Short bio Gabriela Lena Frank
Full biography Gabriela Lena Frank
Gabriela Lena Frank is a composer who is known for her eclectic blend of classical music and Latin American folk music. She was born on September 1, 1972, in Berkeley, California, to a mother of mixed Peruvian and Chinese ancestry and a father of Lithuanian-Jewish-American descent. Her diverse cultural background has influenced her music, as she draws inspiration from the musical traditions of her ancestors.
Frank studied composition at Rice University and University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance. Her music has been performed by renowned orchestras including the Houston Symphony, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. She has also worked with chamber ensembles such as the Kronos Quartet and the Chiara String Quartet.
Frank has been recognized for her contributions to music and has received numerous awards including a Guggenheim Fellowship and a USA Artist Fellowship. In addition to her musical accomplishments, she has also served as the composer-in-residence for several orchestras including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Houston Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the San Francisco Symphony.
Frank's music is characterized by its use of unconventional scales and rhythms, as well as its incorporation of folk melodies and sounds from her cultural background. She often explores themes of identity, cultural heritage and belonging in her compositions. Her unique style and approach to music have made her an important figure in the world of contemporary classical music.
Compositions featuring Gabriela Lena Frank
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andean Improvisations (5), for flute & piano | 13:21 min | Chamber Music | 2019 |
| 2 | Kanto Kechua No. 2, for string quartet | 4:35 min | Chamber Music | 2018 |
| 3 | Suite Mestiza, for violin | 28:58 min | Chamber Music | 2017 |
| 4 | Nocturno Nazqueño, for piano | 8:16 min | Keyboard | 2014 |
| 5 | Karnavalito No. 1, for piano | 6:20 min | Keyboard | 2013 |
| 6 | Folk Songs (4) for piano trio | 14:39 min | Chamber Music | 2012 |
| 7 | Hilos, for clarinet, violin, cello & piano | 27:19 min | Chamber Music | 2010 |
| 8 | Milagros, for string quartet | 23:29 min | Chamber Music | 2010 |
| 9 | Adagio para Amantaní, for cello & piano | 9:23 min | Chamber Music | 2007 |
| 10 | Quijotadas, for string quartet | 22:45 min | Chamber Music | 2007 |
| 11 | Barcarola Latinoamericana, for piano | 5:01 min | Keyboard | 2007 |
| 12 | Compadrazgo, for cello, piano & orchestra | 26:56 min | Concerto | 2006 |
| 13 | Ritmos Anchinos, for zheng, pipa & string quartet | 14:12 min | Chamber Music | 2006 |
| 14 | Bosquejos Pre-Incaicos (4), for flute & cello | 7:35 min | Chamber Music | 2006 |
| 15 | Ccollanan María (Holy Mary), for chorus | 5:43 min | Choral | 2004 |
| 16 | Latin American Dances (3), for orchestra | 16:31 min | Orchestral | 2003 |
| 17 | Sueños de Chambi: Shapshots for an Andean Album, for violin & piano | 23:25 min | Chamber Music | 2002 |
| 18 | Leyendas: An Andean Walkabout, for string quartet | 18:38 min | Chamber Music | 2001 |
| 19 | Danza de los Saqsampillos, for 2 marimbas | 6:54 min | Chamber Music | 2000 |
| 20 | Sonata Andina, for piano No. 1 | 22:57 min | Keyboard | 2000 |
| 21 | Rios Profundos, for cello & piano | 18:21 min | Chamber Music | 1999 |
| 22 | Canciones Andinas (4), for voice & piano | 13:46 min | Vocal Music | 1999 |
| 23 | Melodia para Movses, for violin | 2:02 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 24 | Harawi-cito de charanguista ciego, for piano | 2:57 min | Keyboard | - |
Albums featuring Gabriela Lena Frank
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Her Own Wings(CD, Album) | 2020 | Bright Shiny Things LLC |
| 2 |  |
Movses Pogossian, Kaija Saariaho, Gabriela Lena Frank, Andrew McIntosh (2) – Inspired By Bach(CD, Album) | 2018 | New Focus Recordings |
| 3 |  |
Ching-Chu Hu | Gabriela Lena Frank | Philip Lasser, Minju Choi – Boundless: American Works For Solo Piano(CD, Album) | 2018 | Navona Records |
| 4 |  |
Del Sol String Quartet - Gabriela Lena Frank, Lou Harrison, José Evangelista, Reza Vali, Elena Kats-Chernin – Zia(CD, Album) | 2013 | Sono Luminus |
| 5 |  |
Gabriela Lena Frank, Ensemble Meme – Compadrazgo(CD, Album) | 2013 | Albany Records |
| 6 |  |
Gabriela Lena Frank, ALIAS Chamber Ensemble – Hilos (Threads) / Danza De Los Saqsampillos / Adagio Para Amantaní / Quijotadas(CD, Album) | 2011 | Naxos |
| 7 |  |
Gabriela Lena Frank, Dmitri Shostakovich, Shem Guibbory, Susanna Eyton-Jones, Sonia Rubinsky, Craig Ketter, Elizaveta Kopelman – Voice Of The People(CD, ) | 2009 | MSR Classics |
| 8 |  |
Leslie Bassett, Gabriela Lena Frank, Wendolyn Olson – Music For Piano And Piano-Violin Duo(CD, Album) | 2006 | Equilibrium |
| 9 |  |
Gabriela Lena Frank - The Chiara String Quartet – Leyendas: An Andean Walkabout(CD, Single) | 2006 | New Voice Singles |
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