Steven Stucky
Encyclopedia
Steven Stucky is a Pulitzer Prize
-winning American
composer
.
Stucky was born in Hutchinson, Kansas
. At age 9, he moved with his family to Abilene, Texas
, where, as a teenager, he studied music in the public schools and, privately, viola with Herbert Preston, conducting with Leo Scheer, and composition with Macon Sumerlin. He attended Baylor University
and Cornell
. Stucky's principal composition teachers were Richard Willis, Robert Palmer, and Karel Husa
; his principal conducting teacher was Daniel Sternberg
.
Stucky has written commissioned works for many of the major American orchestra
s, including Baltimore
, Chicago
, Cincinnati
, Dallas
, Los Angeles
, New York
, Minnesota
, Philadelphia, and St. Louis. He is Given Foundation Professor of Composition at Cornell University
in Ithaca, New York
; he was long associated with the Los Angeles Philharmonic
, where he was resident composer 1988-2009 (the longest such affiliation in American orchestral history); and he was host of the New York Philharmonic
's Hear & Now series 2005-09. He has also taught at Eastman
and Berkeley
, the latter as Ernest Bloch Professor in 2003. At Cornell, he founded Ensemble X and led it for nine seasons, 1997-2006, while he also was the guiding force behind the celebrated Green Umbrella series in Los Angeles.
His prominent composition students include Joseph Phibbs, Marc Mellits
, Robert Paterson
, David Conte
, Thomas C. Duffy
, James Matheson, Steven Burke, Xi Wang, Spencer Topel, Diego Vega, Fang Man, Anna Weesner, Hannah Lash, Andrew Waggoner, Sean Shepherd, Yotam Haber, Chris Arrell, Alfred Cohen, and many others.
's Silent Spring
) to be premièred under Manfred Honeck
at Heinz Hall in February 2012, as well as works for the Music from Angel Fire Festival, the New York Philharmonic
, the Los Angeles Philharmonic
, the PianoSpheres series, and violinist Cho-Liang Lin
.
Pulitzer Prize for Music
The Pulitzer Prize for Music was first awarded in 1943. Joseph Pulitzer did not call for such a prize in his will, but had arranged for a music scholarship to be awarded each year...
-winning American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
.
Stucky was born in Hutchinson, Kansas
Hutchinson, Kansas
Hutchinson is the largest city in and the county seat of Reno County, Kansas, United States, northwest of Wichita, on the Arkansas River. It has been home to salt mines since 1887, thus its nickname of "Salt City", but locals call it "Hutch"...
. At age 9, he moved with his family to Abilene, Texas
Abilene, Texas
Abilene is a city in Taylor and Jones counties in west central Texas. The population was 117,063 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Abilene Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2006 estimated population of 158,063. It is the county seat of Taylor County...
, where, as a teenager, he studied music in the public schools and, privately, viola with Herbert Preston, conducting with Leo Scheer, and composition with Macon Sumerlin. He attended Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
and Cornell
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
. Stucky's principal composition teachers were Richard Willis, Robert Palmer, and Karel Husa
Karel Husa
Karel Husa is a Czech-born classical composer and conductor, winner of the 1969 Pulitzer Prize and 1993 University of Louisville Grawemeyer Award in Music Composition...
; his principal conducting teacher was Daniel Sternberg
Daniel Sternberg
Daniel Arie Sternberg was a conductor, pianist, composer, and educator. He lived and worked in Central and Eastern Europe until 1939, when he emigrated to the United States to escape World War II.-Biography:...
.
Stucky has written commissioned works for many of the major American orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
s, including Baltimore
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is a professional American symphony orchestra based in Baltimore, Maryland.In September 2007, Maestra Marin Alsop led her inaugural concerts as the Orchestra’s twelfth music director, making her the first woman to head a major American orchestra.The BSO Board...
, Chicago
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1891, the Symphony makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival...
, Cincinnati
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
As the fifth oldest orchestra in the United States, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra has a legacy of fine music making as reflected in its performances in historic Music Hall, recordings, and international tours...
, Dallas
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra. It performs its concerts in the Meyerson Symphony Center in the Arts District of downtown Dallas, Texas, United States....
, Los Angeles
Los Angeles Philharmonic
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
, New York
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"...
, Minnesota
Minnesota Orchestra
The Minnesota Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.Emil Oberhoffer founded the orchestra as the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1903, and it gave its first performance on November 5 of that year. In 1968 the orchestra changed to its name to the Minnesota Orchestra...
, Philadelphia, and St. Louis. He is Given Foundation Professor of Composition at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in Ithaca, New York
Ithaca, New York
The city of Ithaca, is a city in upstate New York and the county seat of Tompkins County, as well as the largest community in the Ithaca-Tompkins County metropolitan area...
; he was long associated with the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Los Angeles Philharmonic
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
, where he was resident composer 1988-2009 (the longest such affiliation in American orchestral history); and he was host 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"...
's Hear & Now series 2005-09. He has also taught at Eastman
Eastman School of Music
The Eastman School of Music is a music conservatory located in Rochester, New York. The Eastman School is a professional school within the University of Rochester...
and Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, the latter as Ernest Bloch Professor in 2003. At Cornell, he founded Ensemble X and led it for nine seasons, 1997-2006, while he also was the guiding force behind the celebrated Green Umbrella series in Los Angeles.
His prominent composition students include Joseph Phibbs, Marc Mellits
Marc Mellits
Marc 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...
, Robert Paterson
Robert Paterson (composer)
Robert Paterson is an American composer, percussionist and conductor.-Biography:Paterson studied composition with Christopher Rouse, Samuel Adler, Joseph Schwantner, Warren Benson and David Liptak at the Eastman School of Music, graduating in 1995. At Eastman, he was a double major and studied...
, David Conte
David Conte
David Conte is an American composer. He has been a Professor of Composition at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music since 1985, and Composer-in-Residence with Thick Description since 1990....
, Thomas C. Duffy
Thomas C. Duffy
Thomas C. Duffy is Professor of Music and the Director of Bands at Yale University.- Biography :From July 2005 through June 2006, he was the Acting Dean of the School of Music, and was Deputy Dean from 1997 to 2005...
, James Matheson, Steven Burke, Xi Wang, Spencer Topel, Diego Vega, Fang Man, Anna Weesner, Hannah Lash, Andrew Waggoner, Sean Shepherd, Yotam Haber, Chris Arrell, Alfred Cohen, and many others.
Current Projects
Stucky's current and forthcoming projects include a work for the Pittsburgh Symphony (in honor of the 50th anniversary of Rachel CarsonRachel Carson
Rachel Louise Carson was an American marine biologist and conservationist whose writings are credited with advancing the global environmental movement....
's Silent Spring
Silent Spring
Silent Spring is a book written by Rachel Carson and published by Houghton Mifflin on 27 September 1962. The book is widely credited with helping launch the environmental movement....
) to be premièred under Manfred Honeck
Manfred Honeck
Manfred Honeck is an Austrian conductor, the son of Otto and Frieda Honeck, from a family of nine children. One of his brothers is the Vienna Philharmonic leader Rainer Honeck....
at Heinz Hall in February 2012, as well as works for the Music from Angel Fire Festival, 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"...
, the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Los Angeles Philharmonic
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
, the PianoSpheres series, and violinist Cho-Liang Lin
Cho-Liang Lin
Cho-Liang Lin , born in Hsinchu, Taiwan, is a Taiwanese American violinist who is renowned for his appearances as a soloist with major orchestras. "Musical America" named him its "Instrumentalist of the Year" in 2000...
.
Orchestral
- Kenningar (Symphony No. 4) (1977-78)
- Transparent Things: In Memoriam V.N. (1980)
- Double Concerto (1982-85, rev.1989), for violin, oboe/oboe d'amoreOboe d'amoreThe oboe d'amore , less commonly oboe d'amour, is a double reed woodwind musical instrument in the oboe family. Slightly larger than the oboe, it has a less assertive and more tranquil and serene tone, and is considered the mezzo-soprano of the oboe family, between the oboe itself and the cor...
& chamber orchestra - Voyages (1983-84), for cello & orchestral winds
- Dreamwaltzes (1986)
- Concerto for Orchestra (1986-87)
- Son et Lumière (1988)
- Angelus (1989-90)
- Anniversary Greeting (1991)
- Impromptus (1991)
- Funeral Music for Queen Mary (after Purcell) (1992), for orchestral winds
- To Whom I Said Farewell (1992, rev. 2003), for mezzo-soprano & chamber orchestra
- Fanfare for Los Angeles (1993)
- Ancora (1994)
- Fanfares and Arias (1994), for orchestral winds
- Fanfare for Cincinnati (1994)
- Double Flute Concerto (1994), for two flutes & orchestra
- Pinturas de Tamayo (1995)
- Music for Saxophones and Strings (1996)
- Concerto Mediterraneo (1998), for guitar & orchestra
- Escondido Fanfare (1998)
- Threnos (1998), for orchestral winds
- American Muse (1999), for baritone & orchestra
- Concerto for Percussion and Wind Orchestra (2001)
- Colburn Variations (2002), for string orchestra
- Etudes (2002), concertoConcertoA concerto is a musical work usually composed in three parts or movements, in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra.The etymology is uncertain, but the word seems to have originated from the conjunction of the two Latin words...
for recorder & chamber orchestra - Spirit Voices (2002-03), concertoConcertoA concerto is a musical work usually composed in three parts or movements, in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra.The etymology is uncertain, but the word seems to have originated from the conjunction of the two Latin words...
for percussion & orchestra - Second Concerto for Orchestra (2003)
- Jeu de timbres (2003)
- Hue and Cry (2006), for wind band
- Radical Light (2006-07)
- Rhapsodies (2008)
- Chamber Concerto (2009)
- Silent Spring (2011)
Choral
- Spring and Fall: To a Young Child (1972), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choir
- Drop, drop, slow tears (1979), for a cappella S.S.A.A.T.T.B.B. choir
- Cradle Songs (1997), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choir
- To Musick (2000), for a cappella men's choir
- Skylarks (2001), for a cappella S.A. & S.A.T.B choir
- Whispers (2002), for a cappella S.A.T.B. soli & S.A.T.T.B.B. choir
- Three New Motets (2005), for a cappella double S.A.T.B. choir
- Eyesight (2007), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choir
- August 4, 1964 (2007-08), for soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor & baritone soli, S.A.T.B. choir & orchestra
- The Kingdom of God (In No Strange Land) (2008), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choir
- Gravity’s Dream (2009), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choir
Chamber
- Movements (1970), for four celli
- Quartet (1972-73), for clarinet, viola, cello & piano
- Movements III.: Seven Sketches (1976), for flute & clarinet
- Refrains (1976), for five percussion
- Notturno (1981), for alto saxophone & piano
- Varianti (1982), for flute, clarinet & piano
- Boston Fancies (1985), for flute, clarinet, percussion, piano, violin, viola & cello
- Serenade (1990), for wind quintet
- Birthday Fanfare (1993), for three trumpets
- Salute (1997), for flute, clarinet, horn, trombone, percussion, piano, violin & cello
- Ad Parnassum (1998), for flute, clarinet, percussion, piano, violin & cello
- Ai due amici (1998), for chamber ensemble
- Tres Pinturas (1998), for violin & piano
- Nell'ombra, nella luce (1999-2000), for string quartet
- Partita-Pastorale after J.S.B. (2000), for clarinet, piano & string quartet
- Tamayo Nocturne (2001), for chamber ensemble
- Sonate en forme de préludes (2003-04), for oboe, horn & harpsichord
- Meditation and Dance (2004), for clarinet & piano
- Piano Quartet (2005), for violin, viola, cello & piano
- Four Postcards (2008), for wind quintet & marimba
- Dust Devil (2009), for solo marimba
- Piano Quintet (2009-10), for two violins, viola, cello & piano
- Scherzino (2010), for alto saxophone and piano
- Allegretto quasi Andantino (Schubert Dream) (2010), for piano four hands
Vocal
- Sappho Fragments (1982), for female voice & chamber ensemble
- Two Holy Sonnets of Donne (1982), mezzo-soprano, oboe & piano
- Four Poems of A.R. Ammons (1992), for baritone & chamber ensemble
- To Whom I Said Farewell (1992, rev. 2003), for mezzo-soprano & chamber orchestra
- American Muse (1999), for baritone & orchestra
- Aus der Jugendzeit (2010-11), for baritone & chamber ensemble
Solo instrumental
- Three Little Variations for David (2000), for piano
- Album Leaves (2002), for piano
- Dialoghi (2006), for cello
- Dust Devil (2009), for marimba
- Isabelle Dances (2009-10), for solo marimba
- Allegretto quasi Andantino (Schubert Dream) (2010), for piano duet
Arrangements of music by other composers
- Noctuelles (Miroirs, No.1) (Maurice RavelMaurice RavelJoseph-Maurice Ravel was a French composer known especially for his melodies, orchestral and instrumental textures and effects...
, orch. Stucky 2001) (Theodore Presser Co.) - Les Noces (Igor StravinskyIgor StravinskyIgor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
, orch. Stucky 2005), for solo voices, S.A.T.B. and full orchestra (Chester Music) - Bucolics (Witold LutoslawskiWitold LutoslawskiWitold Lutosławski was one of the major European composers of the 20th century, and one of the preeminent Polish musicians during his last three decades. During his lifetime, Lutosławski earned many international awards and prizes, including the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest...
, arr. Stucky 2006), for 9 instruments (Chester Music) - Eight Songs from the Spanish Songbook (Hugo WolfHugo WolfHugo Wolf was an Austrian composer of Slovene origin, particularly noted for his art songs, or lieder. He brought to this form a concentrated expressive intensity which was unique in late Romantic music, somewhat related to that of the Second Viennese School in concision but utterly unrelated in...
, orch. Stucky 2008), for mezzo-soprano & orchestra (Theodore Presser Co.)
Awards
- 2011: Composer of the Year, PIttsburgh Symphony OrchestraPittsburgh Symphony OrchestraThe Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The orchestra's home is Heinz Hall, located in Pittsburgh's Cultural District.-History:...
, 2011-12 season - 2011: Elected Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors, New Music USA
- 2008: Elected Chair of the Board of Directors, American Music CenterAmerican Music CenterThe American Music Center is a non-profit organization which aims to promote the creating, performing, and enjoying new American music. The organization was founded in 1939 by composers Marion Bauer, Aaron Copland, Howard Hanson, Harrison Kerr, Otto Luening, and Quincy Porter.The organization has a...
- 2007: Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters
- 2006: Elected a trustee of the American Academy in RomeAmerican Academy in RomeThe American Academy in Rome is a research and arts institution located on the Gianicolo in Rome.- History :In 1893, a group of American architects, painters and sculptors met regularly while planning the fine arts section of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition...
- 2006: Joined Board of Directors of the Koussevitzky Music Foundation
- 2006: Elected to the American Academy of Arts and SciencesAmerican Academy of Arts and SciencesThe American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
- 2006: Paul Fromm Composer-in-Residence, American Academy in RomeAmerican Academy in RomeThe American Academy in Rome is a research and arts institution located on the Gianicolo in Rome.- History :In 1893, a group of American architects, painters and sculptors met regularly while planning the fine arts section of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition...
- 2005: Pulitzer Prize for MusicPulitzer Prize for MusicThe Pulitzer Prize for Music was first awarded in 1943. Joseph Pulitzer did not call for such a prize in his will, but had arranged for a music scholarship to be awarded each year...
for Second Concerto for Orchestra - 2003: Bloch Lecturer, University of California at Berkeley
- 2002: Goddard Lieberson Fellowship, American Academy of Arts and Letters
- 2001: Aaron Copland Fund for American Music recording grant
- 1998: Barlow Endowment Commission
- 1997: Bogliasco Foundation Fellowship, Centro Studi Ligure (Italy)
- 1995: Special Commendation, National Association of Composers USA
- 1991: Koussevitzky Music Foundation Commission
- 1989: Finalist, Pulitzer Prize for MusicPulitzer Prize for MusicThe Pulitzer Prize for Music was first awarded in 1943. Joseph Pulitzer did not call for such a prize in his will, but had arranged for a music scholarship to be awarded each year...
(Concerto for Orchestra) - 1986: John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship
- 1982: ASCAP Deems Taylor Award (for "Lutosławski and His Music")
- 1978: Composer Fellowship, National Endowment for the Arts
- 1975: First Prize, American Society of University Composers Competition
- 1974: ASCAP Victor Herbert Prize for composition
External links
- Composer's official website
- Theodore Presser: the Composer's Publisher and his full Biography
- NPR: Steven Stucky Wins Pulitzer Prize for Music featuring the Third Movement of Second Concerto for listening in real audio
- NewMusicBox.org: Steven Stucky Wins Pulitzer Prize
- Biography on Swiss Mennonite Cultural and Historical Association
- Elliott Carter: A Conversation with Steven Stucky
- World Premiere of Steven Stucky's August 4, 1964
- Rhapsodies at the Dallas Symphony
- Steven Stucky: Rhapsodies (New York Philharmonic)
- Interview in Big D
- Composing Thoughts 01, with Steven Stucky (featuring Son et Lumière, Boston Fancies & Funeral Music for Queen Mary)
- Composing Thoughts 02, with Steven Stucky (featuring excerpts from and comments on Sonate en forme de préludes and Dialoghi)