 Alec
Wilder 100th birthday concert:
The prolific American
composer, Alec Wilder
(1907-1980) produced pieces of remarkable originality in many forms:
instrumental solos, chamber music, works for orchestral and wind
ensemble, musical comedies, film music, ballets, operas, and hundreds of
popular songs. His music, a unique blend of American musical traditions
ranging popular song and jazz to standard "classical" forms and
techniques, fiercely resists all labels.
Wilder endeared himself to a small,
diverse and loyal group of performers including jazz musicians,
classical musicians and popular singers. Frank Sinatra was an early fan
of Wilder's music and an avid supporter. Other noted musicians
associated with Wilder include Erich Leinsdorf, Frederick Fennell,
Gunther Schuller, John Barrows, Marian McPartland, Stan Getz, Gerry
Mulligan, Doc Severinson, Clark Terry, Mabel Mercer, Peggy Lee, and Tony
Bennett. Gunther Schuller, a noted composer in his own right, observed,
“What so many of us respect in
Alec Wilder was his absolute independence as an artist. For years Alec
wrote music of taste and quality with that personal melodic touch that
was all his own, undaunted by musical fashion or fads. In short…he was
an American ‘original.’”
Southeast
faculty performers on this delightfully eclectic program include
clarinetist Michael Dean, contralto Leslie Jones, contralto,
percussionist Shane Mizicko, flutist Paul Thompson, flute, pianist Matt
Yount, violinist, Brandon Christensen and the Southeast Brass Quintet.
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