Charles Wuorinen (1938- )
With
over 200 compositions to his credit, Charles Wuorinen is one of the
most prolific contemporary American composers. He studied at Columbia
University, where he worked with Otto Luening, Vladimir Ussachevsky,
and Jack Beeson. A major presence in American music for over four
decades, Wuorinen has taught at numerous schools, including Columbia,
Princeton, the New England Conservatory, the Manhattan School of Music,
Yale, and SUNY Buffalo. He has been on the faculty of Rutgers
University since 1984. He has won numerous awards, such as the Lili
Boulanger Memorial Award, the 1970 Pulitzer Prize (for Time's
Encomium), and a McArthur Fellowship, to name a few. Wuorinen's music
is uniquely serial, and primarily 12-tone in nature. His major
influences are the modernist European school, namely Schoenberg, though
the influence of late Stravinsky and Babbitt are also unmistakable.
Much of his music requires extreme virtuosity on the part of the
performer, such as his Chamber Concertos,
which typically include wide leaps, extreme dynamic contrasts, and a
rapid exchange of pitches. Fractal geometry and the mathematical
theories of Benoit Mandelbrot have influenced works such as Bamboula Squared and the Natural Fantasy
for organ. However, Wuorinen's later music begins to demonstrate tonal
relationships, though to a limited degree, such as pitch-centered
openings and conclusions, octave doublings, and timbral transpositions
of thematic ideas. His music also evolved to include clear rhythmic
relationships -- his earlier works avoided this characteristic -- and
his melodies also became more conjunct in nature. Wuorinen's music
continues to evolve, with later works such as the Rhapsody for Violin and Orchestra and New York Notes
containing further rhythmic clarity, more recognizable melodic
structures and clearer orchestration. Clearly this is not the style of
the same composer as was found in his earlier works. Wuorinen is
also the author of Simple Composition
a useful text for composers who are beginning to use 12-tone
techniques. With his already impressive resume, extremely prolific
output, and evolving but unique style, it is sure that Charles Wuorinen
will be remembered for his numerous contributions to music, serialism
and beyond.- Michael Blostein/AllMusic
COMPOSITIONS Wuorinen Links ~ ~ ~ Works by Genre
[under construction]
WORKS BY GENRE Wuorinen Links ~ top of page ~
[under construction]
Dramatic/Theater
The Politics of Harmony (masque, 1, R. Monaco), A, T, B, 2 fl, 2
tuba, 3 perc, pf, 2 hp, 2 vn, 2, db, 1967; New York, 28 Oct 1968
The W. of Babylon (The Triumph of Love over Moral Depravity)
(Baroque burlesque, 2, R.C. Bruce), 8 solo w , nar, orch, 1975; San
Francisco, 20 Jan 1989
Orchestra
Music for Orch, 1956; Sym. no.3,1959; Evolutio transcripta, chbr
orch, 1961; Orch and Elec Exchanges, orch, tape, 1965; Pf Cone,
no.l, 1966; Contrafactum, 1969; Grand Bamboula, str, 1971;
Cone, amp vn, orch, 1972; Pf Cone, no.2, amp pf, orch, 1974; A
Reliquary for Igor Stravinsky, 1975 [based on I . Stravinsky]; Perc
Sym., 22 perc, 2 pf, 1976; Tashi, cl, vn, vc, pf, orch, 1976;
Ancestors, chbr orch, 1978; 2-Pt Sym., 1978; The Magic Art, inst
masque, chbr orch, 1979 [based on H . Purcell]; Ecclesiastical
Syms., 1981; Short Suite, 1981; Pf Cone no.3,1983; Rhapsody,
vn, orch, 1983; Bamboula Squared, tape, orch, 1984; Concertino,
chbr orch, 1984; Crossfire, 1984; Movers and Shakers, 1984;
•Prelude to Kullervo, tuba, orch, 1985; Fanfare, 1985; The Golden
Dance, 1986; Bamboula Beach, 1987; Five, cone, amp vc, orch,
1987; Galliard, chbr orch, 1987; Another Happy Birthday, 1988;
Machaultmon chou, 1988 [based onMesse de Notre Dame];
Astra, 1990; Delight of the Muses, 1991; Cone, sax qt, orch,
1992; Microsym., 1992; The Mission of Virgil, 1993; "Windfall,
band, 1994; The Great Procession, 1995; The River of Light,
1996; Sym. Seven, 1997
Band
Soloist(s) w/Orchestra
Chorus w/Orchestra
Choral
Be Merry all that be Present (medieval Eng. carol), SATB,
org/4 insts, 1957; The Prayer of Jonah, chorus, str qnt, 1962;
Super salutem, TTBB, 9 brass, perc, pf, 1964; Mannheim 87.87.87
(hymn text), chorus, org, 1973; An Anthem for Epiphany (Bible),
SATB, org, tpt, 1974; The Celestial Sphere (orat, W. Fuller, Bible),
SATB, orch, 1980; Mass, S, SATB, vn, org, 1982; A solis ortu,
SATB, 1989; Genesis (orat, Bible), SATB, orch, 1989; Missa
renovata, SATB, fl, 3 trbn, timp, str, 1992
Chamber
Ens: Prelude and Fugue, 4 perc, 1955; Musica duarum partium
ecclesiastica, brass qnt, timp, pf, org, 1959; Trio concertante, ob,
vn, pf, 1959; Consort, 4 trbn, 1960; 8 Variations, vn, hpd, I960;
Turetzky Pieces, fl, cl, db, 1960; Tiento sobre Cabezon, fl, ob, vn,
va, vc, hpd, pf, 1961; Trio no.l, fl, vc, pf, 1961; Bearbeitungen
iiber das Glogauer Liederbuch, fl/pic, cl/b cl, vn, db, 1962;
Duuiensela, vc, pf, 1962
Invention, 5 perc, pf, 1962; Octet, ob, cl, hn, trbn, pf, vn, vc, db,
1962; Trio no.2, fl, vc, pf, 1962; Chbr Cone, solo vc, fl, ob, cl, bn,
2 perc, pf, vn, va, db, 1963; Chbr Cone, solo fl, 4 perc, hp, gui, pf,
hpd, eel, db, 1964; Composition, solo vn, 2 ob, 2 b cl, 2 hn, 2 trbn,
perc, pf, db, 1964
Chbr Cone, solo ob, tuba, 5 perc, timp, hp, pf, db, 1965;
Composition, ob, pf, 1965; Bicinium, 2 ob, 1966; Salve Regina:
John Bull, chbr ens, 1966; Duo, vn,.pf, 1967; Str Trio, 1968;
Adapting to the Times, vc, pf, 1969; Nature's Concord, tpt, pf,
1969; Chbr Cone, solo tuba, 12 wind, 12 drums, 1970; Ringing
Changes,' 12 perc, 1970
Canzona (to the memory of Igor Stravinsky), 12 insts, 1971; Str Qt
no.l, 1971; Bn Variations, bn, hp, timp, 1972; Hp Variations, hp,
vn, va, vc, 1972; On Alligators, fl, ob, cl, bn, str qt, 1972;
Speculum speculi, fl, ob, b cl, perc, pf, db, 1972; Arabia felix, fl,
bn, pf, elec gui, vib, vn, 1973; Grand Union, vc, drums, 1973; Trio
no.3, fl, vc, pf, 1973
Fantasia, vn, pf, 1974; Hyperion, 12 insts, 1975; Tashi, cl, vn, vc, pf,
orch ad lib, 1975; Album Leaf, vn, vc, 1976; Perc Sym., 24 perc, .
1976; Archangel, b trbn, str qt, 1977; Fast Fantasy, vc, pf, 1977; 6
Pieces, vn, pf, 1977; "Wind Qnt, 1977; The "Winds, 8 wind, pf,
1977; Archeopteryx, b trbn, 10 pfmrs, 1978; Fortune, cl, vn, vc,
pf, 1979; Joan's, fl, cl, vn, vc, pf, 1979; Perc Duo, mallet insts, pf,
1979; Str Qt no.2,1979
Beast 70S, chbr ens, 1980; Trio, hn, vn, pf, 1981; Trio for Bass Insts,
db, b trbn, tuba, 1981; Divertimento, a sax, pf, 1982;
Divertimento, str qt, 1982; NY Notes, fl, cl, TO, VC, perc, pf, 1982;
Pf Trio, 19S3; Spinoff, vn, db, 4 conga drums, 1983; Concertino,
chbr ens, 1984; Double Solo, hn, vn, pf, 1985; Hn Trio Continued,
1985; Trbn Trio, 1985
A Doleful Dompe, eng hn, vn, vc, 1986; Fanfare, 2 tpt, 2 hn, 2 trbn,
1986; Str Qt no.3,1987; Sonata, vn, pf, 1988; Sax Qt, 1992; Perc
Qt, 1994; Pf Qnt, 1994; Sonata, gui, pf, 1995
Solo inst: Concert, db, 1961; Fl Variations 1,1963; Janissary Music,
perc, 1966; Fl Variations, II, 1968; The Long and the Short, vn,
1969; Vc Variations 1, 1970; Vn Variations, 1972; Vc Variations
H, 1975; Gui Variations, 1994; Vc Variations, III, 1997
Instrument and Piano
Solo Instrument
Piano
Evolution, org, 1961; Variations, 1963; The Bells, carillon, 1966,
rev. 1997; Hpd Divisions, 1966; Making Ends Meet, pf 4 hands,
1966; Sonata no.l, 1969; 12 Short Pieces, 1973; Sonata no.2,
1976; Self-Similar Waltz, 1977; The Blue Bamboula, 1980;
Capriccio, 1981; Album Leaf, 1984; Natural Fantasy, org, 1985;
Sonata no.3,1986; Ave Christe: Josquin, 1988; Bagatelle, 1988;
Katz Fugue, 1996; Schoenberg Op.31 Variations, 2 pf, 1996
Vocal
2 Lute Songs, male w , 1954 [after T. Campion]; Te decet
hymnus, Mez, B, pf, org, timp, 1954; Madrigale spirituale sopra
salmo secundo, T, Bar, 2 ob, db ad lib, 2 vn, vc, db, 1960;
Symphonia sacra, T, Bar, B, 2 ob, 2 vn, db, org, 1961; A Message
to Denmark Hill (cant., R. Howard), Bar, fl, vc, pf, 1970; A Song
to the Lutein Musicke (attrib. R. Edwards), S, pf, 1970; 6 Songs
(C. Britton), Ct/A, T, chbr ens, 1977; Ps xxxix, Bar, gui, 1979; 3
Songs (Britton),T, pf, 1979; Twang ("W. Stevens), Mez, pf, 19S9;
•A "Winter's Tale (D. Thomas), S, cl, hn, vn, va, vc, pf, 1991 [arr. S,
pf]; Christes Crosse, S, pf, 1994 [after T. Morley]; Lightenings VHI
(S. Heaney), S, pf, 1994; Fenton Songs (J. Fenton), S, pf trio, 1997
[arr. 2 gui, vn, vc)
Incidental/Film
Electronic/Electroacoustic
Consort from Insts and Voices, 1961; Time's Encomium, 1969
WUORINEN LINKS Works by Genre ~ top of page ~
[under construction]
Composer's website . . . contact Charles Wuorinen: here
Wuorinen @ Wikipedia
Wuorinen @ American Composers Forum
Wuorinen @ Answers.com
Wuorinen @ Art + Culture
Wuorinen @ Art of the States
Wuorinen @ Audiophile Audition (via Google Advanced Search) http://www.google.com/advanced_search
Wuorinen @ Classic Cat
Wuorinen @ Classical Archives
Wuorinen @ Classical Composers Database
Wuorinen @ Classical Net
Wuorinen @ ClassicsToday (via Google Advanced Search) http://www.google.com/advanced_search
Wuorinen @ composition:today/ http://www.compositiontoday.com/composers/a.asp
Wuorinen @ Dr. Estrella's Incredibly Abridged Dictionary of Composers
Wuorinen @ Facebook
Wuorinen @ Grawemeyer Awards
Wuorinen @ IMDb (Internet Movie Database)
Wuorinen @ IMSLP/Petrucci Music Library
Wuorinen @ InstantEncore
Wuorinen @ IRCAM / http://brahms.ircam.fr/composers/alphabetical-order/r/
Wuorinen @ Karadar Classical Music/ find via / http://www.google.com/advanced_search
Wuorinen @ Klassika/ http://www.klassika.info / http://www.google.com/advanced_search
Wuorinen @ LinkedIn
Wuorinen @ Music Academy Online
Wuorinen @ MusicWeb International
Wuorinen @ musicianguide.com
Wuorinen @ MySpaceMusic
Wuorinen @ Naxos
Wuorinen @ New Music USA [formerly American Music Center] http://library.newmusicusa.org/?amc=true
Wuorinen @ The New York Times
Wuorinen @ NNDB
Wuorinen @ W.W. Norton
Wuorinen @ Piano Society [Bowles; William Duckworth; Heino Eller; Mompou; Respighi; Turina]
Wuorinen @ The Pulitzer Prizes / http://www.pulitzer.org/bycat/Music
Wuorinen @ REC Music Foundation /The Lied and Art Song Texts Page
Wuorinen @ US Opera/ http://www.usopera.com/composers/
http://www.musicsage.org
Publisher
Wuorinen @ Composer's website/publisher listings
Wuorinen @ Edition Peters
Streaming Audio
Wuorinen @ Composer's website - check under individual work listings
Wuorinen @ Classical Archives
Wuorinen @ last.fm
Wuorinen @ MySpaceMusic
Wuorinen @ NPRmusic
Wuorinen @ PRX (Public Radio Exchange)/ http://www.prx.org/
Wuorinen @ Rhapsody.com
Wuorinen @ SoundCloud
Recordings
Wuorinen @ Composer's website
Wuorinen @ Amazon.com
Wuorinen @ ArkivMusic
Wuorinen @ CD Universe
Wuorinen @ ClassicsOnline
Wuorinen @ Discogs
Wuorinen @ itunes https://itunes.apple.com
Wuorinen @ Naxos
Video
Wuorinen @ YouTube
Wuorinen @ Google Video
Wuorinen @ Vimeo (via Google Advanced Search) http://www.google.com/advanced_search
Composer on Composer: On Composing (streaming audio)
Composers
Speak on the Web at Pytheas~ click on composer picture to listen ~
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