Ellen Taaffe Zwilich (1939- )
Ellen
Taaffe Zwilich emerged in the last two decades of the twentieth century
as one of the most recognized and sought after composers in the
classical music world. Her success reflects the firm foothold of
so-called neo-Romanticism in contemporary orchestral repertoire and a
move among many composers to find an expressive, intuitive musical
language more resonant with universal human emotion than earlier, more
fractious and detached twentieth century trends. Zwilich did not begin
her composing career writing in this vein; her earliest
works featured the angular contours and difficult harmonic
language. Her music took a decidedly more accessible and emotional
turn as the composer approached maturity -- due, in part, to the deep
introspection that followed the death in 1979 of her husband, violinist
Joseph Zwilich. She also deserves credit for opening a number of
doors for female composers. She was the first woman to receive a
doctoral degree in composition from the Juilliard School, the first
woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize in music (for her Symphony No. 1),
and was named the inaugural holder of the Composer's Chair at Carnegie
Hall.- Jeremy Grimshaw, All Music Guide
COMPOSITIONS Zwilich Links ~ ~ ~ Works by Genre
Einsame Nacht Song Cycle, baritone and piano (1971)
Im Nebel, contralto and piano (1972)
Symposium, orchestra (1973)
Sonata in Three Movements, violin and piano (1973-74)
String Quartet 1974 (1974)
Trompeten, soprano and piano (1974)
Clarino Quartet, 4 trumpets or 4 clarinets (1977)
Emlékezet, soprano and piano (1978)
Chamber Symphony (1979)
Passages, soprano and chamber ensemble (1981; orchestral version, 1982) ~ top of page ~
Symphony No. 1 Three Movements, orchestra (1982) [winner of the Pulitzer Prize]
String Trio, violin, viola and cello (1982)
Prologue and Variations, string orchestra (1983)
Divertimento, flute, clarinet, violin and cello (1983)
Fantasy, harpsichord (1983)
Intrada, flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano (1983)
Celebration, orchestra (1984)
Concerto for Trumpet and Five Players (1984)
Double Quartet for Strings (1984)
Symphony No. 2 (Cello Symphony) (1985)
Concerto Grosso, orchestra (1985)
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (1986)
Images, 2 pianos and orchestra (1986)
Tanzspiel, ballet (1987)
Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello (1987)
Praeludium, organ (1987)
Ceremonies, concert band (1988)
Symbolon, orchestra (1988)
Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra (1988)
Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra (1988)
Concerto for Flute and Orchestra (1989)
Concerto for Bass Trombone, Strings, Timpani and Cymbals (1989)
Quintet for Clarinet and String Quartet (1990)
Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra (1990)
Concerto for Violin, Violoncello and Orchestra (1991)
Immigrant Voices, chorus, brass, timpani and strings (1991)
One Nation - Reflections on the "Pledge of Allegiance", chorus and orchestra (1991)
Symphony No. 3 (1992)
Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra (1992)
Concerto for Horn and String Orchestra (1993) ~ top of page ~
Fantasy, orchestra (1993)
Romance, violin and chamber orchestra or piano (1993)
American Concerto, trumpet and orchestra (1994)
A Simple Magnificat, chorus and organ (1994)
Triple Concerto for Piano, Violin, Cello and Orchestra (1995)
Peanuts® Gallery, piano and orchestra (1996)
Snoopy Does the Samba, piano (1996)
Jubilation, orchestra (1996)
Lullaby for Linus, piano (1996)
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (1997)
Upbeat!, orchestra (1998)
String Quartet No. 2 (1998)
Symphony No. 4, "The Gardens", chorus, children’s chorus and orchestra (1999)
Lament, piano (1999)
Millennium Fantasy, piano and orchestra (2000)
Partita, violin and string orchestra (2000)
Lament, cello and piano (2000)
Openings, orchestra (2001; rev. 2003)
Clarinet Concerto, clarinet and large chamber ensemble or orchestra (2002)
Rituals, 5 percussionists and orchestra (2003)
Episodes, violin and piano (2003)
Quartet for Oboe and Strings (2004)
LUVN BLM, chamber ensemble (2006)
Quintet for Alto Saxophone and String Quartet (2007)
Symphony No. 5 (Concerto for Orchestra) (2008)
WORKS BY GENRE Zwilich Links ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater
Tanzspiel, ballet (1987)
Orchestra
Symposium, orchestra (1973)
Chamber Symphony (1979)
Symphony No. 1 Three Movements, orchestra (1982) [winner of the Pulitzer Prize]
Prologue and Variations, string orchestra (1983)
Celebration, orchestra (1984)
Symphony No. 2 (Cello Symphony) (1985)
Concerto Grosso, orchestra (1985)
Symbolon, orchestra (1988)
Symphony No. 3 (1992)
Fantasy, orchestra (1993)
Jubilation, orchestra (1996)
Upbeat!, orchestra (1998)
Openings, orchestra (2001; rev. 2003)
Symphony No. 5 (Concerto for Orchestra) (2008)
Band
Ceremonies, concert band (1988)
Soloist(s) w/Orchestra
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (1986)
Images, 2 pianos and orchestra (1986)
Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra (1988)
Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra (1988)
Concerto for Flute and Orchestra (1989)
Concerto for Bass Trombone, Strings, Timpani and Cymbals (1989)
Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra (1990)
Concerto for Violin, Violoncello and Orchestra (1991)
Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra (1992)
Concerto for Horn and String Orchestra (1993)
Romance, violin and chamber orchestra or piano (1993) ~ top of page ~
American Concerto, trumpet and orchestra (1994)
Triple Concerto for Piano, Violin, Cello and Orchestra (1995)
Peanuts® Gallery, piano and orchestra (1996)
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (1997)
Millennium Fantasy, piano and orchestra (2000)
Partita, violin and string orchestra (2000)
Clarinet Concerto, clarinet and large chamber ensemble or orchestra (2002)
Rituals, 5 percussionists and orchestra (2003)
Chorus w/Orchestra
Immigrant Voices, chorus, brass, timpani and strings (1991)
One Nation - Reflections on the "Pledge of Allegiance", chorus and orchestra (1991)
Symphony No. 4, "The Gardens", chorus, children’s chorus and orchestra (1999)
Choral
A Simple Magnificat, chorus and organ (1994)
Chamber
String Quartet 1974 (1974)
Clarino Quartet, 4 trumpets or 4 clarinets (1977)
String Trio, violin, viola and cello (1982)
Divertimento, flute, clarinet, violin and cello (1983)
Intrada, flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano (1983)
Concerto for Trumpet and Five Players (1984)
Double Quartet for Strings (1984)
Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello (1987)
Quintet for Clarinet and String Quartet (1990)
String Quartet No. 2 (1998)
Episodes, violin and piano (2003) ~ top of page ~
Quartet for Oboe and Strings (2004)
LUVN BLM, chamber ensemble (2006)
Quintet for Alto Saxophone and String Quartet (2007)
Solo Instrument
Sonata in Three Movements, violin and piano (1973-74)
Lament, cello and piano (2000)
Piano/Harpsichord/Organ
Fantasy, harpsichord (1983)
Praeludium, organ (1987)
Snoopy Does the Samba, piano (1996)
Lullaby for Linus, piano (1996)
Lament, piano (1999)
Vocal
Einsame Nacht Song Cycle, baritone and piano (1971)
Im Nebel, contralto and piano (1972)
Trompeten, soprano and piano (1974)
Emlékezet, soprano and piano (1978)
Passages, soprano and chamber ensemble (1981; orchestral version, 1982)
ZWILICH LINKS Works by Genre ~ top of page ~
A Bold, Brash Cello Symphony (Michael Walsh, Time.com)
An Interview with Ellen Taaffe Zwilich
At 70 (no, really), Zwilich Remains as Energetic and Youthful as Her Music (Lawrence Johnson, South Florida Classical Review)
Encounters by George Sturm (Music Associates of America)
Notes On Zwilich's Bassoon Concerto (Dave Wells)
Peanuts® Gallery (@ New Jersey Public Television)
Zwilich @ Wikipedia
Zwilich @ answers.com
Zwilich @ Beauty in Music
Zwilich @ Florida State University
Zwilich @ Music Associates of America
Zwilich @ MusicWeb International
Zwilich @ The New York Times
Zwilich @ G. Schirmer
Zwilich @ Sigma Alpha Iota
Zwilich @ Theodore Presser
Zwilich @ Virginia Tech
Streaming Audio
Zwilich @ last.fm
Recordings
Zwilich @ ArkivMusic
Zwilich @ cduniverse
Zwilich @ ClassicsOnline
Zwilich @ YouTube ~ top of page ~
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