Gregg Smith (1931-2016)
Gregg Smith, one of the most prominent choral conductors in the United States, has passed away at the age of 84. With his Gregg Smith Singers, Smith brought a wide…
Ursula Mamlok (1923-2016)
I’m sad to learn of the passing of Ursula Mamlok, a persuasive composer of elegant post-tonal works. Like Ralph Shapey and Stefan Wolpe, her compositions referred to serialism while also…
RIP Sir Peter Maxwell Davies
English composer and conductor Peter Maxwell Davies died on Monday, March 14th 2016. At the age of 81, Davies passed away in his Orkney home. The cause of death was…
RIP Steven Stucky
Eminent composer, college professor, and Lutoslawski scholar Steven Stucky has died, aged 66. The cause was brain cancer. Below, listen to one of his beguiling works, the Notturno movement from…
RIP Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez, one of the great composers and conductors of our time, has passed away.
RIP Paul Bley
The extraordinary pianist and composer Paul Bley, has passed away.
RIP Gunther Schuller (1925-2015)
Saddening news. Gunther Schuller has died at the age of 89. A musical polymath, Schuller was active as a composer, conductor, arranger, historian, educator, arts administrator and, earlier in his…
RIP Lou Reed (1942-2013)
“One chord is fine. Two chords are pushing it. Three chords and you’re into jazz.” – Lou Reed Much of my music passes the above “into jazz” marker. That said,…
RIP William Duckworth (1943-2012)
Earlier today, Kyle Gann reported on his blog that composer, educator, and writer William Duckworth has succumbed to pancreatic cancer. He was 69. Tom Huizenga has more over at NPR…