Peter Lieberson (1946-2011)
Peter
Lieberson was born in New York City, the son of the late Goddard
Lieberson, former president of Columbia Records, and the ballerina Vera
Zorina. Lieberson's principal teachers in composition were Milton
Babbitt, Charles Wuorinen, Donald Martino, and Martin Boykan. After
completing musical studies at Columbia University, he left New York
City in 1976 for Boulder, Colorado to continue his studies with Chogyam
Trungpa, a Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhist master he met in 1974. Lieberson
then moved to Boston to direct Shambhala Training, a meditation and
cultural program. During this period he also attended Brandeis
University and received his Ph.D. From 1984 to 1988 he taught at
Harvard University, then became international director of Shambhala
Training in Halifax. Since 1994 he has devoted his time exclusively to
composition. Lieberson came to prominence in the mid-1980s with
the Piano Concerto (1980) and Drala (1986),
two major commissions from the Boston Symphony, with whom he still
enjoys a fruitful collaboration. Of profound influence on his music has
been his practice of Tibetan Buddhism. Since 1980 many of his works
have been inspired by Buddhist themes such as King Gesar (1991) and the opera Ashoka’s Dream (1997),
both from a series of works based on the lives of enlightened rulers.
Buddist concepts inform
and inspire his music, which is prized for its energy and color. "If
you investigate what [a piece of music] is made of, you find nothing
more than bits of sound that have no inherent meaning whatsoever.
Somehow, notes have been endowed with such passion that they magnetize
further notes until, magically, a world is born that makes us cry and
laugh." Lyricism and vocal writing dominate his works of the last
decade, reflecting the rich collaborations with Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
for whom he composed Neruda Songs
(winner of the 2008 Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition). In
addition to his associations with major orchestras such as Boston, New
York, Cleveland, Chicago and Los Angeles, Lieberson enjoys
long-standing artistic collaborations with Peter Serkin, Yo-Yo Ma,
Emanuel Ax and Oliver Knussen. Recent commissions include Remembering JFK: An American Elegy (2010) for the National Symphony Orchestra, The World in Flower (2007) for the New York Philharmonic; Remembering Schumann (2009) for Yo-Yo Ma and Emanuel Ax; The Coming of Light (2009), a new song cycle for baritone, oboe, and string quartet; the orchestral Suite from Ashoka's Dream; and Songs of Love and Sorrow (2010) for Gerald Finley and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Among Lieberson's many awards are those from the National Institute of
Arts and Letters and a Brandeis Creative Arts Award. In 2006, he was
inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. - G. Schirmer
COMPOSITIONS Lieberson Links ~ ~ ~ Works by Genre
Flute Variations, flute (1971)
Concerto for Four Groups of Instruments, chamber ensemble (1972) [I: fl, ob, cl; II: 2vn, va; III: bn, vc, db; IV: hp, pf]
Concerto for Violoncello with Accompanying Trios (1974)
Accordance for 8 Instruments, chamber ensemble (1975) [afl.bcl.ob/vib[=glock]/hp.pf/va.db]
Piano Fantasy, piano (1975)
Tashi Quartet, clarinet, violin, cello and piano (1978)
Concerto for Piano (1980)
Charlie Chaplin: The Little Tramp, TV documentary film score (1980)
Three Songs, soprano and chamber ensemble (1981) [text: Douglas Penick]
Lalita, Chamber Variations, chamber ensemble (1984) [fl(pic), ob, cl(bcl), hn, perc, pf, vn, va, vc, db]
Feast Day, flute/pic/afl, oboe, cello and harpsichord (or piano) (1985)
Bagatelles, piano (1985)
Concerto at Work, TV documentary film score (1985)
Drala (4 mvts), orchestra (1986)
Ziji, clarinet, horn, violin, viola, cello and piano (1987)
The Gesar Legend, orchestra (1988)
Raising the Gaze, chamber ensemble (1988) [fl(pic), cl(bcl), perc, pf, vn, va, vc]
Fantasy Pieces (3 pieces), piano (1989)
- Breeze of Delight, piano (1989) [from "Fantasy Pieces"]
- Dragon's Thunder, piano (1989) [from "Fantasy Pieces"]
- Memory’s Luminous Wind, piano (1989) [from "Fantasy Pieces"]
Scherzo No. 1, piano (1989)
Wind Messengers, chamber ensemble (1990) [3.2.2+2bcl.2/2000]
Elegy, violin and piano (1990)
World’s Turning, orchestra (1991)
King Gesar, narrator and chamber ensemble (1991)
A Little Fanfare, flute, trumpet, violin and harp (1991)
Viola Concerto (1992)
A Little Fanfare (II), clarinet, violin, viola, cello and piano (1993)
Variations, violin and piano (1993)
Rhapsody for Viola and Orchestra (1994)
Rumble, viola, double bass and percussion (1994)
String Quartet (1994)
Garland, piano (1994)
The Five Great Elements, orchestra (1995)
- [No. 1] Fire
Processional, orchestra (1995)
Piano Variations, piano (1995)
Three Variations for Violoncello and Piano (1996)
Ashoka's Dream, opera (1997)
The Ocean that has No West and No East, piano (1997)
Warrior Songs: King Gesar, TV special documentary film score (1997)
Horn Concerto (1998)
Free and Easy Wanderer, chamber ensemble (1998) [0+pic.1.2(bcl).1/1110/perc/pf/2vn.va.vc.db]
Tolling Piece, piano (1998)
Red Garuda, piano and orchestra (1999)
The Six Realms, cello and orchestra (2000)
Piano Quintet, string quartet and piano (2001)
C’mon Pigs of Western Civilization Eat More Grease, baritone and piano (2001)
Forgiveness, baritone and cello (2001)
Rilke Songs (5 songs), mezzo-soprano and piano (2001) [text: Rainer Maria Rilke]
Ah, orchestra (2002)
Piano Concerto No. 3 (2003)
Neruda Songs (5 songs), mezzo-soprano and orchestra (2005) [text: Pablo Neruda]
The World in Flower, mezzo-soprano, baritone, chorus and orchestra (2007)
Suite from "Ashoka's Dream", orchestra (2008)
Remembering Schumann, cello and piano (2009)
The Coming of Light, song cycle (6 songs), baritone, oboe solo and string quartet (2009)
Remembering JFK (An American Elegy), narrator and orchestra (2010)
Songs of Love and Sorrow (5 songs), baritone and orchestra (2010) [text: Pablo Neruda]
WORKS BY GENRE Lieberson Links ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater
Ashoka's Dream, opera (1997)
Orchestra
Drala, orchestra (1986)
- Invocation
- Gathering
- Offerings and Praises
- Raising Windhorse
The Gesar Legend, orchestra (1988)
World’s Turning, orchestra (1991)
The Five Great Elements, orchestra (1995)
- [No. 1] Fire
Processional, orchestra (1995)
Ah, orchestra (2002)
Suite from "Ashoka's Dream", orchestra (2008)
Remembering JFK (An American Elegy), narrator and orchestra (2010)
Soloist(s) w/Orchestra
Concerto for Four Groups of Instruments (1972)
Concerto for Violoncello with Accompanying Trios (1974)
Concerto for Piano (1980)
Viola Concerto (1992)
Rhapsody for Viola and Orchestra (1994)
Horn Concerto (1998)
Red Garuda, piano and orchestra (1999)
The Six Realms, cello and orchestra (2000)
- The Sorrow of the World
- The Hell Realm
- The Hungry Ghost Realm
- The Animal Realm
- The Human Realm
- The God Realm and the Jealous God Realm
Piano Concerto No. 3 (2003)
Chorus w/Orchestra
The World in Flower, mezzo-soprano, baritone, chorus and orchestra (2007)
Chamber/Large Ensemble
Concerto for Four Groups of Instruments, chamber ensemble (1972) [I: fl, ob, cl; II: 2vn, va; III: bn, vc, db; IV: hp, pf]
Accordance for 8 Instruments, chamber ensemble (1975) [afl.bcl.ob/vib[=glock]/hp.pf/va.db]
Lalita, Chamber Variations, chamber ensemble (1984) [fl(pic), ob, cl(bcl), hn, perc, pf, vn, va, vc, db]
Raising the Gaze, chamber ensemble (1988) [fl(pic), cl(bcl), perc, pf, vn, va, vc]
Wind Messengers, chamber ensemble (1990) [3.2.2+2bcl.2/2000]
King Gesar, narrator and chamber ensemble (1991)
Free and Easy Wanderer, chamber ensemble (1998) [0+pic.1.2(bcl).1/1110/perc/pf/2vn.va.vc.db]
Chamber/Small Ensemble
Tashi Quartet, clarinet, violin, cello and piano (1978)
Feast Day, flute/pic/afl, oboe, cello and harpsichord (or piano) (1985)
Ziji, clarinet, horn, violin, viola, cello and piano (1987)
A Little Fanfare, flute, trumpet, violin and harp (1991)
A Little Fanfare (II), clarinet, violin, viola, cello and piano (1993)
Rumble, viola, double bass and percussion (1994)
String Quartet (1994)
Three Variations for Violoncello and Piano (1996)
Piano Quintet, string quartet and piano (2001)
Solo Instrument
Flute Variations, flute (1971)
Elegy, violin and piano (1990)
Variations, violin and piano (1993)
Remembering Schumann, cello and piano (2009)
Piano
Piano Fantasy, piano (1975)
Bagatelles, piano (1985)
Fantasy Pieces (3 pieces), piano (1989)
- Breeze of Delight, piano (1989) [from "Fantasy Pieces"]
- Dragon's Thunder, piano (1989) [from "Fantasy Pieces"]
- Memory’s Luminous Wind, piano (1989) [from "Fantasy Pieces"]
Scherzo No. 1, piano (1989)
Garland, piano (1994)
Piano Variations, piano (1995)
The Ocean that has No West and No East, piano (1997)
Tolling Piece, piano (1998)
Vocal
Three Songs, soprano and chamber ensemble (1981) [text: Douglas Penick]
- Listen and Hear
- The Palm and its lines ...
- The reed is broken ...
C’mon Pigs of Western Civilization Eat More Grease, baritone and piano (2001)
Forgiveness, baritone and cello (2001)
Rilke Songs (5 songs), mezzo-soprano and piano (2001) [text: Rainer Maria Rilke]
- O ihr Zärtlichen
- Atmen, du unsichtbares Gedicht
- Wolle, die Wandlung
- Blumenmuskel, der der Anemone
- Stiller Freund
Neruda Songs (5 songs), mezzo-soprano and orchestra (2005) [text: Pablo Neruda]
- Sonnet VIII
- Sonnet XXIV
- Sonnet XLV
- Sonnet LXXXI
- Sonnet XCI
The Coming of Light, song cycle (6 songs), baritone, oboe solo and string quartet (2009)
- Rain Moving In [text: John Ashbery]
- Forgiveness [text: John Ashbery]
- When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes [text: Shakespeare]
- O, never say that I was false of heart [text: Shakespeare]
- The Coming of Light [text: Mark Strand]
- Poem After the Last Seven Words [text: Mark Strand
Songs of Love and Sorrow (5 songs), baritone and orchestra (2010) [text: Pablo Neruda]
- Sonnet XLVI
- Sonnet XII
- Sonnet LII
- Sonnet LXIX
- Sonnet LXXXII
Film
Charlie Chaplin: The Little Tramp, TV documentary film score (1980)
Concerto at Work, TV documentary film score (1985)
Warrior Songs: King Gesar, TV special documentary film score (1997)
LIEBERSON LINKS Works by Genre ~ top of page ~
After Loss, New Love and Creativity Found (David Weininger, Boston.com)
Ashoka's Dreamer (Justin Davidson, Opera News)
At BSO, Lieberson Returns to Neruda’s Well (Jeremy Eichler, The Boston Globe)
Concept Becomes Experience: A Composer's Journey (Peter Lieberson, Shambhala Sun)
A Conversation with Peter Lieberson: On "Neruda Songs," on Love and Renewal (Pierre Ruhe, ArtsCriticATL.com)
Heartbreak of a Lover's Last Songs (Peter Culshaw, The Telegraph)
Lieberson at 60 (Alex Ross, The Rest Is Noise)
Lieberson's "Songs Of Love And Sorrow" And New Life (Andrea Shea, National Public Radio)
Lost Love (Justin Davidson, New York Magazine)
Love's Laments Lost (Norman Lebrecht, La Scena Musicale)
Peter Lieberson (Classical-Music.com)
Peter Lieberson's Neruda Songs Wins 2008 Grawemeyer (NewMusicBox)
Peter Lieberson Wins 2008 Grawemeyer Award for Neruda Songs (Matthew Westphal, PlaybillArts)
Technique and Evolution in Peter Lieberson’s Three Songs and Rilke Songs (John C. Levey)
Three Questions Before the First Night (Carson Cooman, Music & Vision)
Obituary
Composer Peter Lieberson Dies at 64 (Jeremy Eichler, The Boston Globe)
Peter Lieberson, Composer Inspired by Buddhism, Dies at 64 (Zachary Woolfe, The New York Times)
Composer's website (at G. Schirmer) . . . contact Peter Lieberson: here
Lieberson @ Wikipedia
Lieberson @ American Music Center
Lieberson @ Answers.com
Lieberson @ Antares
Lieberson @ Classical Archives
Lieberson @ Classical Composers Database
Lieberson @ Classical Net (via google)
Lieberson @ ClassicsToday
Lieberson @ Grawemeyer Awards
Lieberson @ IMDb (Internet Movie Database)
Lieberson @ InstantEncore
Lieberson @ The Kennedy Center
Lieberson @ Los Angeles Philharmonic also here
Lieberson @ Lotus Garden
Lieberson @ Miller Theatre
Lieberson @ MusicWeb International
Lieberson @ New World Records
Lieberson @ The New York Times
Lieberson @ Nonesuch Records
Lieberson @ NPRmusic
Lieberson @ REC Music Foundation /The Lied and Art Song Texts Page
Lieberson @ G. Schirmer
Lieberson @ Ten Out of 10
Lieberson @ Tibet Info
Lieberson @ US Opera
Publisher
Lieberson @ Associated Music Publishers/G. Schirmer
Streaming Audio
Lieberson @ The Chronicles of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche
Lieberson @ Classical Archives
Lieberson @ last.fm
Lieberson @ Minnesota Public Radio
Lieberson @ NPRmusic
Lieberson @ Rhapsody.com also here
Lieberson @ Times Quotidian
Recordings
Lieberson @ ArkivMusic
Lieberson @ ClassicsOnline
Lieberson @ New World Records
Video
Lieberson @ YouTube
Lieberson @ Google Video
Lieberson @ Vimeo
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