Richard Danielpour (1956- )
Grammy-Award winning Richard Danielpour "is an outstanding composer for any time, one who knows how to communicate deep, important emotions through simple, direct means that nevertheless do not compromise" (New York Daily News). A distinctive American voice, his music is of large and romantic gestures, brilliantly orchestrated, intensely expressive, and rhythmically vibrant. His work has attracted an illustrious array of champions, and, as a devoted mentor and educator, he has also had a significant impact on a younger generation of composers. Much in demand across the globe, Danielpour has received such prestigious honors as a Lifetime Achievement Award and the Charles Ives Fellowship from the American Academy of Arts & Letters, a Guggenheim Award, two Rockefeller Foundation grants, Bearns Prize from Columbia University, and grants and residencies from the Barlow Foundation, MacDowell Colony, Yaddo, Copland House, and the American Academy in Rome. His work has been performed throughout the world, and he has written pieces for the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, American Composers Orchestra, and San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Pacific, National, Atlanta and Baltimore Symphonies, among many others. His music has also been championed by Yo-Yo Ma, Jessye Norman, Sarah Chang, Dawn Upshaw, Emanuel Ax, Frederica von Stade, Thomas Hampson, Gary Graffman, the Kalichstein -Laredo -Robinson Trio, the Guarneri, Emerson, Muir, and American String Quartets, Music from Copland House and conductors Leonard Bernstein, Kurt Masur, Charles Dutoit, David Zinman, Zdenek Macal, Carl St. Clair, and Leonard Slatkin. Danielpour is one of the most recorded composers of his generation, and became only the third composer --after Stravinsky and Copland-- to be signed to an exclusive recording contract by Sony Classical. Since then, Sony released several Danielpour recordings, including the Grammy Award-winning Cello Concerto, recorded by Yo-Yo Ma and the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by David Zinman, and the Grammy-nominated Concerto for Orchestra (coupled with Anima Mundi), recorded by Zinman and the Pittsburgh Symphony. He is an active educator and believes deeply in the nurturing of young musicians. Beyond serving on the faculties of both the Curtis Institute of Music and the Manhattan School of Music, he also spends a great deal of time giving master classes throughout the country, and coaching and mentoring young musicians.- Dworkin & Company
COMPOSITIONS Danielpour Links ~ ~ ~ Works by Genre ~ ~ ~ Danielpour on Danielpour
Oratio Pauli, chorus and string orchestra (1982)
Symphony No. 1, "Dona Nobis Pacem", orchestra (1984)
Symphony No. 2, "Visions", soprano, tenor and orchestra (1986)
First Light, orchestra (1988)
Quintet for Piano and Strings, piano and string quartet (1988)
Urban Dances, brass quintet (1988)
Symphony No. 3, "Journey Without Distance", soprano, chorus and orchestra (1990)
The Awakened Heart, orchestra (1990)
Metamorphosis (Piano Concerto No. 1) (1990)
Song of Remembrance, orchestra (1991)
Toward the Splendid City, orchestra (1992)
Sonnets to Orpheus, Book 1 (6 songs), soprano, fl, cl, hn, pf(cel), 2 vn, va, vc, db (1992) [text: Rainer Maria Rilke]
The Enchanted Garden (Preludes for Piano, Book I), piano (1992)
- Mardi Gras, piano (1992) [from The Enchanted Garden]
Piano Concerto No. 2 (1993)
Urban Dances, Book II, brass quintet (1993)
String Quartet No. 2, "Shadow Dances" (1993)
Songs of the Night (4 songs), tenor, violin, cello and piano (1993) [text: Rainer Maria Rilke]
Concerto for Cello and Orchestra (1994)
Sonnets to Orpheus, Book 2, baritone, fl, cl, hn, perc, pf, 2 vn, va, vc, db (1994) [text: Rainer Maria Rilke]
String Quartet No. 3, "Psalms of Sorrow", baritone and string quartet (1994) [text: Psalms 39 & 17]
Anima Mundi, dance piece (1995)
Canticle of Peace, baritone, chorus and orchestra (1995)
Urban Dances: Dance Suite In Five Movements, dance piece (1996)
Concerto for Orchestra, "Zoroastrian Riddles", orchestra (1996)
I Am Not Prey, soprano and piano 4-hands (1996) [text: Toni Morrison] - see also "Sweet Talk", 1997
Celestial Night, orchestra (1997)
Fantasy Variations, cello and piano (1997)
Elegies (5 songs), mezzo-soprano, baritone and orchestra (1997) [text: Kim Vaeth]
Sweet Talk (4 songs), mezzo-soprano, cello double bass and piano (1997) [text: Toni Morrison]
Vox Populi, orchestra (1998; arr. by Jack Stamp)
Voices of Remembrance: Concerto for String Quartet and Orchestra (1998)
Feast of Fools - concertino for bassoon and string quartet (1998)
Spirits in the Well (4 songs), treble and piano (1998) [text: Toni Morrison]
The Night Rainbow, orchestra (1999)
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, "A Fool’s Paradise" (1999)
Nocturne, string orchestra (2000)
A Child's Reliquary, violin, cello and orchestra (2000; also arr. for violin, cello and piano)
String Quartet No. 4, "Apparitions" (2000)
As Night Falls on Barjeantane, violin and piano (2000)
In the Arms of the Beloved (Double Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra) (2001)
Through the Ancient Valley (Cello Concerto No. 2) (2001)
An American Requiem, mezzo-soprano, tenor, baritone, chorus and orchestra (2001)
Portraits (4 songs), mezzo-soprano, clarinet, violin, cello and piano (2001) [text: Maya Angelou]
Piano Concerto No. 3 ("Zodiac Variations") (2002)
Apparitions, orchestra (2003)
Swan Song, string orchestra (2003)
Three Preludes, piano (2003)
Elegy, piano (2003)
String Quartet No. 5, "In Search of 'La Vita Nuova'") (2004)
Songs of Solitude, baritone and orchestra (2004)
Margaret Garner, opera (2005)
- Three Mezzo-soprano Arias from Margaret Garner, mezzo-soprano and piano (2005) [see also "Triptych", 2006]
- Four Baritone Arias from Margaret Garner, baritone and piano (2005)
- He Is By, soprano and piano (2005) [from "Margaret Garner", 2005]
- Triptych, mezzo-soprano and orchestra (2006) [from "Margaret Garner", 2005] - same as "Three Mezzo-soprano Arias", ???
- Three Prayers, soprano and orchestra (2007) [from "Margaret Garner", 2005]
Washington Speaks, narrator and orchestra (2005)
Adagietto for String Orchestra (2005)
Voice of the City, band (2005)
Troubadours’ Feast, flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello and piano (2005)
The Book of Hours, violin, viola, cello and piano (2006)
Piano Quartet, violin, viola, cello and piano (2006)
Pastime, baritone and orchestra (2006)
Rocking the Cradle, orchestra (2007)
Benediction, brass and chimes (2007)
River of Light (In Memory of Isaac Stern) violin and piano (2007)
Souvenirs, orchestra (2008)
Songs From an Old War, baritone and piano (2009) [text: ???]
Icarus, brass ensemble, percussion and 2 pianos (2009)
The Faces of Guernica, piano trio [violin, cello and piano] (2009)
Come up from the Fields Father, baritone, viola and piano (2009) [text: Walt Whitman]
String Quartet No. 6, "Addio" (2009)
The Enchanted Garden, Book II (preludes), piano (2009)
WORKS BY GENRE Danielpour Links ~ ~ ~ Danielpour on Danielpour ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater
Anima Mundi, dance piece (1995)
Urban Dances: Dance Suite In Five Movements, dance piece (1996)
Margaret Garner, opera (2005)
Orchestra
Symphony No. 1, "Dona Nobis Pacem", orchestra (1984)
Symphony No. 2, "Visions", soprano, tenor and orchestra (1986) [text: Dylan Thomas' "Vision and Prayer"]
First Light, orchestra (1988)
Symphony No. 3, "Journey Without Distance", soprano, chorus and orchestra (1990)
The Awakened Heart, orchestra (1990)
Song of Remembrance, orchestra (1991)
Toward the Splendid City, orchestra (1992)
Concerto for Orchestra, "Zoroastrian Riddles", orchestra (1996)
Celestial Night, orchestra (1997)
Vox Populi, orchestra (1998)
The Night Rainbow, orchestra (1999)
Nocturne, string orchestra (2000)
Apparitions, orchestra (2003)
Swan Song, string orchestra (2003)
Washington Speaks, narrator and orchestra (2005)
Adagietto for String Orchestra (2005)
Rocking the Cradle, orchestra (2007)
Souvenirs, orchestra (2008)
Band
Vox Populi, band (1998) [arr. by Jack Stamp]
Voice of the City, band (2005)
Benediction, brass and chimes (2007)
Soloist(s) w/Orchestra
Metamorphosis (Piano Concerto No. 1) (1990)
Piano Concerto No. 2 (1993)
Concerto for Cello and Orchestra (1994)
Voices of Remembrance: Concerto for String Quartet and Orchestra (1998)
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, "A Fool’s Paradise" (1999)
A Child's Reliquary, violin, cello and orchestra (2000)
In the Arms of the Beloved (Double Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra) (2001)
Through the Ancient Valley (Cello Concerto No. 2) (2001)
Piano Concerto No. 3 ("Zodiac Variations") (2002)
Chorus w/Orchestra
Oratio Pauli, chorus and string orchestra (1982)
Symphony No. 3, "Journey Without Distance", soprano, chorus and orchestra (1990)
Canticle of Peace, baritone, chorus and orchestra (1995)
An American Requiem, mezzo-soprano, tenor, baritone, chorus and orchestra (2001)
Chamber
Quintet for Piano and Strings, piano and string quartet (1988)
Urban Dances, brass quintet (1988)
Urban Dances, Book II, brass quintet (1993)
String Quartet No. 2, "Shadow Dances" (1993)
String Quartet No. 3, "Psalms of Sorrow", baritone and string quartet (1994) [text: Psalms 39 & 17]
Feast of Fools - concertino for bassoon and string quartet (1998)
A Child’s Reliquary, violin, cello and piano (2000)
String Quartet No. 4, "Apparitions" (2000)
String Quartet No. 5, "In Search of 'La Vita Nuova'") (2004)
Troubadours’ Feast, flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello and piano (2005)
The Book of Hours, violin, viola, cello and piano (2006)
Piano Quartet, violin, viola, cello and piano (2006)
Icarus, brass ensemble, percussion and 2 pianos (2009)
The Faces of Guernica, piano trio [violin, cello and piano] (2009)
- The Helpless Witness
- Woman in Flames
- The Woman Who Asks Why
- El Toro
- Pieta
- The Mad Horse And The Trampled Man
String Quartet No. 6, "Addio" (2009)
Solo Instrument
Fantasy Variations, cello and piano (1997)
As Night Falls on Barjeantane, violin and piano (2000)
River of Light (In Memory of Isaac Stern) violin and piano (2007)
Piano
The Enchanted Garden (Preludes for Piano, Book I) (1992)
- Mardi Gras, piano (1992) [from The Enchanted Garden, Bk I]
Three Preludes, piano (2003)
Elegy, piano (2003)
The Enchanted Garden (Preludes for Piano, Book II) (2009)
Vocal
Symphony No. 2, "Visions", soprano, tenor and orchestra (1986) [text: Dylan Thomas' "Vision and Prayer"]
Sonnets to Orpheus, Book 1 (6 songs), soprano, fl, cl, hn, pf(cel), 2 vn, va, vc, db (1992) [text: Rainer Maria Rilke]
- Prologue
- Dance the Orange
- Elegy
- Tarantella
- Anthem
- Epilogue
Songs of the Night (4 songs), tenor, violin, cello and piano (1993) [text: Rainer Maria Rilke]
- Love Song
- Lullaby
- Lamentation, "You who never arrived . . ."
- Evening
Sonnets to Orpheus, Book 2, baritone, fl, cl, hn, perc, pf, 2 vn, va, vc, db (1994) [text: Rainer Maria Rilke]
- ???
- ???
- ???
- ???
String Quartet No. 3, "Psalms of Sorrow", baritone and string quartet (1994) [text: Psalms 39 & 17]
- Elegy
- Remembrance
- Benediction (w/baritone solo)
I Am Not Prey, soprano and piano 4-hands (1996) [text: Toni Morrison] - see also "Sweet Talk", 1997
Elegies (5 songs), mezzo-soprano, baritone and orchestra (1997) [text: Kim Vaeth]
- Vigil
- Lacrimosa
- Benediction
- Litany
- In paradisum
Sweet Talk (4 songs), mezzo-soprano, cello double bass and piano (1997) [text: Toni Morrison]
- I Am Not Prey
- Perfect Ease
- Bliss
- Faith
Spirits in the Well (4 songs), treble and piano (1998) [text: Toni Morrison]
- Down in the Well
- At Some Point, the World's Beauty is Enough
- I Envy Public Love
- There Are No New Songs
Portraits (4 songs), mezzo-soprano, clarinet, violin, cello and piano (2001) [text: Maya Angelou]
- The Chinese Bride (18th century)
- The War Widow (American Civil War)
- The Plains Woman (Native American woman, mid 19th century)
- Afro-American Woman (20th century)
Songs of Solitude (6 songs), baritone and orchestra (2004) [text: W.B. Yeats]
- Prologue
- Blood and the Moon
- Drinking Song
- These Are the Clouds
- The Second Coming
- Epilogue
Three Mezzo-soprano Arias from Margaret Garner, mezzo-soprano and piano (2005) [see also "Triptych"]
- Margaret's Lullaby
- A Quality Love
- Intermezzo
Four Baritone Arias from Margaret Garner, baritone and piano (2005)
- I Remember ...
- A Little Solace
- Nothing ...
- Go Cry Girl
He Is By, soprano and piano (2005) [from "Margaret Garner", 2005]
Triptych, mezzo-soprano and orchestra (2006) [from Margaret Garner] - same as "Three Mezzo-soprano Arias", 2005???
- Margaret's Lullaby
- A Quality Love
- Intermezzo and Soliloquy
Pastime, baritone and orchestra (2006) [text: Michael S. Harper]
- Prologue
- Josh Gibson: Master of the National Past
- Blackjack
- Henry Aaron's Hammer
- Epilogue
Three Prayers, soprano and orchestra (2007) [from "Margaret Garner", 2005]
- ???
- ???
- ???
Songs From an Old War, baritone and piano (2009) [text: ???]
- ???
- ???
- ???
- more???
Come up from the Fields Father, baritone, viola and piano (2009) [text: Walt Whitman]
DANIELPOUR LINKS Works by Genre ~ ~ ~ Danielpour on Danielpour ~ top of page ~
An American Requiem (A Review by Ruth Ruggles Akers and Karl Lozier, enjoythemusic.com)
Commercialism, Accessibility, Popularity, and Originality in American High-Art Music (Ruth Ruggles Akers, St. Univ of Florida)
Composer Danielpour says PSO's Honeck Understands Music 'From the Inside' (Mark Kanny, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
Composer's Latest Work Pays Heartfelt Tribute to the Victims of Iranian Tyranny (John Pitcher, Nashville Scene)
Danielpour's Margaret Garner (Charles T. Downey, Ionarts)
Free Verses: Danielpour Gives Berklee Students a Peek Behind Curtains of 'Margaret Garner' (Brenda Pike, Berklee News)
Interview with Richard Danielpour (David Bundler, 20th Century Music)
Is the Free Dissemination of Music on the Web Ultimately Helpful or Harmful to the Economics of New Music? (Richard Danielpour, NewMusicBox)
Margaret Garner (Jeffery Brown, PBS Online Newshour)
Margaret Garner’s Desperate Solution (Delores M. Walters, Playbill)
Musical Ode to Hank Aaron, Jackie Robinson and Josh Gibson ... (Martin Steinberg, Associated Press)
Richard Danielpour Violin Concerto (Yaddo)
Symphony Celebrates Gibson, Robinson, Aaron (Bob Hoover, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Composer's website . . . contact Richard Danielpour: here
Danielpour @ Wikipedia
Danielpour @ American Music Center
Danielpour @ Answers.com
Danielpour @ Arizona Friends of Chamber Music
Danielpour @ Chester Novello
Danielpour @ Classic Cat
Danielpour @ Classical Archives
Danielpour @ Classical CD Review
Danielpour @ Classical Composers Database
Danielpour @ ClassicsToday
Danielpour @ Curtis Institute of Music
Danielpour @ Dworkin & Company
Danielpour @ Facebook
Danielpour @ IMDb (Internet Movie Database)
Danielpour @ I'm Iranian
Danielpour @ InstantEncore
Danielpour @ Library of Congress
Danielpour @ Margaret Garner/A New American Opera
Danielpour @ Midori
Danielpour @ Mimesis Ensemble
Danielpour @ Modern Classical
Danielpour @ MusicWeb International
Danielpour @ Naxos
Danielpour @ New York City Ballet
Danielpour @ The New York Times
Danielpour @ NPR
Danielpour @ Opera Chic
Danielpour @ Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Danielpour @ REC Music Foundation /The Lied and Art Song Texts Page
Danielpour @ G. Schirmer
Danielpour @ Skidmore College
Danielpour @ Song of America
Danielpour @ violinstudent.com/Today in Music History
Danielpour @ Wind Repertory Project
Danielpour @ Yaddo
Publisher
Danielpour @ Chester Novello
Danielpour @ Lean Kat (via Bill Holab Music)
Danielpour @ G. Schirmer
Streaming Audio
Danielpour @ Composer's website
Danielpour @ Arizona Friends of Chamber Music
Danielpour @ Classical Archives
Danielpour @ last.fm
Danielpour @ MySpaceMusic
Danielpour @ Rhapsody
Danielpour @ WNYC/Spotlight - Music & Interview
Danielpour @ SoundCloud
Recordings
Danielpour @ Composer's website
Danielpour @ Amazon.com
Danielpour @ ArkivMusic
Danielpour @ CD Universe
Danielpour @ Classical CD Review
Danielpour @ ClassicsOnline
Danielpour @ Discogs
Video
Danielpour @ YouTube
Danielpour @ Google Video
Danielpour @ Vimeo
~ top of page ~
Danielpour on Danielpour: Conversation with Richard Danielpour (VIDEO)
Danielpour on Danielpour: On "A Womans Life"/PSO (VIDEO)
Danielpour on Danielpour: On His "Souvenirs" (VIDEO)
Danielpour on Danielpour: w/Leonard Slatkin & Mason Bates/LSO (VIDEO)
Danielpour on Danielpour: Spotlight on Richard Danielpour/WNYC (streaming audio)
Composers Speak on the Web at Pytheas
~ click on composer picture to listen ~
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