Short bio Donald Erb
Full biography Donald Erb
Donald Erb was a pioneering composer who made a remarkable impact on contemporary classical music in the United States. He was born on January 17, 1927, in Youngstown, Ohio, and began studying piano at an early age. His musical talents quickly blossomed, and he went on to earn his Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music in 1950.
Erb's body of work was diverse, ranging from avant-garde music to jazz, but he was perhaps best known for his contributions to electronic music. In fact, he was one of the earliest composers to work with the Moog synthesizer, a revolutionary instrument that allowed musicians to create entirely new sounds.
Throughout his career, Erb received numerous awards and honors. He was a recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship, the National Endowment for the Arts Composer Fellowship, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters Music Composition Award, among others.
Erb's music has been performed by some of the most well-respected orchestras and ensembles in the world. His compositions were often challenging, experimental, and adventurous, pushing the boundaries of contemporary classical music.
Sadly, Donald Erb passed away on August 12, 2008, in Cleveland, Ohio. However, his legacy lives on through his distinguished body of work, which influenced generations of composers and musicians.
Compositions featuring Donald Erb
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pieces (3) for double bass alone | 6:37 min | Chamber Music | 1999 |
| 2 | Suddenly It's Evening, for cello | 17:46 min | Chamber Music | 1997 |
| 3 | String Quartet No. 3 | 22:23 min | Chamber Music | 1995 |
| 4 | Sunlit Peaks and Dark Valleys, for clarinet, violin & piano | 16:31 min | Chamber Music | 1995 |
| 5 | Drawing For The Moon | 15:05 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1991 |
| 6 | Red Hot Duets (5) for 2 contrabassoons | 15:21 min | Chamber Music | 1990 |
| 7 | String Quartet No. 2 | 23:08 min | Chamber Music | 1989 |
| 8 | Symphony For Winds | 10:09 min | Orchestral | 1989 |
| 9 | Woody | 11:11 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1988 |
| 10 | The Watchman Fantasy, for violin, piano & synthesizer | 20:39 min | Chamber Music | 1988 |
| 11 | Poems (3) for violin & piano | 17:09 min | Chamber Music | 1987 |
| 12 | Concerto for contrabassoon & orchestra | 14:36 min | Concerto | 1984 |
| 13 | Aura II, for cello & audience | 9:43 min | Chamber Music | 1982 |
| 14 | Cenotaph (For E.V.) | 7:52 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1979 |
| 15 | ...And Then Toward The End... | 8:37 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1971 |
| 16 | The Devil's Quickstep, for chamber ensemble | 8:31 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 17 | The Last Quintet, for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn & bassoon | 11:48 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 18 | The Rainbow Snake, for trombone, percussion & piano | 9:08 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 19 | Quintet for flute/harmonica, clarinet, violin, cello & piano/electric piano | 8:09 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 20 | Sonneries for brass ensemble | 8:32 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 21 | Sonata for harpsichord & string quartet | 12:20 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 22 | Sonata for clarinet & percussion | 10:36 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 23 | Solstice | 12:08 min | Orchestral | - |
| 24 | Ritual Observances for orchestra | 30:09 min | Orchestral | - |
| 25 | Evensong | 22:57 min | Orchestral | - |
| 26 | Diversion for Two | 6:27 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 27 | Concerto for violin & orchestra | 25:37 min | Concerto | - |
| 28 | Concerto for trombone & orchestra | 16:56 min | Concerto | - |
| 29 | Concerto for Orchestra | 26:12 min | Concerto | - |
| 30 | Concerto for clarinet & orchestra | 19:08 min | Concerto | - |
| 31 | Concerto for cello & orchestra | 18:03 min | Concerto | - |
| 32 | Concerto for brass & orchestra | 18:29 min | Concerto | - |
| 33 | Catalonian Carol | 2:59 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 34 | Aubade, for organ | 5:04 min | Keyboard | - |
Albums featuring Donald Erb
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Verdehr Trio, Paul Chihara, David Diamond (2), Marc Satterwhite, Jonathan D. Kramer, John Biggs (4), Donald Erb – American Images(CD, Album) | 2002 | Crystal Records (5) |
| 2 |  |
Suddenly It's Evening(CD, Album) | 2000 | Composers Recordings Inc. (CRI) |
| 3 |  |
Cleveland Chamber Symphony / Edwin London , Conductor – Donald Erb • George Perle • William Duckworth • Salvatore Martirano – The New American Scene III(CD, Album) | 1999 | Albany Records |
| 4 |  |
Donald Erb - New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, James Sedares – Solstice • Evensong • Concerto For Orchestra(CD, ) | 1998 | Koch International Classics |
| 5 |  |
Sunlit Peaks And Dark Valleys(CD, Album) | 1997 | New World Records |
| 6 |  |
Donald Erb, Grand Rapids Symphony, Catherine Comet, Richard Stoltzman, Miriam Fried, Ava Ordman – Clarinet Concerto · Violin Concerto · Trombone Concerto(CD, Album, Stereo) | 1995 | Koss Classics |
| 7 |  |
Drawing Down The Moon(CD, Album) | 1994 | New World Records |
| 8 |  |
Chamber Music(CD, Album) | 1993 | Albany Records |
| 9 |  |
Donald Erb - Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Slatkin, Lynn Harrell – Works By Donald Erb | 1992 | New World Records |
| 10 |  |
Summit Brass, Joseph Schwantner, Gunther Schuller, Donald Erb, Dan Welcher, John Cheetham, David Sampson (6), John Stevens (8) – American Tribute (Monumental Brassworks By American Composers)(CD, ) | 1991 | Summit Records (3) |
| 11 |  |
Donald Erb, Erik Lundborg, Marga Richter, Irwin Bazelon - The London Philharmonic, Harold Farberman – The London Philharmonic Celebrates American Composers(CD, ) | 1990 | Leonarda Productions |
| 12 |  |
Christopher Rouse (2) / Joan Tower / Donald Erb - Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Slatkin – The Infernal Machine / Ogoun Badagris / Sequoia / Prismatic Variations | 1986 | Nonesuch |
| 13 |  |
Donald Erb / Steven Stucky / Daniel Breedon / Lou Coyner – The Composers Consortium(LP, Album) | 1985 | Spectrum Records (5) |
| 14 |  |
Donald Erb, The Louisville Orchestra, Akira Endo, Louis Lane – Christmasmusic, Spatial Fanfare, Autumnmusic, Concerto for Trombone(LP, Stereo) | 1980 | First Edition Records |
| 15 |  |
Frederick Koch , Composer Kenneth Timm , Composer Donald Erb , Composer The Cleveland Orchestra String Quartet , Performer Peggy Anne McMurray , Mezzo-Soprano Marcia Ferritto , Viola Allyn Benedict , Piano Kent Williams , Percussion Members of the Clevela | 1976 | Crystal Records (5) |
| 16 |  |
Poulenc / Victor Babin / Donald Erb / Eugene O'Brien : Cleveland Institute Of Music – Live Concert Of Dec. 8, 1976(LP) | 1976 | Golden Crest |
| 17 |  |
Erb / Macdougall / Edwards / Leslie Bassett – Naumburg Award Winners(LP) | 1975 | Composers Recordings Inc. (CRI) |
| 18 |  |
Donald Erb, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Donald Johanos, Marvin Dahlgren – Symphony Of Overtures / The Seventh Trumpet / Concerto For Solo Percussionist | 1973 | Turnabout |
| 19 |  |
Erb : Rochberg : Stalvey – Metamorphosis(LP) | 1970 | Ars Nova Ars Antiqua Recordings |
| 20 |  |
Music For Instruments & Electronic Sounds | 1969 | Nonesuch |
| 21 |  |
Donald Erb / Max Schubel – Diversion For Two / Phantasma / String Trio / Insected Surfaces | 1966 | Opus One |
| 22 |  |
Donald Erb / Marvin Lamb / Jack Waldenmaier – Music From Meadows(LP) | - | Redwood Records (2) |
| 23 |  |
Donald Erb / Rudolph Bubalo / Marcel Dick / Juli Nunlist / Jane Corner Young – The Cleveland Composers' Guild Vol. II(LP) | - | Composers Recordings Inc. (CRI) |
| 24 |  |
Donald Erb, Bakersfield High School Orchestra, Raymond Van Diest, Conducter, Bakersfield High School Concert Choir and Orchestra, Donald Lora, Director – The Music of Donald Erb(LP) | - | Century Records (4) |
Videos featuring Donald Erb
Quintet
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Quintet · John White · Donald Erb · Voices of Change
Music of Donald Erb
℗ 1985 Anthology of Recorded Music, Inc.
Released on: 2007-01-01
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Kyrie, by Donald Erb, with William Appling, Richard Weiner and Vlad Maleckar
William Appling Singers & Orchestra is pleased to offer a recording of Donald Erb's composition "Kyrie," for chorus, percussion and electronic tape. The performance features The University Circle Singers, William Appling, director; Richard Weiner, percuss
Donald Erb Music For Instruments & Electronic Sounds Complete
Donald Erb -- Music For Instruments & Electronic Sounds
Nonesuch -- H-71223 1969
Contemporary, Experimental
A Reconnaissance 17:12
B In No Strange Land 17:00
For Educational Purposes Only
Last Quintet: I. ♩ = 120-132
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Last Quintet: I. ♩ = 120-132 · John White · Donald Erb · Voices of Change
Music of Donald Erb
℗ 1985 Anthology of Recorded Music, Inc.
Released on: 2007-01-01
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Donald Erb - Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance, a composition in 5 movements for violin, double-bass, piano, percussion, Moog Synthesizer, and Moog polyphonic instrument (1967)
Bonnie Douglas, violin
Rand Forbes, double-bass
Ralph Grierson, piano
Kenneth Watson, percussion
Michael
Last Quintet: II. ♩ = 48
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Last Quintet: II. ♩ = 48 · John White · Donald Erb · Voices of Change
Music of Donald Erb
℗ 1985 Anthology of Recorded Music, Inc.
Released on: 2007-01-01
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Donald Erb - Evensong
Composer - Donald Erb
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
James Sedares, Conductor
Recorded February 1997 at Symphony House, Wellington, New Zealand
1 - Laus amicorum (in Praise of Friends) - 7:06
2 - Elegy for Marcel Dick - 8:02
3 - Old Badman - 7:35
Last Quintet: III. sempre
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Last Quintet: III. sempre · John White · Donald Erb · Voices of Change
Music of Donald Erb
℗ 1985 Anthology of Recorded Music, Inc.
Released on: 2007-01-01
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Donald Erb - The Seventh Trumpet
Composer - Donald Erb
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Donald Johanos, Conductor
The Seventh Trumpet (13:30)
Recorded in 1973
Last Quintet: IV. ♩ = 48
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Last Quintet: IV. ♩ = 48 · John White · Donald Erb · Voices of Change
Music of Donald Erb
℗ 1985 Anthology of Recorded Music, Inc.
Released on: 2007-01-01
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Last Quintet: V.
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Last Quintet: V. · John White · Donald Erb · Voices of Change
Music of Donald Erb
℗ 1985 Anthology of Recorded Music, Inc.
Released on: 2007-01-01
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Last Quintet: VI. ♪ = 160-184
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Last Quintet: VI. ♪ = 160-184 · John White · Donald Erb · Voices of Change
Music of Donald Erb
℗ 1985 Anthology of Recorded Music, Inc.
Released on: 2007-01-01
Auto-generated by YouTube.
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