Short bio Claude Baker
Full biography Claude Baker
Claude Baker is an American composer who was born in 1948 in Troy, Alabama. He is known for his highly expressive and intricate compositions, which often draw inspiration from the music of earlier centuries. Baker's compositions are characterized by their vivid instrumentation, rich harmonies, and complex rhythmic structures.
Baker received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Alabama in 1970, and his Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the Eastman School of Music in 1972 and 1975, respectively. He went on to teach at several universities, including the University of Louisville, the Eastman School of Music, and Indiana University.
Baker has received numerous awards and honors for his work, including the Rome Prize from the American Academy in Rome, the Barlow Prize from Brigham Young University, and the Music Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He has also been commissioned by many of the leading orchestras, ensembles, and soloists in the United States and abroad.
Baker's compositions include orchestral works, chamber music, vocal music, and pieces for solo instruments. Some of his most notable works include "Shadows and Light," which was commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, "Anthems," which was commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra, and "La Lumiere," which was commissioned by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
Baker is also a highly respected teacher and mentor, and he has had a significant impact on the next generation of composers. He has taught at the Eastman School of Music, the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and the University of Louisville, among other institutions.
Overall, Claude Baker is a highly accomplished and influential figure in the world of contemporary classical music. His compositions are characterized by their sophistication and emotional depth, and his dedication to teaching and mentoring younger composers has helped to shape the direction of American classical music for decades to come.
Compositions featuring Claude Baker
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hor che'l ciel e la terra, for chorus & 4 percussionists | 7:15 min | Choral | 2014 |
| 2 | Piano Concerto ("From Noon to Starry Night") | 30:00 min | Concerto | 2010 |
| 3 | Aus Schwanengesang, for orchestra | 19:53 min | Orchestral | 2001 |
| 4 | The Mystic Trumpeter, for orchestra | 12:37 min | Orchestral | 1999 |
| 5 | Shadows (4) Dirge-Nocturnes, for orchestra | 18:04 min | Orchestral | 1990 |
| 6 | The Glass Bead Game, for orchestra | 22:42 min | Orchestral | 1982 |
| 7 | Omaggi E Fantasie | 17:34 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1980 |
| 8 | Awaking the Winds, for chamber orchestra | 13:01 min | Orchestral | - |
| 9 | Elegy | 3:43 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 10 | Vier Nachtszenen | 18:17 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
Albums featuring Claude Baker
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Claude Baker, Marc-André Hamelin, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Gilbert Varga, Juanjo Mena – Piano Concerto 'from Noon To Starry Night'; Aus Schwanengesang(CD, Album) | 2017 | Naxos |
| 2 |  |
Claude Baker, St. Louis Symphony, Leonard Slatkin, Hans Vonk – The Glass Bead Game / Awakening The Winds / Shadows / The Mystic Trumpeter(CD, ) | 2012 | Naxos |
| 3 |  |
The Louisville Orchestra, Lawrence Leighton-Smith / Claude Baker, Robert Bernhardt, John B. Foley / Walter Piston, James R. Rightmyer – The Glass Bead Game / A Movement For Orchestra / Ricercare(LP, Album, Stereo) | 1987 | First Edition Records |
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