothScott Lindroth is an American composer and teacher currently based near Durham, North Carolina.Lindroth joined the faculty of Duke University in 1990, where he is currently the Vice-Provost for the Arts and the Kevin D. Gorter Associate Professor of Music; his colleagues at Duke include composers...
- Jing Jing LuoJing Jing LuoJing Jing Luo is a female Chinese composer. Born in China, Luo received an undergraduate degree in Shanghai and postgraduate degrees from the New England Conservatory and the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Luo's fellowships have come from the Asian Council on the Arts, the New York...
- Cindy McTeeCindy McTeeCindy McTee is an American composer and educator.-Education:Cindy McTee studied at Pacific Lutheran University, the Academy of Music in Kraków, Yale University, and the University of Iowa...
- Marc MellitsMarc MellitsMarc Mellits is an American composer and musician.Mellits was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He studied at the Eastman School of Music from 1984 to 1988, the Yale School of Music from 1989 to 1991, Cornell University from 1991 to 1996, and at Tanglewood in the summer of 1997...
- Kevin PutsKevin PutsKevin Matthew Puts is an American composer.-Life:Puts studied composition and piano at the Eastman School of Music and Yale University, earning the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Eastman. Among his teachers were Samuel Adler, Jacob Druckman, David Lang, Christopher Rouse, Joseph Schwantner,...
- Arlene SierraArlene SierraArlene Sierra is an American composer working in the United Kingdom.She studied at Oberlin College, Yale University and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, receiving a DMA in 1999; among her principal teachers were Martin Bresnick, Michael Daugherty and Jacob Druckman...
- Sheila SilverSheila SilverSheila Silver is an American composer.She was born in Seattle, Washington in 1946,she started her piano studies at the age of five. In 1968 she received Bachelor of Arts degree from University of California at Berkeley, and had her Ph.D from Brandeis University, Mass. in 1976. She is an important...
- Laurie SpiegelLaurie SpiegelLaurie Spiegel is an American composer. She has worked at Bell Laboratories, in computer graphics, and is known primarily for her electronic-music compositions and her algorithmic composition software Music Mouse...
- Pathorn Srikaranonda
- Jan SwaffordJan SwaffordJan Swafford is an American composer and author who teaches composition, theory, and musicology at the Boston Conservatory and writing at Tufts University. He earned his B.A. from Harvard College and his M.M.A. and D.M.A. from the Yale School of Music...
- Christopher Theofanidis
- Augusta Read ThomasAugusta Read ThomasAugusta Read Thomas is an American composer.Augusta Read Thomas was born in Glen Cove, New York. She attended The Green Vale School and later moved on to St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire, and then studied composition with Jacob Druckman at Yale University and at the Royal Academy of...
- Joseph WatersJoseph WatersJoseph Waters is an American classical composer. He also mounts experimental electronic music festivals attempting to bridge the gap between contemporary popular genres and the avant-garde Western classical tradition.-Creative Projects:...
- Amnon WolmanAmnon WolmanAmnon Wolman composes music and texts for miscellaneous instruments along with the computer. He holds a doctorate degree in music composition. His catalogue of compositions includes works involving computer generated and processed sounds, symphonic works, vocal and chamber pieces for different...
- Donald FagenDonald FagenDonald Jay Fagen is an American musician and songwriter, best known as the co-founder, lead singer, and the principal songwriter of the rock band Steely Dan ....
Major works
- Windows, (1972) for orchestra
- Brangle, (1988-89) for orchestra
- Aureole, (1979) for orchestra
- String Quartet No. 2 (1966)
- String Quartet No. 3 (1981)
- Lamia, (1975) for soprano and orchestra. Based on the poem by John KeatsJohn KeatsJohn Keats was an English Romantic poet. Along with Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley, he was one of the key figures in the second generation of the Romantic movement, despite the fact that his work had been in publication for only four years before his death.Although his poems were not...
- Prism, (1980) for orchestra
- The Seven Deadly Sins, for piano
- Animus I, (1966-67) for trombone and electronic tape
- Animus II, (1967-68) for mezzo-soprano, percussion and electronic tape
- Animus III, (1968) for clarinet and electronic tape
- Incenters, (1968) for 13 Instruments
- Antiphonies, for two choruses. Setting of poems by Gerard Manley HopkinsGerard Manley HopkinsGerard Manley Hopkins, S.J. was an English poet, Roman Catholic convert, and Jesuit priest, whose posthumous 20th-century fame established him among the leading Victorian poets...
- Dark Upon the Harp, (1961-62) for mezzo-soprano, brass, and percussion. Psalms
- Vox Humana, (1983) chorus and orchestra
- Counterpoise, (1994) for soprano and orchestra
- Synapse, (1971) for tape
- Valentine, (1969) for solo double bass
- Reflections on the Nature of Water, (1986) for solo marimba
External links
- The Jacob Druckman Papers, the composer's personal papers and manuscripts, are housed in the Music Division of The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
- Art of the States: Jacob Druckman
- Biography at Boosey and Hawkes Publisher
- Jacob Druckman at the Avant Garde Project has FLAC files made from high-quality LP transcriptions of out-of-print vocal, instrumental, and electroacoustic works by Druckman available for free download.