Joan Toweraus modern

Joan Tower (* 6 September 1938 in New Rochelle, New York) is a Grammy-winning contemporary American composer, concert pianist and conductor.

Life

Born in New Rochelle, New York, in 1938, Tower moved to Bolivia when she was nine years old, an experience which she credits for making rhythm an integral part of her work. For the next decade Tower’s talent in music, particularly on the piano, grew rapidly due to her father’s insistence that she benefit from consistent musical training. Tower’s relationship with her mineralogist father is visible in many aspects of her work, most specifically her “mineral works” including Black Topaz (1976) and Silver Ladders (1986). She returned to the United States as a young woman to study music, first at Bennington College, in Vermont, and then at Columbia University where she studied under Otto Luening, Jack Beeson, and Vladimir Ussachevsky and was awarded her doctorate in composition in 1968.

In 1969 Tower, along with violinist Joel Lester and flautist Patricia Spencer, founded the New York-based Da Capo Chamber Players where she served as the group’s pianist. Throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s Tower wrote a number of successful works for the Da Capo Players, including Platinum Spirals (1976), Amazon I (1977) and Wings (1981). Though the group won several awards in its early years, including the Naumburg Award in 1973, Tower left the group in 1984, buoyed by the immediate success of her first orchestral composition, Sequoia (1981). In 1972 Tower accepted a faculty position at Bard College in composition, a post she continues to hold today. Tower received a Guggenheim fellowship in 1976.

In 1985, a year after leaving the Da Capo Players, Tower accepted a position at the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra where she was a composer-in-residence until 1988.

Tower became the first woman recipient of the Grawemeyer Award for Music in 1990 for her composition Silver Ladders. In 1993, under commission from the Milwaukee Ballet, Tower composed Stepping Stones, a selection from which she would go on to conduct at the White House. Other compositions from the 1990s include the third Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman, several piano concertos (notably 1996’s Rapids (Piano Concerto no. 2) and Tambor (1998) written for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. In 1999 Tower accepted a position as composer-in-residence with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s and in 1998 she won the Delaware Symphony’s prestigious Alfred I. DuPont Award for Distinguished American Composer.

In 2002 Tower won the Annual Composer’s Award from the Lancaster (Pennsylvania) Symphony. During the 2003–2004 season two new works were debuted, DNA a percussion quintet commissioned for Frank Epstein, and Incandescent. In 2004 the Nashville Symphony’s recording of Tambor, Made in America, and her Concerto for Orchestra earned a Grammy nomination. In 2004 Carnegie Hall’s “Making Music” series featured a retrospective of Tower’s body of work, performed by artists including the Tokyo String Quartet and pianists Melvin Chen and Ursula Oppens. In 2005 Tower became the first composer commissioned for the “Ford Made in America” program, the only project of its kind to involve smaller-budget orchestras as commissioning agents of new work by major composers, in which her 15-minute Made in America was performed in every state of the union during the 2005–2007 season. In 2008, Tower’s Made in America and the recording of it by the Nashville Symphony conducted by Leonard Slatkin won three Grammy Awards: in the categories Best Orchestral Performance, Best Classical Album and Best Classical Contemporary Composition.

She is currently the Asher B. Edelman Professor of Music at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and serves on the Artistic Advisory panel of the BMI Foundation.
Source Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Tower

List of opera

Ballett

Stepping Stones

Chorwerk

Can I für SSAA und PercussionWorld premiere 27. April 2008 at Miller Theater, New York, NY

Thank You für ChorWorld premiere 09. September 2018 at DiMenna Center, New York, NY
Descending für ChorWorld premiere 03. März 2013 at Merkin Concert Hall, New York, NY
Descent für ChorWorld premiere 17. Februar 2012 at 92nd St. Y New York City

Duett

Très lent (Hommage à Messiaen) für Cello und KlavierWorld premiere 1994 at Merkin Concert Hall
Catching a Wave für Cello und KlavierWorld premiere 10. Mai 2012 at John Jay College, New York, NY
Wild Run für Cello und KlavierWorld premiere 14. Juni 2018 at Bloomfield Hills, MI
Snow Dreams für Flöte und Gitarre
A Little Gift für Flöte und KlarinetteWorld premiere 10. Juli 2006 at Chamber Music Northwest Portland, OR
Fantasy... Harbour Lights für Klarinette und Klavier
Wingspan für Klarinette und Klavier
Toccanta für Oboe und CembaloWorld premiere 1997 at IDRS convention in Chicago

Konzert

FlötenkonzertWorld premiere 28. Januar 1990 at Carnegie Hall

KlarinettenkonzertWorld premiere 1988 at US

Klavierkonzert (Homage to Beethoven)World premiere 31. Januar 1986 at US
Rapids Klavierkonzert Nr. 2

Strike Zones Konzert für Percussion und Orchester World premiere Oktober 2001 at Kennedy Center, Washington D.C

Purple Rhapsody Konzert für Viola und KammerorchesterWorld premiere 04. November 2005 at Omaha

ViolinenkonzertWorld premiere 24. April 1992 at Salt Lake City, Utah

Klarinettenkonzert (Version für Klarinette & Klavier)
Concerto for Orchestra

Lied

Up High solo Stimme und Klavier

Boyz II Men für Solo, Klavier und Gitarre

Orchesterstück

Fascinating Ribbons für BlasorchesterOrchesterstück für Bläser

Music for Cello and Orchestra
A New Day für cello und OrchesterWorld premiere 25. Juli 2021 at The Colorado Chautauqua, Boulder, CO

Red Maple für Fagott und StreichorchesterWorld premiere 04. Oktober 2013 at South Carolina

Rising für Flöte und StreichorchesterWorld premiere 17. September 2017 at Lubbock, Texas

Still für Klavier und OrchesterWorld premiere 01. März 2014 at Albany, NY

Island Prelude für Oboe und StreichorchesterWorld premiere 04. Mai 1989 at Saint Louis

In Memory für StreichorchesterOrchesterstück für Streicher

Sequoia für OrchesterWorld premiere 18. Mai 1981 at in Alice Tully Hall (New York)
Island Rhythms für OrchesterWorld premiere 29. Juni 1985 at Florida Orchestra
Silver LaddersWorld premiere 09. Januar 1987 at St. Louis
Fanfares for the Uncommon Woman I-VI für Orchester und Blasorchester
Duets für Kammerorchester
Paganini Trills für OrchesterWorld premiere 19. Mai 1996 at Powell Symphony Hall, Saint Louis
Tambor für OrchesterWorld premiere 07. Mai 1998 at Pittsburgh
The Last Dance für OrchesterWorld premiere 24. Februar 2000 at Carnegie Hall, New York City
Made in America für KammerorchesterWorld premiere Oktober 2005 at Glens Falls, New York
Chamber Dance für KammerorchesterWorld premiere 06. Mai 2006 at Carnegie Hall, New York
Stroke für OrchesterWorld premiere 13. Mai 2011 at Heinz Hall, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman für 11 Bläser und 3 PercussionsWorld premiere 10. Januar 1987 at Houston, Texas
Second Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman für 11 Bläser und 3 Percussions
Third Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman für 10 Bläser
Celebration Fanfare für 11 Bläser und 3 Percussions
1920/2019 für Streicher, 3 Percussion und KlavierWorld premiere 03. Dezember 2021 at Alice Tully Hall, New York, NY
Sixth Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman für OrchesterWorld premiere 07. Mai 2016 at Baltimore, Maryland

Quartett

White Granite für KlavierquartettWorld premiere 11. Juli 2010 at Georgetown Lake, Montana

Small Plus für 4 PercussionWorld premiere 09. September 2018 at DiMenna Center, New York, NY

Night Fields Streichquartett Nr. 1
In Memory Streichquartett Nr. 2
Incandescent Streichquartett Nr. 3World premiere 26. April 2003 at Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY
Angels für StreichquartettWorld premiere 31. August 2008 at Angel Fire, NM
White Water Streichquartett Nr. 5World premiere 14. April 2012 at Chamber Music Monterey Bay Carmel, CA

Fifth Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman für 4 Trompeten

Quintett

Copperwave für BläserquintettWorld premiere 04. Mai 2006 at The Juilliard School New York, NY

Dumbarton Quintet für KlavierquintettWorld premiere 12. April 2008 at Dumbarton Oaks, Washington, DC

Island Prelude für Oboe und Streicher- oder Bläserquartett

DNA für Percussion QuintettWorld premiere 13. April 2003 at Jordon Hall, at the New England Conservatory

Purple Rain für 2 Violine, 2 Viola und CelloWorld premiere 13. Februar 2022 at Boston, MA
A Gift für Flöte, Klarinette, Fagott, Horn und KlavierWorld premiere 12. Februar 2008 at Society for Ethical Culture, New York, NY
Amazon I. für Flöte, Klarinette, Violine, Cello und Klavier
Petroushskates für Flöte, Klarinette, Violine, Cello und Klavier
Looking Back für Flöte, Klarinette, Violine, Cello und KlavierWorld premiere 09. September 2018 at DiMenna Center, New York, NY
Rising für Flöte und StreichquartettWorld premiere 31. März 2010 at The Juilliard School, New York, NY
Turning Points für Klarinette und Strichquartett
Elegy für Posaune und Streichquartett

Sextett

Black Topaz für Flöte, Klarinette, Trompete, Posaune, Klavier und 2 Percusssion
Breakfast Rhythms I. and II. für Klarinette, Flöte, Percussion, Violine, Cello und Klavier
Noon Dance für Flöte, Klarinette, Violine, Cello, Percussion und Klavier

Stück

Valentine Trills für FlöteWorld premiere 14. Februar 1998 at Merkin Hall in NYC
For Marianne für FlöteWorld premiere 27. Februar 2010 at Brooklyn Museum, New York, NY
Hexachords für Flöte

Clocks für Gitarre

Wings für Klarinette oder AltsaxophonWorld premiere 14. Dezember 1981 at Merkin Hall (New York City)

Circles für Klavier
Fantasia für Klavier
Red Garnet Waltz für Klavier
Or like a...an engine für Klavier
Holding a Daisy für Klavier
Vast Antique Cubes/Throbbing Still für KlavierWorld premiere 16. September 2000 at The Ann and Richard Barshinger Center for Musical Arts in Hensel Hall at Franklin & Marshall College
Ivory and Ebony für KlavierWorld premiere 11. Oktober 2009 at San Antonio International Piano Competition
Steps für KlavierWorld premiere 10. Februar 2012 at Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY
No Longer Very Clear für Klavier
Stepping Stones für Klavier

Ascent für Orgel
Power Dance für OrgelWorld premiere 20. Juni 2016 at American Guild of Organists Convention, Houston Texas

Small für PercussionWorld premiere 13. Februar 2018 at Jordan Hall at New England Conservatory, Boston, MA

Second Flight für AltsaxophonWorld premiere 30. September 2018 at New England Conservatory, Boston, MA

Wild Purple für ViolaWorld premiere September 1998 at Merkin Concert Hall
Simply Purple für ViolaWorld premiere 27. April 2008 at Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center New York, NY
Purple Rush für ViolaWorld premiere 24. April 2016 at Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, New York, NY

Platinum Spirals für Violine
String Force für Violine
Second String Force für ViolineWorld premiere 16. März 2015 at Merkin Concerrt Hall, New York, NY

Trio

And...they\'re off für Klaviertrio
Big Sky für KlaviertrioWorld premiere 2000 at University of California, San Diego
For Daniel für Klaviertrio
Trio Cavany für KlaviertrioWorld premiere 18. August 2007 at La Jolla, CA

Rain Waves für Violine, Klarinette und Klavier

Discography

$Refractions: Old & New Music for Low Brass$

Sheet music

Score for chamber music

Valentinesfor Flöteflute, Klavierpiano

for Flöteflute, Klavierpiano

Clocks (1985)for Gitarreguitar

Clocks

for Gitarreguitar

Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No. 5for Trompetetrumpet
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

Fanfare For The Uncommon Woman

for Trompetetrumpet
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

Tres Lent For Cello And Pianofor Cellocello, Klavierpiano

Tres Lent (Hommage A Messiaen)

for Cellocello, Klavierpiano

Angels: String Quartet No. 4for Cellocello, Streicherstrings, Violaviola, Violineviolin
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

for Cellocello, Streicherstrings, Violaviola, Violineviolin
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

Fantasy for Clarinet and Pianofor Klarinetteclarinet, Klavierpiano

Fantasy For Clarinet And Piano

for Klarinetteclarinet, Klavierpiano

Copperwavefor Bläserwind section
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

for Bläserwind section
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

Fascinating Ribbonsfor Bläserwind section
Edition: Orchesterpartiturorchestral score, Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

Fascinating Ribbons

for Bläserwind section
Edition: Orchesterpartiturorchestral score, Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

Incandescentfor Cellocello, Streicherstrings, Violaviola, Violineviolin
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

for Cellocello, Streicherstrings, Violaviola, Violineviolin
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

Risingfor Flöteflute, Streicherstrings
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts

for Flöteflute, Streicherstrings
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts

White Waterfor Cellocello, Streicherstrings, Violaviola, Violineviolin
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

for Cellocello, Streicherstrings, Violaviola, Violineviolin
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

Boyz II Men für Solo, Klavier und Gitarrefor Gitarreguitar, Klavierpiano

for Gitarreguitar, Klavierpiano

Amazonfor Cellocello, Flöteflute, Klarinetteclarinet, Klavierpiano, Violineviolin
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

Same Title As Publication

for Cellocello, Flöteflute, Klarinetteclarinet, Klavierpiano, Violineviolin
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

Second String Forcefor Violineviolin

for Violineviolin

Dumbarton Quintetfor Klavierpiano
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

for Klavierpiano
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

Island Prelude für Oboe und Bläserquartettfor Bläserwind section, Fagottbassoon, Flöteflute, Hornfrench horn, Klarinetteclarinet, Oboeoboe
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

Island Prelude

for Bläserwind section, Fagottbassoon, Flöteflute, Hornfrench horn, Klarinetteclarinet, Oboeoboe
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

Island Prelude für Oboe und Streichquartettfor Oboeoboe, Streicherstrings
Edition: Orchesterpartiturorchestral score, Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

for Oboeoboe, Streicherstrings
Edition: Orchesterpartiturorchestral score, Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

DNA For Percussion Quintetfor Percussionpercussion
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

for Percussionpercussion
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

In Memoryfor Cellocello, Streicherstrings, Violaviola, Violineviolin
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

In Memory

for Cellocello, Streicherstrings, Violaviola, Violineviolin
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

Tower Noon Dance Stscfor Cellocello, Flöteflute, Klarinetteclarinet, Klavierpiano, Percussionpercussion, Violineviolin

Noon Dance

for Cellocello, Flöteflute, Klarinetteclarinet, Klavierpiano, Percussionpercussion, Violineviolin

Night Fieldsfor Cellocello, Streicherstrings, Violaviola, Violineviolin

Night Fields

for Cellocello, Streicherstrings, Violaviola, Violineviolin

Black Topazfor Bläserwind section, Flöteflute, Klarinetteclarinet, Klavierpiano, Percussionpercussion, Posaunetrombone, Trompetetrumpet
Edition: Orchesterpartiturorchestral score, Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

for Bläserwind section, Flöteflute, Klarinetteclarinet, Klavierpiano, Percussionpercussion, Posaunetrombone, Trompetetrumpet
Edition: Orchesterpartiturorchestral score, Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

Noon Dancefor Cellocello, Flöteflute, Klarinetteclarinet, Klavierpiano, Percussionpercussion, Violineviolin
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

Noon Dance

for Cellocello, Flöteflute, Klarinetteclarinet, Klavierpiano, Percussionpercussion, Violineviolin
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

Music For Cello & Orchestra Klavierauszugfor Cellocello, Klavierpiano

for Cellocello, Klavierpiano

Snow Dreamsfor Flöteflute, Gitarreguitar

Snow Dreams

for Flöteflute, Gitarreguitar

Turning Pointsfor Klarinetteclarinet, Streicherstrings
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

for Klarinetteclarinet, Streicherstrings
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

Purple Rhapsody für Viola und Klavierfor Klavierpiano, Violaviola
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts

Purple Rhapsody

for Klavierpiano, Violaviola
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts

Wings für Altsaxophonfor Saxophonsaxophone

Wings

for Saxophonsaxophone

Big Skyfor Klavierpiano
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

for Klavierpiano
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

For Danielfor Klavierpiano
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

for Klavierpiano
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

Rain Wavesfor Klarinetteclarinet, Klavierpiano, Violineviolin
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

for Klarinetteclarinet, Klavierpiano, Violineviolin
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

Wild Purple For Solo Violafor Violaviola

Wild Purple

for Violaviola

Ascentfor Orgelorgel

for Orgelorgel

Stepping Stones - A Balletfor Klavierpiano

Same Title As Publication

for Klavierpiano

Amazonfor Cellocello, Flöteflute, Klarinetteclarinet, Klavierpiano, Violineviolin
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts

for Cellocello, Flöteflute, Klarinetteclarinet, Klavierpiano, Violineviolin
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts

Breakfast Rhythms I And IIfor Cellocello, Flöteflute, Klarinetteclarinet, Klavierpiano, Percussionpercussion, Violineviolin

for Cellocello, Flöteflute, Klarinetteclarinet, Klavierpiano, Percussionpercussion, Violineviolin

Petroushskatesfor Cellocello, Flöteflute, Klarinetteclarinet, Klavierpiano, Violineviolin
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

Petroushskates

for Cellocello, Flöteflute, Klarinetteclarinet, Klavierpiano, Violineviolin
Edition: Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

No Longer Very Clearfor Klavierpiano

Holding A Daisy
‘Or Like A…An Engine’
Throbbing Still
Vast Antique Cubes

for Klavierpiano

Wings für Klarinettefor Klarinetteclarinet

Wings

for Klarinetteclarinet

String Forcefor Violineviolin

for Violineviolin

Platinum Spiralsfor Violineviolin

Platinum Spirals

for Violineviolin

Score for orchestra

Violin Concerto Piano Reductionfor Klavierpiano, Violineviolin
Edition: Orchesterpartiturorchestral score

Same Title As Publication

for Klavierpiano, Violineviolin
Edition: Orchesterpartiturorchestral score

Piano Concerto Klavierauszugfor Klavierpiano

for Klavierpiano

Sequoia
Edition: Orchesterpartiturorchestral score

Sequoia

Edition: Orchesterpartiturorchestral score

Flute Concerto für Flöte und Klavierfor Flöteflute, Klavierpiano
Edition: Orchesterpartiturorchestral score

Flute Concerto

for Flöteflute, Klavierpiano
Edition: Orchesterpartiturorchestral score

Silver Ladders
Edition: Orchesterpartiturorchestral score

Edition: Orchesterpartiturorchestral score

Ivory And Ebony - Piano Solo

Clarinet Concerto für Klarinette und Klavierfor Klarinetteclarinet, Klavierpiano
Edition: Orchesterpartiturorchestral score, Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

Clarinet Concerto

for Klarinetteclarinet, Klavierpiano
Edition: Orchesterpartiturorchestral score, Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

Fanfaresfor Bläserwind section, Percussionpercussion
Edition: Orchesterpartiturorchestral score

for Bläserwind section, Percussionpercussion
Edition: Orchesterpartiturorchestral score

Celebration Fanfarefor Bläserwind section
Edition: Orchesterpartiturorchestral score, Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts

Same Title As Publication

for Bläserwind section
Edition: Orchesterpartiturorchestral score, Stimmenorchestral parts, Einzelstimmensingle orchestral parts