Martin Bresnick (born 1946) is a composer of contemporary classical music , film scores and experimental music .
Composer Martin Bresnick
Bresnick grew up in the Bronx ,[1] and is a graduate of New York City's specialized High School of Music and Art . He was educated at the University of Hartford (B.A. '67), Stanford University (M.A. '68, D.M.A. '72), and the Akademie für Musik, Vienna ('69–'70),[2] and studied composition with John Chowning , György Ligeti and Gottfried von Einem . He went on to teach at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music , Stanford University and the Yale School of Music .[3]
Bresnick’s work has received many prizes, among them: Fulbright Fellowship (1969–70),[4] three NEA Composer Grants (1974,[5] 1979,[6] 1990),[7] Rome Prize Fellowship (1975–76),[8] MacDowell Fellowship (1977),[9] First Prize, Premio Ancona (1980), First Prize, International Sinfonia Musicale Competition (1982),[10] Connecticut Commission on the Arts Grant, with Chamber Music America (1983),[11] The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Elise L. Stoeger Prize for Chamber Music (1996),[12] "Charles Ives Living" award, American Academy of Arts & Letters (1998),[13] [14] Composer-in Residence, American Academy In Rome (1999),[15] Berlin Prize Fellow, American Academy in Berlin (2001)[16] a Guggenheim Fellowship (2003),[17] and was elected to membership, American Academy of Arts and Letters (2006).[18]
Bresnick is currently a professor at the Yale School of Music , where he has been a widely influential teacher of contemporary composition.[19] [20] His teaching has been recognized by a Walter J. Gores Award for Excellence in Teaching at Stanford University,[21] a Morse Fellowship from Yale University (1980–81), the ASCAP Foundation's Aaron Copland Prize for teaching,[22] and the Yale School of Music’s highest honor, the Sanford Medal for Service to Music.[23] See: List of music students by teacher: A to B#Martin Bresnick .
Bresnick has been recognized as having composed a large catalog of respected works while teaching and as an influential voice at the Yale School of Music.[24] Notable recent performances including a 60th birthday retrospective at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall , the premiere of his oratorio “Passions of Bloom” on the International Festival of Arts and Ideas ,[25] the premiere of his fourth string quartet “The Planet on the Table” by the Brentano String Quartet ,[26] and a performance of his piano concerto “Caprichos Enfaticos” at the Nasher Sculpture Center .[27]
As a composer for films, he has contributed many scores for documentary films, including Arthur and Lillie (1975) and The Day After Trinity (1980),[28] both of which were nominated for Academy Awards . He also composed the score for the PBS documentary Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet .[29]
Bresnick's compositions tend to be concise and direct in expression,[14] and span a wide spectrum of genres. Some of his works were composed as a cycle called Opere della Musica Povera , or Works of a Poor Music.
Opera
"My Friend's Story" An Opera in a Prolog, 3 Scenes and an Epilog based on a story by Anton Chekhov [30]
Oratorio
"Passions of Bloom" for solo voices, chorus (SATB) and orchestra
"Self Portraits 1964, Unfinished" for chorus (SATB) and saxophone quartet
Orchestra
"Angelus Novus" [31]
"Encore!"[32]
"Falling" for orchestra and mezzo-soprano[33]
"Grace" for two marimbas and orchestra[34]
"Little Suite" for amateur string orchestra[35]
"Ocean of Storms"
"On An Overgrown Path" (Janáček-Bresnick) for chamber orchestra[36]
"ONE" for chamber orchestra[37]
"Pan Penseroso" for solo flute and orchestra[38]
"Pontoosuc"[39]
"Sinfonia"[40]
"The Way It Goes"[41]
"Wir Weben, Wir Weben" for string orchestra[42]
Large ensemble
"Ants" for woodwind quintet, contrabass, percussion, harp, soprano, mezzo, tenor, baritone soli, 5 actor/mimes[43]
"B.'s Garlands" for 8 cellos[44]
"Bread & Salt" for 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 saxes, 2 horns, cello, contrabass[45]
"Der Signál" for flute, clarinet, cornet, trombone, viola, cello, contrabass, percussion, soprano, alto, mezzo soli, narrator or tape[46]
"Fanfare" for 4 trumpets, 4 horns, 4 trombones[47]
"Fantasia on a Theme by Willie Dixon" for vibraphone, clarinet, drum set, Piano, electric Organ, Violin, electric guitar[48]
"Introit" for 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones[49]
"Musica" for flute, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, violin, voila, cello[50]
"Parisot" for 12 cellos
Small ensemble
"***" (Three Stars) for clarinet, viola (opt. violin), and piano[51]
"A Message from the Emperor" for two speaking percussionists marimba, vibraphone, four small drums amplification as needed[52]
"And I Always Thought" for clarinet, violin, and piano[53]
"Ballad" for cello and piano [54]
"BE JUST!" for clarinet, cello, contrabass, guitar, piano, percussion[55]
"Bird as Prophet" for violin and piano[56]
"Bitter Suite" for violin and piano[57]
"The Bucket Rider" [58]
"Capricho Nuevo" for clarinet, alto saxophone, percussion, vibraphone, piano, violin, contrabass[59]
"Caprichos Enfaticos: Los Desastres de la Guerra" for piano and percussion quartet[60]
"Conspiracies" for solo flute and four other flutes
"Elan's Blues" for violin, cello, piano[61]
"Everything Must Go" for saxophone quartet[62]
"Everything Must Go" for trombone quartet[63]
"Follow Your Leader" for bass clarinet, bassoon, percussion, piano, violin, viola, cello; or bass clarinet, bassoon, barisax, percussion, piano, synth, violin
"Going Home" (Vysoke, My Jerusalem) for oboe, violin, viola, cello[64]
"Grace" for 2 marimbas and piano[65]
"Handwork" for 2 pianos
"High Art" for piccolo and piano (opt. toy piano )[66]
"Just Time" for woodwind quintet[67]
"La Gaya Scienza" for Brass Quintet (Bass Trombone) & Timpani
"Mending Time" for saxophone quartet[68]
"My Twentieth Century" for flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano[69]
"Pan Penseroso" (Version 3) for flute with multiphonics and piano[70]
"Pan Penseroso" (Version 4) for 2 flutes and piano[71]
"Pigs & Fishes" for clarinet, bassoon, percussion, piano, violin, viola, cello[72]
"Pine Eyes" for narrator, 2 percussion, clarinet/bass clarinet in Bb, piano[73]
"Prayers Remain Forever" for cello and piano[74]
"Songs of the Mouse People" for cello and vibraphone[75]
"String Quartet No. 1"
"String Quartet No. 2" (Bucephalus)[76]
"String Quartet No. 3"
"String Quartet No. 4" (The Planet on the Table)
"Tent of Miracles" for solo baritone sax, tape; or solo bass clarinet, tape; or solo bassoon, tape; or solo baritone sax and three baritone saxes; or solo bass clarinet and three bass clarinets; or solo bassoon and three bassoons[77]
"Trio" for 2 trumpets and piano
"Trio" for violin, cello, and piano[78]
"Tucket" for bass clarinet, bassoon, percussion, piano, violin, viola, cello; or bass clarinet, bassoon, baritone sax, percussion, piano, synth., violin; or brass quintet
"Willie's Way" for woodwind quintet[79]
"Wir Weben, Wir Weben" for string sextet[80]
Solo compositions
"Bag O' Tells" for mandolin[81]
"Bundists" (Robert, György and Me) for piano[82]
"Conspiracies" for flute and tape
"Extrana Devocion" (Strange Devotion) for piano
"For the Sexes: The Gates of Paradise" for piano and DVD projections[83]
"Four Short Piano Pieces" for piano[84]
"Ishi's Song" for piano[85]
"Joaquin is Dreaming" for guitar[86]
"Josephine, the Singer" for violin[87]
"Lady Neil's Dumpe" for CX7 digital synthesizer; TX 816 driven by Mac[88]
"On an Overgrown Path" for solo guitar
"Strange Devotion" for piano[89]
"Tent of Miracles" for baritone sax solo and tape; or bass clarinet solo and tape; or bassoon solo and tape
"The Dream of the Lost Traveler" for piano[90]
"Theme and Variations" for oboe[91]
"Three Intermezzi" for cello
"Willie's Way" for solo piano[92]
Vocal compositions
"Falling" for mezzo-soprano and piano[93]
"New Haven" for SATB chorus a cappella[94]
"The Human Abstract" for mezzo-soprano and piano
"Three Choral Songs" for SATB chorus a cappella[95]
"Where is the Way" for SATB chorus a cappella[96]
"Woodstock" for SATB chorus a cappella[97]
2024: Ways You Went Navona Records
Includes Martin Bresnick: "Self-Portraits 1964, Unfinished" (Performed by The Crossing , PRISM Quartet, and Donald Nally , conductor)
2021: More Essential Martin Bresnick: The Planet on the Table Cantaloupe Music
Includes Martin Bresnick: "The Planet on the Table" (Performed by the Brentano String Quartet)
Includes Martin Bresnick: "Parisot" (Performed by Ashley Bathgate, cello)
Includes Martin Bresnick: "Bird as Prophet" (Performed by Elly Toyoda, violin, Lisa Moore, piano)
Includes Martin Bresnick: "Bundists" (Performed by Lisa Moore, piano)
2019: David Bowlin: Bird as Prophet New Focus Recordings
Includes Martin Bresnick: "Bird as Prophet" (Performed by David Bowlin, violin, Tony Cho, piano)
2017: Parisot
Includes Martin Bresnick: "Parisot" (Performed by Ashley Bathgate, cello)
2016: Lisa Moore: The Stone People Cantaloupe Music
Includes Martin Bresnick: "Ishi's Song" (Performed by Lisa Moore, piano)
2014: Prayers Remain Forever Starkland
Includes Martin Bresnick: "Going Home – Vysoke, My Jerusalem" (Performed by Double Entendre)
Includes Martin Bresnick: "Ishi's Song" (Performed by Lisa Moore )
Includes Martin Bresnick: "Josephine The Singer" (Performed by Sarita Kwok)
Includes Martin Bresnick: "Strange Devotion" (Performed by Lisa Moore)
Includes Martin Bresnick: "A Message From the Emperor" (Performed by Michael Compitello and Ian Rosenbaum)
Includes Martin Bresnick: "Prayers Remain Forever" (Performed by Lisa Moore and Ashley Bathgate)
2011: Caprichos Enfáticos Cantaloupe Music (Performed by Lisa Moore and So Percussion )
Includes Martin Bresnick: "Farándula simple (Farandole simple)"
Includes Martin Bresnick: "Farándula de charlatanes – No saben el camino (Farandole of charlatans – They don’t know the way.)"
Includes Martin Bresnick: "Estragos de la guerra (Ravages of war)"
Includes Martin Bresnick: "Farándula de políticos – Contra el bien general (Farandole of politicians – Against the common good.)"
Includes Martin Bresnick: "Farándula de populacho (Farandole of the rabble)"
Includes Martin Bresnick: "¡Extraña Devoción! (Strange devotion!)"
Includes Martin Bresnick: "Farándula de creyentes – Nada. Ello lo dice (Farandole of believers – Nothing. That is what it says.)"
Includes Martin Bresnick: "Farándula doble (Farandole double)"
2010: Every Thing Must Go . Albany Records.
Includes Martin Bresnick: Willie's Way" (Performed by Lisa Moore)
Includes Martin Bresnick: Falling (Performed by Abigail Nims and Wei-yi Yang)
Includes Martin Bresnick: Ballade (Performed by Ashley Bathgate and Lisa Moore)
Includes Martin Bresnick: Three Choral Songs (Performed by the Yale Camerata)
Includes Martin Bresnick: Every Thing Must Go (Performed by the Prism Saxophone Quartet)
2009: Americans in Rome: Music by Fellows of the American Academy in Rome Bridge Records
Includes Martin Bresnick: Three Intermezzi (Performed by Ole Akahoshi, cello)
2006: The Essential Martin Bresnick Cantaloupe Music.
Includes Martin Bresnick: String Quartet #2 "Bucephalus" (Performed by the Flux Quartet)
Includes Martin Bresnick: Trio for piano, violin, and violoncello (Performed by the Jupiter Trio)
Includes Martin Bresnick: The Bucket Rider (Performed by the Bang on a Can All-Stars)
Includes Martin Bresnick: BE JUST! (Performed by the Bang on a Can All-Stars)
Includes Martin Bresnick: For the Sexes: The Gates of Paradise (DVD: Performed by Lisa Moore)
2005: Martin Bresnick: My 20th Century New World Records.
Includes Martin Bresnick: Grace
Includes Martin Bresnick: Tent of Miracles
Includes Martin Bresnick: Songs of the Mouse People
Includes Martin Bresnick: Fantasia on a Theme by Willie Dixon
Includes Martin Bresnick: My Twentieth Century
2003: High Art: Chamber Music for Solo Flute Albany Records.
Includes Martin Bresnick: High Art
2000: Martin Bresnick: Works of a Poor Music CRI / New World Records
Includes Martin Bresnick: Tucket
Includes Martin Bresnick: Follow Your Leader
Includes Martin Bresnick: Pigs & Fishes
Includes Martin Bresnick: New Haven
Includes Martin Bresnick: Woodstock
Includes Martin Bresnick: Angelus Novus
Includes Martin Bresnick: The Bucket Rider!
Includes Martin Bresnick: BE JUST!
Includes Martin Bresnick: ***
Includes Martin Bresnick: The Dream of the Lost Traveller
Includes Martin Bresnick: Pine Eyes
Includes Martin Bresnick: Bird as Prophet
2000: Conspirare: Chamber Music for Solo Flute CRI
Includes Martin Bresnick: Conspiracies
1995: Martin Bresnick: Music for Strings CRI / New World Records
Includes Martin Bresnick: String Quartet No. 2 "Bucephalus"'
Includes Martin Bresnick: Wir Weben, Wir Weben
Includes Martin Bresnick: B.'s Garlands
Includes Martin Bresnick: String Quartet No. 3
1995: Long Distance . CRI.
Includes Martin Bresnick: Bag O' Tells
1994: The Monticello Trio: Bresnick, Ives and Shatin CRI / New World Records
Includes Martin Bresnick: Trio
1993: CDCM Computer Music Series Vol. 2 Centaur Records.
Includes Martin Bresnick: Lady Neil's Dumpe
1992: New York Woodwind Quintet Plays Bresnick, Powell, Roseman, Shapey New World Records.
Includes Martin Bresnick: Just Time
Liner notes, Composers Recordings Inc. LP CRI SD 468, 1982.
Credited on film upon release: 20 January 1981 (USA)
"One" . www.carlfischer.com . Archived from the original on 2016-10-20. Retrieved 2016-10-19 .
"Ants" . www.carlfischer.com . Archived from the original on 2016-10-20. Retrieved 2016-10-19 .