Michael Gandolfi
Encyclopedia
Michael James Gandolfi (born July 5, 1956 in Melrose, Massachusetts
) is an American composer
of contemporary classical music
.
Initially a self-taught guitarist, Gandolfi entered the Berklee College of Music
before transferring to the New England Conservatory of Music
after one year. He went on to receive both his bachelors and masters degrees from NEC, where he is now the chair of the composition department. In 1986 he was a Fellow of the Tanglewood Music Center; there he studied with Leonard Bernstein and Oliver Knussen. He has served on the faculty of Harvard University
, Indiana University
, and the Phillips Academy
at Andover; since 1997 he has been the coordinator for the Tanglewood Music Center's composition department. He has been championed by conductor Robert Spano
as one of the "Atlanta School" of American composers
, a group that also includes colleagues Osvaldo Golijov
, Jennifer Higdon
, and Christopher Theofanidis.
Gandolfi's music often contains rock and jazz elements. He often looks to the sciences for his subject matter, resulting in pieces such as The Garden of Cosmic Speculation
(inspired by Charles Jencks' garden in Scotland that incorporates modern physics into its design, and nominated for Best Contemporary Classical Composition at the 2009 Grammy Awards) and Trivia, written for the Weilerstein Trio, which counts Richard Wolfson's book Simply Einstein as a source. He has also written a significant amount of children's music, including a setting of Carlo Collodi's Pinocchio story.
He has had significant performance by the Boston Symphony Orchestra
, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
, The New World Symphony, the Houston Symphony Orchestra
, the Boston Modern Orchestra Project
, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
, and many others.
Gandolfi currently resides in Cambridge, MA and is a member of ASCAP.
Melrose, Massachusetts
-Government:Robert J. Dolan is the mayor. Melrose is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives by Paul Brodeur . Katherine Clark is the state senator for wards 1 through 5 and Thomas McGee is the state senator for wards 6 and 7. Melrose is part of the seventh Congressional...
) is an American composer
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...
of contemporary classical music
Contemporary classical music
Contemporary classical music can be understood as belonging to the period that started in the mid-1970s with the retreat of modernism. However, the term may also be employed in a broader sense to refer to all post-1945 modern musical forms.-Categorization:...
.
Initially a self-taught guitarist, Gandolfi entered the Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
before transferring to the New England Conservatory of Music
New England Conservatory of Music
The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, is the oldest independent school of music in the United States.The conservatory is home each year to 750 students pursuing undergraduate and graduate studies along with 1400 more in its Preparatory School as well as the School of...
after one year. He went on to receive both his bachelors and masters degrees from NEC, where he is now the chair of the composition department. In 1986 he was a Fellow of the Tanglewood Music Center; there he studied with Leonard Bernstein and Oliver Knussen. He has served on the faculty of Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
, and the Phillips Academy
Phillips Academy
Phillips Academy is a selective, co-educational independent boarding high school for boarding and day students in grades 9–12, along with a post-graduate year...
at Andover; since 1997 he has been the coordinator for the Tanglewood Music Center's composition department. He has been championed by conductor Robert Spano
Robert Spano
Robert Spano is an American conductor and pianist. Since 2001 he has been Music Director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra , and he served as Music Director of the Brooklyn Philharmonic from 1996 to 2004...
as one of the "Atlanta School" of American composers
Atlanta School of Composers
The Atlanta School of Composers is a group of contemporary classical music composers championed by Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and conductor Robert Spano through performances, recordings, and commissions. Members of the group include Jennifer Higdon, Christopher Theofanidis, Osvaldo Golijov, and...
, a group that also includes colleagues Osvaldo Golijov
Osvaldo Golijov
Osvaldo Noé Golijov is a Grammy award–winning composer of classical music.-Biography:Osvaldo Golijov was born in and grew up in La Plata, Argentina, in a Jewish family that had emigrated to Argentina in the 1920s from Romania and Russia.Golijov has developed a rich musical language, the result of...
, Jennifer Higdon
Jennifer Higdon
Jennifer Higdon is an American composer of classical music. Higdon has received many awards, including the 2010 Pulitzer Prize in Music for her Violin Concerto and the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Classical Composition for her Percussion Concerto.-Biography:Higdon was born in Brooklyn,...
, and Christopher Theofanidis.
Gandolfi's music often contains rock and jazz elements. He often looks to the sciences for his subject matter, resulting in pieces such as The Garden of Cosmic Speculation
Garden of Cosmic Speculation
The Garden of Cosmic Speculation is at Portrack House, near Dumfries in South West Scotland. It is a private garden created by Charles Jencks.-Features:...
(inspired by Charles Jencks' garden in Scotland that incorporates modern physics into its design, and nominated for Best Contemporary Classical Composition at the 2009 Grammy Awards) and Trivia, written for the Weilerstein Trio, which counts Richard Wolfson's book Simply Einstein as a source. He has also written a significant amount of children's music, including a setting of Carlo Collodi's Pinocchio story.
He has had significant performance by the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Boston Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1881, the BSO plays most of its concerts at Boston's Symphony Hall and in the summer performs at the Tanglewood Music Center...
, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Robert Spano has been its music director since 2001...
, The New World Symphony, the Houston Symphony Orchestra
Houston Symphony Orchestra
The Houston Symphony is an American orchestra based in Houston, Texas. Since 1966, it has performed at the Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts in downtown Houston....
, the Boston Modern Orchestra Project
Boston Modern Orchestra Project
The Boston Modern Orchestra Project is a full professional orchestra in Boston, Massachusetts, and is widely recognized as the premiere orchestra in the United States dedicated exclusively to commissioning, performing, and recording new music of the 20th and 21st centuries...
, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra is a broadcasting symphony orchestra based in Glasgow, Scotland. One of five full-time orchestras maintained by the British Broadcasting Corporation , it is the oldest full-time professional orchestra in Scotland...
, and many others.
Gandolfi currently resides in Cambridge, MA and is a member of ASCAP.
External links
- Michael Gandolfi website
- Video: Interview between Robert Spano & Gandolfi about the Garden piece
- Interview with Atlanta's CreativeLoafing
- Interview about the premiere of "Plain Song, Fantastic Dances"
- 2005 Boston Globe profile by Geoff Edgers
- Berklee alumni profile
- Boston Modern Orchestra Project: Boston Connections concert program notes
- EarRelevant interview
- CNN.com: A rainy bus stop and, three years later, marriage