John Harbison
John Harris Harbison (born December 20, 1938) is an American composer, known for his symphonies, operas, and large choral works.
Contents
1 Life
2 Discography (Incomplete)
3 Works
3.1 Opera
3.2 Ballet
3.3 Orchestral
3.4 Choral
3.5 Chamber
3.6 Vocal
3.7 Solo
4 References
5 Additional resources
6 External links
Life
John Harris Harbison was born on December 20, 1938, in Orange, New Jersey, to the historian Elmore Harris Harbison and Janet German Harbison. The Harbisons were a musical family; Elmore had studied composition in his youth and Janet wrote songs.[1] Harbison's sisters Helen and Margaret were musicians as well. He won the prestigious BMI Foundation's Student Composer Awards for composition at the age of sixteen in 1954. He studied music at Harvard University (BA 1960), where he sang with the Harvard Glee Club, and later at the Berlin Musikhochschule and at Princeton (MFA 1963). He is an Institute Professor of music at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a former student of Walter Piston and Roger Sessions. His works include several symphonies, string quartets, and concerti for violin, viola, and bass viol (double bass).
He won the Pulitzer Prize for music in 1987 for The Flight into Egypt, and in 1989 he received a $305,000 MacArthur Fellowship.[2] In 1998 he was awarded the 4th Annual Heinz Award in the Arts and Humanities.[3] In 2006 a recording of his Mottetti di Montale was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Small Ensemble Performance category.
The Metropolitan Opera commissioned Harbison's The Great Gatsby to celebrate James Levine's 25th anniversary with the company. The opera premiered on December 20, 1999, conducted by Levine and starring Jerry Hadley, Dawn Upshaw, Susan Graham, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, Mark Baker, Dwayne Croft, and Richard Paul Fink.
In 1991, Harbison was the Music Director of the Ojai Music Festival in conjunction with Peter Maxwell Davies.
Harbison was jointly commissioned by the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity and the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue to write a piece for the "Papal Concert of Reconciliation." The event was co-officiated by the Chief Rabbi of Rome, Rav Elio Toaff, the Imam of the Mosque of Rome, Abdulawahab Hussein Gomaa, and Pope John Paul II. Abraham, a six-minute composition for brass and antiphonal choirs, had its world premiere on January 17, 2004, performed by members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and a choir made up of members of the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, the London Philharmonic Choir, the Krakow Philharmonic Choir, and the Ankara Polyphonic Choir, under the baton of Sir Gilbert Levine.
Harbison was previously the principal guest conductor for Emmanuel Music in Boston; after founding director Craig Smith's untimely death in 2007, Harbison was named Acting Artistic Director.
When asked in 1990 for his "artistic credo" Harbison replied: "to make each piece different from the others, to find clear, fresh large designs, to reinvent traditions."
He is married to violinist Rose Mary Harbison (née Pederson).
Discography (Incomplete)
Mirabai Songs / Variations (1987). Northeastern Records NR 230-CD. Performed by Janice Felty, mezzo-soprano, Collage New Music Ensemble, conducted by John Harbison — Rose Mary Harbison, violin; David Satz, clarinet; Ursula Oppens, piano. Tracks 1-6: Mirabai Songs, text from Mirabai Versions by Robert Bly. Tracks 7-10: Variations, for violin, clarinet, and piano. Track Listing:
- I. It's True, I Went to the Market
- II. All I Was Doing Was Breathing
- III. Why Mira Can't Go Back to Her Old House
- IV. Where Did You Go?
- V. The Clouds
- VI. Don't Go, Don't Go
- Variations i-v
- Variations vi-x
- Variations xi-xv
- Finale and Epilogue
The Flight into Egypt and other works by John Harbison (1990). New World Records 80395-2. Performed by The Cantata Singers and Ensemble, The Los Angeles Philharmonic New Music Group, and The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. Conducted by David Hoose, John Harbison, and André Previn. Tracks:
The Flight into Egypt, text from the King James translation of the story of the Flight into Egypt in the Gospel of Matthew
The Natural World: Prelude- Where We Must Look for Help, text from Robert Bly
- On the Road Home, text from Wallace Stevens
- Milkweed, text from James Wright
Concerto for Double Brass Choir and Orchestra: I. Invention on a Motif: Tempo giusto- II. Invention on a Chord: Cantabile
- III. Invention on a Cadence: Molto allegro
At First Light (1998). Archetype Records 60106. Performed by Lorraine Hunt, mezzo-soprano, Dawn Upshaw, soprano, Greenleaf Chamber Players, and Metamorphosen Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Scott Yoo. Tracks:
- Due Libri dei Mottetti di Montale
- Snow Country
- Chorale Cantata
- Concerto for Oboe, Clarinet, and Strings
John Harbison: Ulysses' Bow / Samuel Chapter (2004). First Edition ASIN: B0002RQ35C. Tracks:
Ulysses' Bow ballet performed by Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and conducted by André Previn
Samuel Chapter performed by Susan Larson (soprano) and conducted by John Harbison
The Reawakening, String Quartet No. 3, Fantasia on a Ground, Thanks Victor (2001). Musica Omnia om0110. Lydian String Quartet, Dominique Labelle, soprano.- World Premiere Recordings: Violin Concerto, Recordare, Seven Motets (1997). Koch 3-7310-2-H1. Emmanuel Music, Craig Smith, conductor, Rose-Mary Harbison, violin.
- Sessions: Symphony No. 2; Harbison: Symphony No. 2, Oboe Concerto (1994). london 443 376-2. San Francisco Symphony, Herbert Bloomstedt, conductor, William Bennet, oboe.
- String Quartet No.1/String Quartet No. 2/November 19, 1828 (1992). Lydian String Quartet, Yehudi Wyner, piano.
Simple Daylight/Words from Patterson/Piano Quintet, (1999). Electra Nonesuch 79189-2. Boston Symphony Chamber Players, Gilbert Kalish, piano, Sanford Sylvan, baritone, Dawn Upshaw, soprano.
Four Psalms/Emerson (2004). New World Records 80613-2. Cantata Singers and Ensemble, David Hoose, conductor.
Mottetti di Montale (2005). Koch KIC-CD-7545. Collage New Music, David Hoose, music director, Janice Felty and Margaret Lattimore mezzo-sopranos.
Works
Opera
Full Moon in March (1977)
- Chamber opera
Winter's Tale (1979)
- Based on the play by William Shakespeare
- Based on the play by William Shakespeare
The Great Gatsby (1999)
- commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera
- Based on the novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera
Ballet
Ulysses (1983)
Orchestral
- Incidental Music from The Merchant of Venice (1971), for string orchestra
Elegiac Songs (1974), for mezzo-soprano & chamber orchestra
- commissioned by the Fromm Music Foundation
Diotima (1976)
- commissioned by the Koussevitzky Music Foundation in the Library of Congress
- commissioned by the Koussevitzky Music Foundation in the Library of Congress
- Piano Concerto (1978), for piano & chamber orchestra
- commissioned by the American Composers Orchestra for Robert Miller
- commissioned by the American Composers Orchestra for Robert Miller
Snow Country (1979), for oboe & string orchestra
- commissioned by Dr. Maurice Pechet, New England Arts Patron
- Violin Concerto (1978–80), for violin & chamber orchestra
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- written for Rose Mary Harbison
- written for Rose Mary Harbison
Symphony No. 1 (1981)
- commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra
- commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra
- Concerto for Oboe, Clarinet and String Orchestra (1985)
- commissioned by the National Endowment of the Arts for the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, the International Chamber Soloists, the Wall Street Chamber Players, the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts, the Carnegie-Mellon University and the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.
Remembering Gatsby (1985)
- commissioned by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
- commissioned by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Symphony No. 2 (1987)
- commissioned by the San Francisco Symphony in celebration of the orchestra's seventy-fifth anniversary season
- Concerto for Double Brass Choir and Orchestra (1988), for twelve brass soli & chamber orchestra
- commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic
- commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Viola Concerto (1988), for viola & orchestra
- commissioned by the New Jersey Symphony
- commissioned by the New Jersey Symphony
Symphony No. 3 (1990)
- commissioned by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
- commissioned by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
David's Fascinating Rhythm Method (1991), for chamber orchestra
- commissioned by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
- commissioned by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Three City Blocks (1991), for concert band
- commissioned by the concert bands of the New England Conservatory, University of Cincinnati, Florida State University, U.S. Air Force, Ohio State University, University of Michigan and University of Southern California.
Oboe Concerto (1991), for oboe & orchestra
- commissioned by the San Francisco Symphony
- commissioned by the San Francisco Symphony
- Cello Concerto (1993), for cello & orchestra
- commissioned by Yo-Yo Ma and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
- commissioned by Yo-Yo Ma and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The Most Often Used Chords (1993), for chamber orchestra
- commissioned by the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
- commissioned by the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
- Flute Concerto (1994), for flute & orchestra
- commissioned by Ransom Wilson and the American Composers Orchestra
- commissioned by Ransom Wilson and the American Composers Orchestra
Olympic Dances (1996), for concert band
- commissioned by the College Band Directors National Association
- commissioned by the College Band Directors National Association
- Partita (2001)
- commissioned by the Minnesota Orchestra
- commissioned by the Minnesota Orchestra
Symphony No. 4 (2003)
- commissioned by the Seattle Symphony
- commissioned by the Seattle Symphony
Crane Sightings (2004), for violin & string orchestra
- written for Rose Mary Harbison, the composer's wife
Darkbloom: Overture for an Imagined Opera (2004)
- commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra
- commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Canonical American Songbook (2005)
- commissioned by the Albany Symphony Orchestra
- commissioned by the Albany Symphony Orchestra
- Concerto for Bass Viol (2005), for double bass & chamber orchestra
- commissioned by the International Society of Bassists
- commissioned by the International Society of Bassists
Milosz Songs (2006), for soprano & orchestra
- commissioned by the New York Philharmonic for Dawn Upshaw
- commissioned by the New York Philharmonic for Dawn Upshaw
The Great Gatsby – Suite (2007)
- commissioned by the Aspen Music Festival and School
- commissioned by the Aspen Music Festival and School
Symphony No. 5 (2007), for mezzo-soprano, baritone soli & orchestra
- commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra
- commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Mary Lou (Four Symphonic Memories of Mary Lou Williams) (2008)
- commissioned by the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony
- commissioned by the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony
Double Concerto for Violin and Cello (2009), for violin, cello & orchestra
- commissioned by the Friends of the Dresden Music Foundation for the Boston Symphony Orchestra
- commissioned by the Friends of the Dresden Music Foundation for the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Symphony No. 6 (2011), for mezzo-soprano and orchestra
- commissioned by James Levine and the Boston Symphony Orchestra
- commissioned by James Levine and the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Choral
In Spiritu: Prayer (1955), for a cappella male-voice choir
Ave Maria (1959), for a cappella S.S.A.A. choir
He Shall Not Cry (1959), for S.A. choir & organ
Five Songs of Experience (1971), for S.A.T.B. choir, two percussion & string quartet
- commissioned by the Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Boston for the Cantata Singers
- commissioned by the Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Boston for the Cantata Singers
Music When Soft Voices Die (1966), for S.A.T.B. choir & harpsichord or organ
- commissioned by the Cantata Singers
- commissioned by the Cantata Singers
Nunc Dimittis (1975), for T.B. choir & piano
- commissioned by the Harvard Glee Club
- commissioned by the Harvard Glee Club
The Flower-Fed Buffaloes (1976), for baritone solo, S.S.A.T.B.B. choir & instrumental ensemble
- commissioned by the New York State Bar Association
- commissioned by the New York State Bar Association
The Flight into Egypt (1986), for soprano, baritone soli, S.A.T.B. choir & chamber orchestra
- commissioned by the Cantata Singers
- commissioned by the Cantata Singers
Two Emmanuel Motets (1990), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choir
- commissioned by the Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Boston
- commissioned by the Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Boston
Ave Verum Corpus (1991), for a cappella S.S.A.T.B. choir
- commissioned by the Emmanuel Choir, Boston and the Ojai Festival
- commissioned by the Emmanuel Choir, Boston and the Ojai Festival
O Magnum Mysterium (1991/92), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choir
- commissioned by Saturday Evening Brass
- commissioned by Saturday Evening Brass
Veni Creator Spiritus (1992), for a cappella T.B. choir
- commissioned by the Rosalind Denny Lewis Music Library at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- commissioned by the Rosalind Denny Lewis Music Library at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Communion Words (1994), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choir
Concerning Them Which Are Asleep (1994), for a cappella S.S.A.T.B.B. choir
Emerson (1995), a cappella S.A.T.B. double choir
- commissioned by the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Music for their 100th anniversary (1995)
Juste Judex (1995), for mezzo-soprano, baritone soli, S.A.T.B. choir & orchestra
- commissioned as part of the Requiem of Reconciliation
- commissioned as part of the Requiem of Reconciliation
Evening (Der Abend) (1997), for a cappella S.A.T.B. double choir
Four Psalms (1998), for S.A.T.B. soli, S.A.T.B. choir & orchestra
- commissioned by the Israeli Consulate for the Chicago Symphony
- commissioned by the Israeli Consulate for the Chicago Symphony
Psalm 137 (1998), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choir
Requiem (1985–2002), for S.A.T.B. soli, S.A.T.B. choir & orchestra
- commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra
- commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra
We do not live to ourselves (2002), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choir
Abraham (2004), for double S.A.T.B. choir & two large brass choirs
- commissioned for the Papal Concert of Reconciliation in Rome for the Ankara Polyphonic Choir, London Philharmonic Choir, Krakow Philharmonic Choir and musicians from the Pittsburgh Symphony
- commissioned for the Papal Concert of Reconciliation in Rome for the Ankara Polyphonic Choir, London Philharmonic Choir, Krakow Philharmonic Choir and musicians from the Pittsburgh Symphony
Charity Never Faileth (2004), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choir
Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled (2004), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choir
My Little Children, Let Us Not Love in Word (2004), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choir
- commissioned by the Cantata Singers
- commissioned by the Cantata Singers
But Mary Stood (2005), for soprano solo, choir & string orchestra
- commissioned by the Cantata Singers
- commissioned by the Cantata Singers
Umbrian Landscape with Saint (2005), for optional choir & chamber ensemble
- commissioned by the Chicago Chamber Musicians
- commissioned by the Chicago Chamber Musicians
A Clear Midnight (2007), for T.T.B.B. choir & five strings
- commissioned by the Georgina Joshi Foundation for Indiana University and the Pro Arte Singers
- commissioned by the Georgina Joshi Foundation for Indiana University and the Pro Arte Singers
Madrigal (2007), for a cappella S.A.T.B.B. choir
- commissioned by the New York Virtuoso Singers
- commissioned by the New York Virtuoso Singers
Koussevitzky Said: Choral Scherzo with Orchestra (2012), for S.A.T.B. choir & orchestra: commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra in Celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Tanglewood Music Festival
Chamber
Andante con moto (1955), for cello & piano
Duo (1961), for flute & piano
Canzonetta (1962), for bassoon quartet
Confinement (1965), for twelve players
- written for the Contemporary Chamber Ensemble and Arthur Weisberg
- written for the Contemporary Chamber Ensemble and Arthur Weisberg
- Serenade (1968), for flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, violin, viola & cello
- Piano Trio (1969), for violin, cello & piano
Bermuda Triangle (1970), for tenor saxophone, electric organ & amplified cello
- commissioned by the New York Camerata
- commissioned by the New York Camerata
Die Kurze (1970), for flute, clarinet, piano, violin & cello
- commissioned by the New York Composer's Forum
- commissioned by the New York Composer's Forum
Snow Country (1979), for oboe & string quintet
- commissioned by Dr. Maurice Pechet
- commissioned by Dr. Maurice Pechet
- Wind Quintet (1979), for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn & bassoon
- commissioned by the Naumburg Foundation
- commissioned by the Naumburg Foundation
Due Libri (1980), for mezzo-soprano & nine players
- commissioned by the New York Philomusica and Robert Levin
- commissioned by the New York Philomusica and Robert Levin
Mottetti di Montale (1980), for mezzo-soprano & nine players or piano
- commissioned by New York Philomusica, the University of Oregon and Collage
- commissioned by New York Philomusica, the University of Oregon and Collage
Organum for Paul Fromm (1981), for glockenspiel, marimba, vibraphone, harpsichord & piano
- commissioned by the University of Chicago
- commissioned by the University of Chicago
- Piano Quintet (1981), for two violins, viola, cello & piano
- commissioned by the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival
- commissioned by the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival
Exequien for Calvin Simmons (1982), for seven players
Overture: Michael Kohlhaas (1982), for twelve brass- Variations (1982), for clarinet, violin & piano
- commissioned by Frank Taplin for the Token Creek Festival, Wisconsin
- commissioned by Frank Taplin for the Token Creek Festival, Wisconsin
- String Quartet No. 1 (1985), for two violins, viola & cello
- commissioned by the Cleveland Quartet
- commissioned by the Cleveland Quartet
Twilight Music (1985), for horn, violin & piano
- commissioned by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
- commissioned by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
Fanfare for Foley's (1986), for twelve brass & two percussion
Music for Eighteen Winds (1986)
- commissioned by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- commissioned by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- String Quartet No. 2 (1987), for two violins, viola & cello
Two Chorale Preludes for Advent (from "Christmas Vespers") (1987), for brass quintet
Fantasy-Duo (1988), for violin & piano
- commissioned by the McKim Fund in the Library of Congress for David Abel and Julie Steinberg
- commissioned by the McKim Fund in the Library of Congress for David Abel and Julie Steinberg
Little Fantasy on "The Twelve Days of Christmas" (1988), for brass quintet
November 19, 1828 (1988), for violin, viola, cello & piano
- commissioned by the National Endowment for the Arts for the Atlanta Chamber Players, the Da Capo Chamber Players and Voices of Change
- commissioned by the National Endowment for the Arts for the Atlanta Chamber Players, the Da Capo Chamber Players and Voices of Change
Fanfares and Reflection (1990), for two violins
- commissioned by Token Creek Festival
- commissioned by Token Creek Festival
Fourteen Fabled Folksongs (1992), for violin & marimba- Prelude (1993), for cello & piano
- String Quartet No. 3 (1993), for two violins, viola & cello
San Antonio (1994), for alto saxophone & piano
Thanks Victor (1994), for string quartet
- commissioned by the Lydian Quartet
- commissioned by the Lydian Quartet
- Trio Sonata (1994), for three clarinets or three saxophones or oboe, cor Anglais & bassoon or string trio
Fanfare for a Free Man (1997), for three oboes & three bassoons
La Primavera di Sottoripa (1998), for mezzo-soprano & nine players
- commissioned by the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival
- commissioned by the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival
North and South (2000), for soprano/mezzo-soprano & seven players
- written for Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
- written for Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
Six American Painters (2000), for flute/oboe, violin, viola & cello
- commissioned by the radio station WGUC Cincinnati
- commissioned by the radio station WGUC Cincinnati
Chaconne (2001), for flute, clarinet, violin, cello & piano- String Quartet No. 4 (2002), for two violins, viola & cello
- commissioned by the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival
- commissioned by the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival
Cucaraccia and Fugue (2003), for four violas
- commissioned by the Token Creek Festival
- commissioned by the Token Creek Festival
- Trio II. (2003), for violin, cello & piano
- commissioned by the Harris Foundation, Chamber Music America and Meet the Composer for the Amelia Trio
- commissioned by the Harris Foundation, Chamber Music America and Meet the Composer for the Amelia Trio
Songs America Loves to Sing (2004), for flute, clarinet, piano, violin & cello
- commissioned by the Atlanta Chamber Players and the Da Capo Chamber Players
- commissioned by the Atlanta Chamber Players and the Da Capo Chamber Players
Abu Ghraib (2006), for cello & piano
- commissioned by the Rockport Festival for Rhonda Rider and David Deveau
- commissioned by the Rockport Festival for Rhonda Rider and David Deveau
Deep Dances (2006), for cello & double bass
- commissioned by the Bank of America Celebrity Series for Rebecca Rice
- commissioned by the Bank of America Celebrity Series for Rebecca Rice
French Horn Suite (2006), for four French horns
- commissioned by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- commissioned by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cortège: in memoriam Donald Sur (2008), for percussion sextet
- commissioned by the New England Conservatory Percussion Ensemble
- commissioned by the New England Conservatory Percussion Ensemble
Diamond Watch (2010), for two pianos
- commissioned by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Priscilla Myrick Diamond for Peter Diamond and pianist Robert Levin
- commissioned by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Priscilla Myrick Diamond for Peter Diamond and pianist Robert Levin
Vocal
Due Libri (1980), for mezzo-soprano & nine players
- commissioned by the New York Philomusica and Robert Levin
- commissioned by the New York Philomusica and Robert Levin
Mottetti di Montale (1980), for mezzo-soprano & nine players or piano
- commissioned by New York Philomusica, the University of Oregon and Collage
- commissioned by New York Philomusica, the University of Oregon and Collage
Mirabai Songs (1982), for soprano/mezzo-soprano & eight players or piano
December 1 (1995), for mezzo-soprano & chamber orchestra
La Primavera di Sottoripa (1998), for mezzo-soprano & nine players
- commissioned by the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival
- commissioned by the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival
Il Saliscendi Bianco (1999), for mezzo-soprano & nine players
- commissioned by Collage
- commissioned by Collage
North and South (2000), for soprano/mezzo-soprano & seven players
- written for Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
- written for Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
Ain't Goin' to Study War No More (2003), for baritone, two trumpets, snare drum & string orchestra
Milosz Songs (2006), for soprano & orchestra
- commissioned by the New York Philharmonic for Dawn Upshaw
- commissioned by the New York Philharmonic for Dawn Upshaw
Solo
Amazing Grace (1972), for oboe
- commissioned by oboist Philip West
- commissioned by oboist Philip West
Four Occasional Pieces (1978), for piano
- written for André Previn, the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival and in memory of John Boros, respectively
Four Songs of Solitude (1985), for violin
- written for the composer's wife, Rose Mary Harbison
Four More Occasional Pieces (1987), for piano
- written for Joan Tower, Harriet Thiele, Rose Mary Harbison and Milo Feinberg, respectively
- Sonata No. 1 - In Memoriam Roger Sessions (1987), for piano
- commissioned by the National Endowment for the Arts for Robert Shannon, Ursula Oppens and Alan Feinberg
- commissioned by the National Endowment for the Arts for Robert Shannon, Ursula Oppens and Alan Feinberg
- Suite (1993), for cello
- Trio Sonata (1994), for piano or harpsichord or fortepiano or electric keyboard
- commissioned by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- commissioned by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Gatsby Etudes (1999), for piano
A Violist's Notebook, Book 1 (1998–2000), for viola- Sonata No. 2 (2001), for piano
- commissioned by G. Schirmer Associated Music for Robert Levin, to whom the work is dedicated
A Violist's Notebook, Book 2 (2002), for viola
Montale Sketches (2002), for piano
- after three poems by Eugenio Montale
- after three poems by Eugenio Montale
Ten Micro-Waltzes (2004), for piano
Leonard Stein Anagrams (2009)
- written for Leonard Stein
- written for Leonard Stein
References
^ [1] Obituary of Janet G. H. Penfield. Town Topics, January 28, 2004.
^ Harbison winds MacArthur fellowship
^ The Heinz Awards, John Harbison profile
^ “Ten O'Clock News; John Harbison,” 1984-03-22, 4:20, WGBH, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (WGBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC, accessed September 23, 2016.
Additional resources
- Harbison, John. "Six Tanglewood Talks (1,2,3)." Perspectives of New Music 23, no. 2 (Spring-Summer 1985): 12-22.
- Harbison, John. "Six Tanglewood Talks (4,5,6)." Perspectives of New Music, 24, no.1 (Autumn-Winter 1985): 46-60.
- Harbison, John. "Symmetries and the New Tonality." Contemporary Music Review 6, no. 2 (1992): 71-79.
External links
- Musical Sales Classical.com: John Harbison
- Harbison bio at MIT
Art of the States: John Harbison two works by the composer
Art of the States: Exploded View #1 podcast of John Harbison discussing his String Quartet No. 3 (1993)
Del Sol Quartet: Tear includes Harbison's Fantasia from quartet no. 2 performed by Del Sol Quartet
- Spectrum Concerts Berlin
Interview with John Harbison, June 13, 1991
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