Thomas Albert
Encyclopedia
Thomas Albert is an American composer
and educator.
♥
and Wilson, North Carolina
. In 1970, he received the degree A.B. (Magna Cum Laude) from Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College
), where he studied composition with William Duckworth. He received the M.Mus. (1972) and D.M.A. (1974) in composition from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
, studying with Paul Martin Zonn and Ben Johnston.
Since 1974, he has been a member of the faculty of Shenandoah Conservatory at Shenandoah University
. From 1989 - 2004 he was Associate Dean of the Conservatory; from 2004 2008 he was Chair of the Theatre Division. He is currently Professor of Music (composition and musical theatre) and holds the Harold Herman Chair in Musical Theatre. He has served as music director and conductor for more than 100 musicals and revues
, Copland
, Crumb
, minimalism
and 20th century American popular music.
Since the mid-1990s his works have been mostly composed for the combination of instruments known as the "Pierrot sextet" (after Arnold Schoenberg
's Pierrot Lunaire
: flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, with percussion instead of Schoenberg's singer), and have explored the application of the Fibonacci series (a numerical series in which each number is the sum of the previous two numbers: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233…) to musical structures.
Early works include A Maze (With Grace) (1975, after "Amazing Grace
") and Devil’s Rain (1977) both of which were recorded by the ensemble Relâche
for Mode Records
. According to critic and composer Kyle Gann
writing for The Village Voice
, "A Maze (with Grace) and Devil's Rain mark the edge where minimalism seeped into its postgenre, but they transcend either style..."
In 1976 he composed a one-act opera, Lizbeth, based on the legend of Lizzie Borden. The work, with libretto by Lindé Hayen Herman, was commissioned by a grant from the National Endowment from the Arts, and was a finalist in the 1988 National Opera Association's chamber opera competition.
His best known composition is Thirteen Ways, commissioned by eighth blackbird
. The piece was inspired by Wallace Stevens
’ poem, "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird", from which the ensemble derived its name, it is the title work of eighth blackbird
’s first commercial recording, Thirteen Ways (Cedille Records
).
eighth blackbird
also commissioned his incidental music for the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
's 1998 production of Angels in America: The Millennium Approaches.
He has composed two works inspired by art exhibits at the Smithsonian Institution for the 21st Century Consort. The Devil's Handyman (2002) was prompted by works of American sculptor H. C. Westermann
, and the art of Saul Steinberg
inspired Illuminations (2007).
Night Music was commissioned by the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble
for its 30th anniversary season in 2006, and was recorded by the ensemble for Lime Green Productions, released in the summer of 2007.
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...
and educator.
♥
Biography
Thomas Albert attended the public schools of Lebanon, PennsylvaniaLebanon, Pennsylvania
Lebanon, formerly known as Steitztown, is a city in and the county seat of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 25,477 at the 2010 census, a 4.2% increase from the 2000 count of 24,461...
and Wilson, North Carolina
Wilson, North Carolina
Wilson is a city and the county seat of Wilson County in the Coastal Plain region of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The 18th largest city in the state, Wilson had a population of 49,167 according to the 2010 census.- Geography :...
. In 1970, he received the degree A.B. (Magna Cum Laude) from Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College
Barton College
Barton College is a private liberal arts college located in Wilson, North Carolina. Barton College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, The NC Association of Colleges and Universities; the NC Department of Public Instruction; the NC Board of Nursing; and the Committee...
), where he studied composition with William Duckworth. He received the M.Mus. (1972) and D.M.A. (1974) in composition from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
, studying with Paul Martin Zonn and Ben Johnston.
Since 1974, he has been a member of the faculty of Shenandoah Conservatory at Shenandoah University
Shenandoah University
Shenandoah University is a comprehensive private university located in Winchester, Virginia in the United States. It has an enrollment of approximately 3,800 students across more than ninety programs in six schools: College of Arts & Sciences, Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of Business, Shenandoah...
. From 1989 - 2004 he was Associate Dean of the Conservatory; from 2004 2008 he was Chair of the Theatre Division. He is currently Professor of Music (composition and musical theatre) and holds the Harold Herman Chair in Musical Theatre. He has served as music director and conductor for more than 100 musicals and revues
Music
Albert’s music is stylistically postmodern, exhibiting influences of IvesCharles Ives
Charles Edward Ives was an American modernist composer. He is one of the first American composers of international renown, though Ives' music was largely ignored during his life, and many of his works went unperformed for many years. Over time, Ives came to be regarded as an "American Original"...
, 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"...
, Crumb
George Crumb
George Crumb is an American composer of contemporary classical music. He is noted as an explorer of unusual timbres, alternative forms of notation, and extended instrumental and vocal techniques. Examples include seagull effect for the cello , metallic vibrato for the piano George Crumb (born...
, minimalism
Minimalism
Minimalism describes movements in various forms of art and design, especially visual art and music, where the work is set out to expose the essence, essentials or identity of a subject through eliminating all non-essential forms, features or concepts...
and 20th century American popular music.
Since the mid-1990s his works have been mostly composed for the combination of instruments known as the "Pierrot sextet" (after Arnold Schoenberg
Arnold Schoenberg
Arnold Schoenberg was an Austrian composer, associated with the expressionist movement in German poetry and art, and leader of the Second Viennese School...
's Pierrot Lunaire
Pierrot Lunaire
Dreimal sieben Gedichte aus Albert Girauds 'Pierrot lunaire' , commonly known simply as Pierrot Lunaire, Op. 21 , is a melodrama by Arnold Schoenberg...
: flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, with percussion instead of Schoenberg's singer), and have explored the application of the Fibonacci series (a numerical series in which each number is the sum of the previous two numbers: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233…) to musical structures.
Early works include A Maze (With Grace) (1975, after "Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace
"Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn with words written by the English poet and clergyman John Newton , published in 1779. With a message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of the sins people commit and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God,...
") and Devil’s Rain (1977) both of which were recorded by the ensemble Relâche
Relâche (musical group)
Relâche is an American chamber ensemble dedicated to the performance of contemporary classical music. Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the group was formed as a composer-performer collective by Joseph Franklin and Joseph Showalter in 1977 and was officially granted not-for-profit status in...
for Mode Records
Mode Records
Mode Records is an AmericaContemporary classical music|n record label based in New York City, New York, whose primary focus is modern classical, avant-garde, and new music. Composers featured include John Cage, Morton Feldman, Iannis Xenakis, and Harry Partch. Performers include Aki Takahashi,...
. According to critic and composer Kyle Gann
Kyle Gann
Kyle Eugene Gann is an American professor of music, critic and composer born in Dallas, Texas. As a critic for The Village Voice and other publications he has been a supporter of progressive music including such Downtown movements as postminimalism and totalism.- As composer :As a composer his...
writing for The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
, "A Maze (with Grace) and Devil's Rain mark the edge where minimalism seeped into its postgenre, but they transcend either style..."
In 1976 he composed a one-act opera, Lizbeth, based on the legend of Lizzie Borden. The work, with libretto by Lindé Hayen Herman, was commissioned by a grant from the National Endowment from the Arts, and was a finalist in the 1988 National Opera Association's chamber opera competition.
His best known composition is Thirteen Ways, commissioned by eighth blackbird
Eighth blackbird
eighth blackbird is a Grammy Award-winning contemporary music sextet based in Chicago. The group derives its name from the eighth stanza of Wallace Stevens' poem Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird...
. The piece was inspired by Wallace Stevens
Wallace Stevens
Wallace Stevens was an American Modernist poet. He was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, educated at Harvard and then New York Law School, and spent most of his life working as a lawyer for the Hartford insurance company in Connecticut.His best-known poems include "Anecdote of the Jar",...
’ poem, "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird", from which the ensemble derived its name, it is the title work of eighth blackbird
Eighth blackbird
eighth blackbird is a Grammy Award-winning contemporary music sextet based in Chicago. The group derives its name from the eighth stanza of Wallace Stevens' poem Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird...
’s first commercial recording, Thirteen Ways (Cedille Records
Cedille Records
#REDIRECTCedille Records is the independent record label of TheChicago Classical Recording Foundation.-Company History:In 1989, James Ginsburg founded Cedille Records, as a...
).
eighth blackbird
Eighth blackbird
eighth blackbird is a Grammy Award-winning contemporary music sextet based in Chicago. The group derives its name from the eighth stanza of Wallace Stevens' poem Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird...
also commissioned his incidental music for the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
The University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music is the performing arts college of the University of Cincinnati and is one of the nation's leading music conservatories. In its most recent rankings, U.S. News & World Report ranked Cincinnati sixth nationally among university programs...
's 1998 production of Angels in America: The Millennium Approaches.
He has composed two works inspired by art exhibits at the Smithsonian Institution for the 21st Century Consort. The Devil's Handyman (2002) was prompted by works of American sculptor H. C. Westermann
H. C. Westermann
H. C. Westermann was an American printmaker and sculptor whose art constituted a scathing commentary on militarism and materialism...
, and the art of Saul Steinberg
Saul Steinberg
Saul Steinberg was a Romanian-born American cartoonist and illustrator, best known for his work for The New Yorker.-Biography:...
inspired Illuminations (2007).
Night Music was commissioned by the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble
Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble
The Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble is an American ensemble dedicated to the performance of contemporary classical music. Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the group was established by composer David Stock in 1976. It has premiered over 200 works and is a major regional cultural attraction...
for its 30th anniversary season in 2006, and was recorded by the ensemble for Lime Green Productions, released in the summer of 2007.