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Elizabeth R. Austin (1938-     )

Elizabeth R. Austin, composerBorn in Baltimore, Maryland, Elizabeth R. Austin received her early musical training at The Peabody Conservatory. Grace N. Cushman provided the thorough grounding in composition, which marked Austin’s musical life. When Nadia Boulanger visited Goucher College, she awarded the composer a scholarship to study at the Conservatoire Americaine in Fontainebleau, France. Austin has taught composition and theory in Hartford, Connecticut and her association with The Hartt School (University of Hartford), where she earned an M.M., included the establishment of a faculty/student exchange with the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Heidelberg-Mannheim. During her Ph.D. studies (University of Connecticut), she won First Prize in the Lipscomb Electronic Music Competition. Other awards have included a Connecticut Commission on the Arts grant, First Prize in the IAWM’s 1998 Miriam Gideon Competition, a Rockefeller Foundation grant, and an American Music Center grant. Performed in Europe, Scandinavia, South Africa, as well as in the United States and the Caribbean, Austin’s music has been received with distinction and has been broadcast worldwide, especially featured on Germany’s Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk. GEDOK Mannheim (Germany) has sponsored many portrait concerts of her music. Additionally, Austin has received recent recognition, firstly, through the selection of her cello octet, Water Music I. Beside still waters... to be performed in Fiuggi, Italy, as part of the international Donna in Musica Festival, then through a First Prize in the 1998 IAWM's Miriam Gideon Composition Competition for her latest chamber work, A Hommage for Hildegard. She serves as organist/choir director at St. Paul’s Church, Windham Center, and is also on the Alumni Board of The Walden School (young composers), New Hampshire.

COMPOSITIONS                                                            Elizabeth Austin Links     ~ ~ ~     Works by Genre
Early works for piano, and voice and piano (pre-1953)
Capers of a Clock, piano 5-hands (1953)
Three Sandburg Songs, soprano and piano (1954)
Christ Being Raised, chorus and opt. organ (1955; pub. 1984)
The Heart's Journey, high voice and piano (1955) [text: Siegfried Sassoon]
Drei Rilke-Lieder, mezzo-soprano and piano (1958)
Chamber Symphony, string orchestra (1960)
Bantam!, trumpet andf piano (1978)
The Heart’s Journey, soprano and piano (1978)
Set Me as a Seal, mezzo-soprano and piano (1978)
Measure Me, Sky!, soprano and piano (1979)
Songs from Advent Poems, soprano, horn and piano (1979)
Zodiac Suite, piano (1980)
High Flight, massed unison chorus, or tenor solo, 4-part choral descant and piano (or harp) (1980) [text: John Gillespie Magee]
Inscapes, string quartet (1981)
Christmas: The Reason, female chorus and piano (1981) [text: Sister Maura Eichner, S.S.N.D.]
Prayer for a Christian burial, middle-high voice and piano (1981) [text: Bede Jarrett]
Cantata Beatitudines, chorus, soli, wind ensemble and organ (1982)
Ghosts, bassoon and tape (1982)
Circling, cello and piano (1982)
Nunc dimittis, chorus and organ (or piano) (1983; rev. 2008) [text: from Luke 2:29]
Klavier Double, piano and tape (1983)
An Elegy, piano 4-hands (1984)
Wilderness Symphony (No. 1), 2 reciters and orchestra (1987) [text: Carl Sandburg]
Mass of Thanksgiving ("We Gather Together"), chorus, organ, flute and trumpet (1987)
Sonnets From the Portuguese (5 songs), soprano and piano (1988) [text: Elizabeth Barrett Browning]
Lighthouse I, harpsichord (1989)
Gathering Threads, clarinet (1990)
A Birthday Bouquet (4 songs), high voice and piano (1990)
To Begin (Zum Beginn), brass quintet (1990)
Sonata for  Soprano Recorder (1991) [also for flute]
An die Nachgeborenen (To  Those Born Later), chorus and piano (1991) [text: Bertolt Brecht; trans. by John Willett]
Symphony No. 2 (“Lighthouse”), orchestra (1993)
The Master’s Hands, chorus and organ (or piano) (1994) [text: Marilyn Nelson]
Litauische Lieder (Lithuanian Songs) (4 songs), baritone and piano (1995) [text: Johannes Bobrowski]
Sans Souci Souvenir, viola d’amore and harpsichord (1996)
Sans Souci Suite, Baroque flute and percussion (1996)
Water Music I. Beside still waters ..., 8 cellos (1996)
Hommage for Hildegard, mezzo-soprano, baritone, fl, cl, perc & pf (1997) [based on "Caritas abundat" by Hildegard von Bingen]
Capricornus Caribbicus, flute, oboe and piano (1998)
Frauenliebe und leben (6 songs), mezzo-soprano (or soprano) and piano (1999) [text: Adelbert von Chamisso]
Prague Sonata, horn and piano (2000)
Showings, soprano, trombone and organ (or piano) (2000) [text: based on texts  by Julian of Norwich, 1342-1412 ca]
A Triadic Tribute, brass quintet and organ (2000)
A Child’s Garden of Music (8 pieces), piano (2000)
Wie Eine Blume....orch-ideas and roses..., woodwind sextet and percussion (2001)
Kyrie (from "Transatlantic Mass"), choir and organ (2001)
Like the Grass of These Fields, chorus, trumpet and organ (2001)
An American Triptych, piano (2001)
Rose Sonata, piano and reciter (2002) [includes reciting of poems about roses by Bachmann, Goethe, Kleist, Rilke, and Williams]
Ginkgo-Novo, English horn, cello and piano (2002)
Ausländer Arien, soprano, flute, cello and piano (2004) [text: Rose Ausländer]
A Falcon Fantasy, guitar and piano (2004) [inspired by peregrine falcons born in the Kodak Tower in Rochester, New York]
Waitin’ and Wailin’ Blues, piano (2004) [pub. in Peer Music anthology "Blues Beyond Borders 3", 2008]
When the Song of the Angels Is Stilled, chorus (2005) [text: Howard Thurman]
Wachet Auf…Der Morgenstern, organ (2006)
I Felt a Funeral In My Brain, carillon (2007) [pub. by The American Guild of Carillonneurs, 2008]
A Celebration Concerto, piano solo, child soprano and wind ensemble (2007)
B-A-C-Homage, viola and piano (2007)
Puzzle Preludes (7 pieces), piano (1994-2008)
Brainstorm, double bass and piano (2008)
Weep No More, clarinet quartet (4 clarinets) (2009)
Psalm 22, chorus (2009)
"that I'm one and also two", opera (2010) [based on Kleist's "The Marquise of O."] [ AKA: Julietta, Kleist's 'Marquise of O']


WORKS BY GENRE                                                            Elizabeth Austin Links     ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater
"that I'm one and also two", opera (2010) [based on Kleist's "The Marquise of O."] [ AKA: Julietta, Kleist's 'Marquise of O']

Orchestra
Chamber Symphony, string orchestra (1960)
Wilderness Symphony (No. 1), 2 reciters and orchestra (1987) [text: Carl Sandburg]
Symphony No. 2 (“Lighthouse”), orchestra (1993)
    - Lighthouse/Watertower Mannheim/Watch Hill
    - Burlesque on a theme by Johann Stamitz
    - Elegia

Band
Cantata Beatitudines, chorus, soli, wind ensemble and organ (1982)
A Celebration Concerto, piano solo, child soprano and wind ensemble (2007)

Chorus w/Orchestra or Band
Cantata Beatitudines, chorus, soli, wind ensemble and organ (1982)

Choral
Christ Being Raised, chorus (and optional organ) (1955; pub. 1984)
High Flight, massed unison chorus, or tenor solo, 4-part choral descant and piano (or harp) (1980) [text: John Gillespie Magee]
Christmas: The Reason, female chorus and piano (1981) [text: Sister Maura Eichner, S.S.N.D.]
Nunc dimittis, chorus and organ (or piano) (1983; rev. 2008) [text: from Luke 2:29]
Mass of Thanksgiving ("We Gather Together"), chorus, organ, flute and trumpet (1987)
An die Nachgeborenen (To  Those Born Later), chorus and piano (1991) [text: Bertolt Brecht; trans. by John Willett]
The Master’s Hands, chorus and organ (or piano) (1994) [text: Marilyn Nelson]
Kyrie (from "Transatlantic Mass"), choir and organ (2001)
Like the Grass of These Fields, chorus, trumpet and organ (2001)
When the Song of the Angels Is Stilled, chorus (2005) [text: Howard Thurman]
Psalm 22, chorus (2009)

Chamber
Inscapes, string quartet (1981)
To Begin (Zum Beginn), brass quintet (1990)
Sans Souci Suite, Baroque flute and percussion (1996)
Water Music I. Beside still waters ..., 8 cellos (1996)
Capricornus Caribbicus, flute, oboe and piano (1998)
A Triadic Tribute, brass quintet and organ (2000)
Wie Eine Blume....orch-ideas and roses..., woodwind sextet and percussion (2001)
Ginkgo-Novo, English horn, cello and piano (2002)
I Felt a Funeral In My Brain, carillon (2007) [pub. by The American Guild of Carillonneurs, 2008]
Weep No More, clarinet quartet (4 clarinets) (2009)

Instrument and Piano/Harpsichord
Bantam!, trumpet andf piano (1978)
Circling, cello and piano (1982)
Sans Souci Souvenir, viola d’amore and harpsichord (1996)
Prague Sonata, horn and piano (2000)
A Falcon Fantasy, guitar and piano (2004) [inspired by peregrine falcons born in the Kodak Tower in Rochester, New York]
    - Falcons
    - Feathers
    - Flying
B-A-C-Homage, viola and piano (2007)
Brainstorm, double bass and piano (2008)

Solo Instrument
Ghosts, bassoon and tape (1982)
Gathering Threads, clarinet (1990)
Sonata for  Soprano Recorder (1991) [also for flute]

Piano/Harpsichord/Organ
Early works for piano (pre-1953, manuscript)
Capers of a Clock, piano 5-hands (1953)
Zodiac Suite, piano (1980; rev. 1993) [5 variations on a theme]
    - Aries (The Ram)
    - Sagittarius (The Archer)
    - Libra (The Scales)
    - Capricornus (The Goat)
    - Scorpio (The Scorpion)
    - Aquarius (The Water Bearer)
    - Taurus (The Bull)
Klavier Double, piano and tape (1983)
An Elegy, piano 4-hands (1984)
Lighthouse I, harpsichord (1989)
A Child’s Garden of Music (8 pieces), piano (2000)
    - Sebastian Sings
    - Christopher Cruises
    - Mary Makes Believe
    - Margaret Moves
    - Jessica Jiggles
    - Ana Asleep
    - Mia Music
    - Olivia On Air
An American Triptych, piano (2001)
    - An Urban(e) Rag-Quodlibet
    - The Bellagio Blues
    - A Hoedown-Quodlibet
Rose Sonata, piano and reciter (2002) [includes reciting of poems about roses by Bachmann, Goethe, Kleist, Rilke, and Williams]
Waitin’ and Wailin’ Blues, piano (2004) [pub. in Peer Music anthology "Blues Beyond Borders 3", 2008]
Wachet Auf…Der Morgenstern, organ (2006)
Puzzle Preludes (7 pieces), piano (1994-2008)

Vocal
Early works for voice and piano (pre-1953, manuscript)
Three Sandburg Songs, soprano and piano (1954)
    - Lost
    - Haze
    - Child Moon
The Heart's Journey, high voice and piano (1955) [text: Siegfried Sassoon]
Drei Rilke-Lieder, mezzo-soprano and piano (1958)
    - Herbsttag
    - Herbst
    - Liebeslied
Set Me as a Seal, mezzo-soprano and piano (1978) [text: Song of Songs 8:6,7]
Measure Me, Sky!, soprano and piano (1979)
Songs from Advent Poems, soprano, horn and piano (1979)
Prayer for a Christian burial, middle-high voice and piano (1981) [text: Bede Jarrett]
Sonnets From the Portuguese (5 songs), soprano and piano (1988) [text: Elizabeth Barrett Browning]
    - The face of all the world
    - Say over again
    - Unlike are we
    - First time
    - How do I love thee?
A Birthday Bouquet (4 songs), high voice and piano (1990)
    - For your birthday [text: e. e. cummings]
    - A birthday [text: Christina Rossetti]
    - Remember [text: Christina Rossetti]
    - Had I the heavn's embroidered cloths [text:  W. B. Yeats]
Litauische Lieder (Lithuanian Songs) (4 songs), baritone and piano (1995) [text: Johannes Bobrowski]
    - Die Jura (The Jura)
    - Der Litauische Brunnen (The Lithuanian Well)
    - Pferde (Horses)
    - Osten (From The East)
Hommage for Hildegard, mezzo-soprano, baritone, fl, cl, perc & pf (1997) [based on "Caritas abundat" by Hildegard von Bingen]
    - Caritas abundat in omnia (Complete love abundant in all)
    - De imis excellentissima (Of that beneath, most excellent)
    - Super sidera (Above the stars)
    - Atque amantissima in omnia (In all the most loving)
    - Quia summo Regi osculum pacis dedit (To whom, the exalted King, the kiss of peace is bestowed)
Frauenliebe und leben (6 songs), mezzo-soprano (or soprano) and piano (1999) [text: Adelbert von Chamisso]
    - Seit ich ihn gesehen (Since I have seen him)
    - Er, der Herrlichste von allen (He, most wonderful)
    - Ich kann's nicht fassen (I cannot grasp it)
    - Du Ring an meinem Finger (O ring on my finger)
    - Süsser Freund (Dearest friend)
    - Traum der eignen Tage (Dream of days gone by)
Showings, soprano, trombone and organ (or piano) (2000) [text: based on texts  by Julian of Norwich, 1342-1412 ca]
Ausländer Arien, soprano, flute, cello and piano (2004) [text: Rose Ausländer]
    - Prelude
    - Vogel
    - Regen
    - Liebe
    - Sterne
    - Postlude


ELIZABETH AUSTIN  LINKS                                                            Works by Genre      ~ top of page ~
Composer in Waiting (Michael K. Slayton, SCOPE, Winter 2011, p. 22; copy this link http://www.scope-mag.com/current-issue/)
Elizabeth Austin - A Conversation with Bruce Duffie (bruceduffie.com)
Selected Music of Elizabeth R. Austin (Teresa Crane, DMA dissertation, 2007, Univ of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
Women of Influence in Contemporary Music: Nine American Composers (Michael K. Slayton, Scarecrow Pr)

Composer's website   . . .   contact Elizabeth R. Austin:  here

Elizabeth Austin @ Wikipedia
Elizabeth Austin @ American Composers Alliance
Elizabeth Austin @ American Composers Forum
Elizabeth Austin @ American Music Center
Elizabeth Austin @ Arsis Press
Elizabeth Austin @ Connecticut Composers, Inc.
Elizabeth Austin @ Facebook
Elizabeth Austin @ Klassica
Elizabeth Austin @ Leonarda Records
Elizabeth Austin @ MusicWeb International
Elizabeth Austin @ New York Women Composers
Elizabeth Austin @ Sigma Alpha Iota
Elizabeth Austin @ ThatNewMusicLibrary.com

Publisher
Elizabeth Austin @  E. Scheidel-Austin (Elizabeth Austin)
Elizabeth Austin @ American Composers Alliance
Elizabeth Austin @ American Music Center
Elizabeth Austin @ Arsis Press
Elizabeth Austin @ The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America
Elizabeth Austin @ Peermusic
Elizabeth Austin @ Edition Tonger (Peter Tonger Verlag)
Elizabeth Austin @ Society of Composers, Inc.

Streaming Audio
Elizabeth Austin @ Composer's website
Elizabeth Austin @ Capstone Records (check under individual recordings)
Elizabeth Austin @ New York Women Composers

Recordings
Elizabeth Austin @ ArkivMusic
Elizabeth Austin @ cdbaby
Elizabeth Austin @ CD Universe
Elizabeth Austin @ Capstone Records

Discography
Elizabeth Austin: Reflected Light: Selected Chamber Works (Capstone Records/CPS-8625)
Wilderness Symphony (Capstone Records/CPS-8634)
Sonata for Soprano Recorder (Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Heidelberg-Mannheim/MH 1092)
A Birthday Bouquet (on "Time Marches On") (Capstone Records/CPS-8646)
A Birthday Bouquet (on "Songs by Women") (Leonarda Productions/LE 352)
Sonnets From the Portuguese (Capstone Records/CPS-8618)
The Master’s Hands (on "Spectra III") (Capstone Records/CPS-8710)
An American Triptych; Puzzle Preludes (on "Spectra IV") (Capstone Records/CPS-8732)
A Falcon Fantasy (on "Composition Feminine" (Querstand, Germany)
Symphony No. 2, "Lighthouse" (on "Spectra, Music for Orchestra") (Capstone Records/CPS-8779)
Sonnets From the Portuguese on "Songs and Cycles") (Leonarda Productions/LE357)
Frauenliebe und –leben (on "Spectra, A Concert of Vocal Music") (Arizona University Recordings/AUR-3148)

Video
[none at the moment]
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