United States of America

27 December

December 27th

Thomas Pitts Music, North America, United States of America Beach, December, Dreaming

Amy Marcy Cheney Beach 5 September 1867 - 27 December 1944

Op. 15, No. 3: Dreaming

Amy Beach
By George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress) – This image is available from the United States Library of Congress’s Prints and Photographs divisionunder the digital ID cph.3b12657.This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6517425

Amy Marcy Cheney Beach, born on September 5, 1867, in Henniker, New Hampshire, was a pioneering American composer and pianist. Notably, she became the first successful female composer of large-scale art music in America. Her “Gaelic” Symphony premiered in 1896, marking it as the first symphony composed by a woman in the United States. Beach’s remarkable talent was evident from a young age; she began composing at four and gave public recitals by the age of sixteen. Despite societal constraints, she thrived in a male-dominated field, gaining acclaim for her compositions and performances.

Married to a surgeon in 1885, she faced limitations on her career, agreeing to perform only a few concerts a year. Nevertheless, she continued to compose significant works, including the Mass in E-flat major. Beach’s legacy as a musician and mentor remains influential, inspiring generations of women composers. She passed away on December 27, 1944, leaving behind a rich catalogue of music that celebrated the spirit of her era.

3 December

December 3rd

Thomas Pitts Music, North America, United States of America Afro-American Symphony, December, Still

William Grant Still 11 May 1895 – 3 December 1978

Afro-American Symphony

William Grant Still
By Maud Cuney-Hare, 1874-1936 – Negro musicians and their music by Maud Cuney-Hare. Washington, D.C.: The Associated Publishers, Inc., 1936, p. 336. Copyright not renewed., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=41851604

William Grant Still Jr. was a prominent American composer, born on 11 May 1895, in Mississippi. He created nearly two hundred works, including five symphonies and nine operas. Still grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, where he developed a passion for music. His mother taught high school English, and she encouraged his musical interests. By age 15, he was taking violin lessons and taught himself several other instruments, including the clarinet and saxophone.

Still attended Wilberforce University, where he followed his mother’s wish for him to pursue medicine. However, his love for music led him to study composition at Oberlin Conservatory of Music. He later moved to New York City and became involved with influential figures of the Harlem Renaissance. Remarkably, he was the first African American to have an opera performed by the New York City Opera, and his “Afro-American Symphony” remains one of his most celebrated works. Still’s legacy in American classical music continues to inspire many today.

27 November

November 27th

Thomas Pitts Music, North America, United States of America Coming About, November, Schneider

Maria Schneider Born 27 November 1960

Coming About

Takanori Arisawa
By http://www.arizm.com/index-e.html, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12686537

Takanori Arisawa, born on April 2, 1951, in Tokyo, Japan, was a renowned composer and arranger best known for his work on the beloved anime series Sailor Moon and Digimon. His journey in music began rather late; he started learning the piano at the age of 20 after graduating from Senzoku Gakuen College. In 1980, Arisawa composed “Shinjuku Transfer,” marking the start of his career. For the next two decades, he primarily composed music for television dramas and commercials, but his passion for anime led him to focus exclusively on this genre.

Arisawa’s music for Sailor Moon evolved from pop to classical arrangements, reflecting the emotional growth of the characters. His innovative compositions earned him numerous awards, including the prestigious Golden Disk Grand Prize in 1993. He continued to influence the anime world until his untimely passing on November 26, 2005, due to bladder cancer. His contributions to music remain cherished by fans worldwide.

24 November

November 24th

Thomas Pitts Music, North America, United States of America Joplin, November, The Entertainer

Scott Joplin 24 November 1868 – 1 April 1917

Gladiolus Rag

The Entertainer

Scott Joplin
By Unknown author – https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/joplin-scott, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=150254187

Scott Joplin, born on November 24, 1868, in Texas, was an influential American composer and pianist, known as the “King of Ragtime.” He created over 40 ragtime pieces, two operas, and one ballet. His most famous work, the “Maple Leaf Rag,” published in 1899, became a significant hit and is often considered the essence of ragtime music. While Joplin loved ragtime, he envisioned it as a sophisticated genre to be played in concert halls, rather than in the noisy saloons.

Growing up in a musical family, he developed his talent early. In the late 1880s, Joplin toured the Southern United States, and his career was boosted when he attended the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. By 1901, Joplin was settling in St. Louis, where he taught piano and published many of his famous compositions. Despite struggles with finances and health later in life, Joplin’s music remained influential, leading to a revival of his works in the 1970s, ultimately securing his legacy as a pivotal figure in American music history.

15 November

November 15th

Thomas Pitts Music, North America, United States of America A Slow Drag, Matthews, November, Pastime Rag No. 1

Artie Matthews 15 November 1888 – 25 October 1958

Pastime Rag No. 1 A Slow Drag

Artie Matthews
From https://syncopatedtimes.com/rudiments-of-ragtime-8-artie-matthews-1888-1958/

Artie Matthews was an American songwriter and pianist born on November 15, 1888, in Braidwood, Illinois. His family later moved to Springfield, where he developed his musical talent. He enjoyed playing popular songs until he discovered ragtime music in 1905. This new style captivated him, and he began to compose and perform ragtime tunes. By 1908, he had relocated to St. Louis, Missouri, a hub for ragtime music, often travelling to Chicago for work. Matthews played the piano, arranged music, and wrote for local theatres.

In 1913, music publisher John Stark recognised Matthews’ talent and offered him a payment for original compositions. Matthews moved to Cincinnati in 1916, where he served as a church organist. Five years later, he and his wife, Anna Howard, established the Cosmopolitan School of Music, which catered to African American students. Among his pupils was the notable Frank Foster. Matthews is remembered alongside Scott Joplin and others for his contributions to ragtime, with famous pieces like “Pastime Rags” and the early blues track “Baby Seals Blues.”

5 November

November 5th

Thomas Pitts Music, North America, United States of America Bright Eyes, Garfunkel, November

Art Garfunkel Born 5 November 1941

Bright Eyes

Art Garfunkel
By Raph_PH – https://www.flickr.com/photos/69880995@N04/36017988101/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62730978

Arthur Ira Garfunkel, born on November 5, 1941, is a renowned American singer, actor, and poet, best known for his partnership with Paul Simon in the famous folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel. Garfunkel was born in Forest Hills, Queens, New York, and met Simon during an elementary school play. Together, they rose to fame in the 1960s with classic songs such as “The Sound of Silence” and “Mrs. Robinson.” Their 1970 album, “Bridge over Troubled Water,” marked the peak of their success before they split due to personal differences.

Garfunkel later enjoyed a successful solo career, earning numerous accolades, including eight Grammy Awards and two UK number ones. He has also ventured into acting, appearing in films like “Catch-22” and “Carnal Knowledge.” Despite facing challenges, including vocal issues in recent years, Garfunkel remains a respected figure in music. In 2024, he plans to release a new duets album with his son, continuing his legacy in the world of music.

30 October

October 30th

Thomas Pitts Music, North America, United States of America Coolidge, October, Sonata No. 4

Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge 30 October 1864 – 4 November 1953

Sonata No. 4 Allegro deciso

Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge
By John Singer Sargent – This image is available from the United States Library of Congress’s Prints and Photographs divisionunder the digital ID cph.3a01097.This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3945209

Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge, born on 30th October 1864, was an American pianist and passionate supporter of chamber music. She grew up in a wealthy family in Chicago, where her musical talent was nurtured. Studying piano and composition, she married Frederic Shurtleff Coolidge, who sadly passed away shortly after, leaving her to raise their son, Albert. After inheriting a significant fortune, Coolidge devoted her life to promoting chamber music, an art form that had not received much attention in her country.

In 1916, she founded the Berkshire String Quartet and two years later established the Berkshire Music Festival. Her efforts transformed chamber music into an important area of composition in the United States. She supported many composers, commissioning new works and creating the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress, specifically for chamber music performances. Coolidge not only enriched the musical landscape but also left behind a legacy of commissioned works from composers like Benjamin Britten and Samuel Barber.

Neal_Hefti,_New_York,_ca._Dec._1946_(William_P._Gottlieb_04031)_(cropped)

29 October

October 29th

Thomas Pitts Music, North America, United States of America Hefti, Li'l Darlin', October

Neal Hefti 29 October 1922 – 11 October 2008

Li'l Darlin'

Neal Hefti
By William p. Gottlieb – http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.natlib.gottlieb.04031/enlarge.html?page=1&section=ver01&size=1024&from=, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=118082609

Neal Paul Hefti was born on October 29, 1922, in Hastings, Nebraska. He was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, and arranger, well-known for creating music for the beloved television series like The Odd Couple and Batman. Hefti began his professional career as a teenager by writing musical arrangements for local bands. By the age of eleven, he started playing the trumpet at school. He gained inspiration from legendary musicians like Duke Ellington and Dizzy Gillespie, with whom he had the chance to perform.

In 1950, Hefti began arranging for Count Basie’s orchestra, helping redefine the big band sound. His compositions like “Li’l Darlin'” and “Splanky” became significant hits. Hefti also worked extensively in film and television during the 1960s, capturing audiences with memorable themes. Throughout his career, he received numerous accolades, including multiple Grammy nominations.

27 October

October 27th

Thomas Pitts Music, North America, United States of America A Ring of Time, Argento, October

Dominick Argento 27 October 1927 – 20 February 2019

A Ring of Time

Dominick Argento
By King Elder (Ekredle) – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=76930730

Dominick Argento was an American composer, born on October 27, 1927, in York, Pennsylvania, to Sicilian immigrants. He is renowned for his operatic and choral music. Some of his most celebrated works include the operas Postcard from Morocco, Miss Havisham’s Fire, and The Aspern Papers. Notably, his song cycle, From the Diary of Virginia Woolf, won the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1975. Argento spent much of his life in Minnesota, where he taught at the University of Minnesota and was instrumental in developing the Minnesota Opera.

His music is characterized by a blend of tonal and atonal elements. Argento also composed 14 operas and various song cycles and choral works, many of which were performed by local artists. He continued to create music throughout his life and received numerous awards, including the Brock Commission in 2009.

20 October

October 20th

Thomas Pitts Music, North America, United States of America Newman, October

Thomas Newman Born 20 October 1955

Piano Medley

A collection of his work

Thomas Newman
By Simon Fernandez, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15781298

Thomas Montgomery Newman, born on 20th October 1955, is a renowned American composer, conductor, and orchestrator. He is celebrated for his film scores, winning six Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, and two BAFTA Film Awards, alongside 15 Academy Award nominations. Over more than 40 years, Newman has composed for numerous films, including The Shawshank Redemption, American Beauty, and Finding Nemo. His music often enhances the emotional depth of the films he works on.

Newman’s journey began in Los Angeles as part of a famous film-scoring family. His father, Alfred Newman, won multiple Academy Awards for his music. Thomas studied at the University of Southern California and Yale University, where he was mentored by composer Stephen Sondheim. Initially more interested in musical theatre, Newman transitioned to film under the guidance of family and friends in the industry. Today, he is known for his unique sound, often incorporating unusual instruments into his scores, sparking interest and intrigue in the cinematic experience.