Muriel Anderson
Encyclopedia
Muriel Anderson is a composer and award-winning guitarist
and harp-guitarist
.
. Her grandfather was a saxophone
player in John Phillip Sousa’s band, and her mother was a piano
teacher. Her musical heritage showed early when an inspired six year old Anderson began composing her own songs. Muriel Anderson studied classical music in college at DePaul University
with Leon Borkowski. She later took master courses with classical virtuoso Christopher Parkening
. In 1989 she became the first woman to win the National Fingerpicking Guitar Championship
.
Anderson is founder & director of the Music For Life Alliance, which is a 501c(3) tax exempt, not for profit charity that facilitates the efforts of individuals and organizations making music learning accessible to young people who may not otherwise be able to experience the educational, psychological, and social benefits of making music. She is also the founder and host of the Muriel Anderson's All Star Guitar Night, which donates its proceeds to the Music for Life Alliance. Her music can be heard in Woody Allen
's film, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
, and her “Heartstrings” recording accompanied the astronauts on the space shuttle
Discovery.
Her recent project is "New World Flamenco", a collaboration with Germany's renowned duo, Tierra Negra.
Anderson's unique approach to the instrument has been said to virtually transform the guitar into a lyrical choir, then a marching band, then a Japanese koto
, then a bluegrass
band. . She can be heard in concert and as a guest on radio shows across the globe performing her unique arrangements and original compositions.
She resides in Nashville, Tennessee
.
. Her compositions include commissioned classical works for the Nashville Chamber Orchestra and Vox Caelestis Women’s Choir, as well as songs which have appeared as title tracks for three albums by various artists. Muriel Anderson is a member of the advisory board for Mel Bay Publications.
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and harp-guitarist
Harp guitar
]The harp guitar is a stringed instrument with a history of well over two centuries. While there are several unrelated historical stringed instruments that have appropriated the name “harp-guitar” over the centuries, the term today is understood as the accepted vernacular to refer to a particular...
.
Biography
Muriel Anderson was born in Downers Grove, IllinoisDowners Grove, Illinois
Downers Grove is a village in Downers Grove and Lisle Townships, DuPage County, Illinois, United States. The population was 48,724 at the 2000 census, with an official estimated population of 49,250 in 2008.-History:...
. Her grandfather was a saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
player in John Phillip Sousa’s band, and her mother was a piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
teacher. Her musical heritage showed early when an inspired six year old Anderson began composing her own songs. Muriel Anderson studied classical music in college at DePaul University
DePaul University
DePaul University is a private institution of higher education and research in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul...
with Leon Borkowski. She later took master courses with classical virtuoso Christopher Parkening
Christopher Parkening
Christopher Parkening is an American classical guitarist.Parkening was born in Los Angeles, California, and pursued music in part because of his cousin Jack Marshall, a studio musician in the 1960s. Marshall first introduced Parkening to the recordings of Andrés Segovia when he was 11, and...
. In 1989 she became the first woman to win the National Fingerpicking Guitar Championship
Walnut Valley Festival
The Walnut Valley Festival is a well-known acoustic music festival, held annually in Winfield, Kansas. The main genre of music is bluegrass, but other acoustic styles are represented...
.
Anderson is founder & director of the Music For Life Alliance, which is a 501c(3) tax exempt, not for profit charity that facilitates the efforts of individuals and organizations making music learning accessible to young people who may not otherwise be able to experience the educational, psychological, and social benefits of making music. She is also the founder and host of the Muriel Anderson's All Star Guitar Night, which donates its proceeds to the Music for Life Alliance. Her music can be heard in Woody Allen
Woody Allen
Woody Allen is an American screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, jazz musician, author, and playwright. Allen's films draw heavily on literature, sexuality, philosophy, psychology, Jewish identity, and the history of cinema...
's film, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Vicky Cristina Barcelona is a 2008 romance comedy-drama film written and directed by Woody Allen, and starring Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz, Scarlett Johansson and Rebecca Hall...
, and her “Heartstrings” recording accompanied the astronauts on the space shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
Discovery.
Her recent project is "New World Flamenco", a collaboration with Germany's renowned duo, Tierra Negra.
Anderson's unique approach to the instrument has been said to virtually transform the guitar into a lyrical choir, then a marching band, then a Japanese koto
Koto (musical instrument)
The koto is a traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument, similar to the Chinese guzheng, the Mongolian yatga, the Korean gayageum and the Vietnamese đàn tranh. The koto is the national instrument of Japan. Koto are about length, and made from kiri wood...
, then a bluegrass
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
band. . She can be heard in concert and as a guest on radio shows across the globe performing her unique arrangements and original compositions.
She resides in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
.
Recordings and publications
Celebrating her depth as a guitarist, composer, and vocalist, Muriel Anderson has a released fifteen CDs, nine videos/DVDs published by Truefire, Mel Bay and Homespun, and guitar books published by Hal Leonard, Mel Bay, and Zen-On JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Her compositions include commissioned classical works for the Nashville Chamber Orchestra and Vox Caelestis Women’s Choir, as well as songs which have appeared as title tracks for three albums by various artists. Muriel Anderson is a member of the advisory board for Mel Bay Publications.
CDs
- Harp Guitars Under the Stars with John DoanJohn DoanJohn Doan is one of the best-known harp guitarists in the world. In addition, he is a performer, Emmy-nominated composer, historian, instrument collector, and university professor.-Background:...
, 2010 - New World Flamenco with Tierra Negra, 2010
- Harp Guitar Christmas, (pre-release November 2006)
- Wildcat, January 2006
- Uncut Gems, 2003
- New Classics for Guitar and Cello, 2003
- Theme for Two Friends (original release) 1999
- Journey Through Time [limited Release] 2003
- Music For Life (limited release), 2000
- Heartstrings, (Japan release) 1998
- Christmas in Nashville (Japan) 1998
- A Little Christmas Gift, 1995
- Le Duet, 1995
- Hometown Live, 1993
- Arioso from Paris, 1991
- Heartstrings, 1989
Compilations
- Further Beyond Six Strings"" 2011
- Brad Hoyt | Together Alone | Duets with Piano and Harp Guitar 2009
- Harp Guitar Dreams 2009
- Beyond Six Strings 2007
- La Guitara 2005
- Guitar Fingerstyle II 2001
- Guitar Fingerstyle 1997
DVDs
- Fingerstyle Guitar Essentials - Arranging in the Key of D - DATA DVD
- Innovations for Acoustic Guitar
- A Guitarscape Planet 2006
- Muriel Anderson Live in Europe, 2005
- Muriel Anderson's All Star Guitar Night 10th Anniversary 2004
- Muriel Anderson's All Star Guitar Night 2000, 2002
- Muriel Anderson's All Star Guitar Night, 1998, re-released 2005
Books
- Selected Guitar Works, 2000
- All Scales in All Positions, 2000
- All Chords in All Positions, 1996
- Muriel Anderson Hometown Live, Songbook/CD 1998
- Building Guitar Arrangements from the Ground Up, Book/CD, 1994
- Chord Constellations Creative Concepts 1990
Miscellaneous
- Instant Download- Fingerstyle Guitar Essentials - Arranging in the Key of D
- Instant download - Innovations for Acoustic Guitar
- The Larson Creations Guitars & Mandolins (recorded CD for book)
- Glenn & Holly Yarbrough: Family Portrait CD (produced by Muriel Anderson, Folk Era Records 1995)