Short bio William Kraft
Full biography William Kraft
William Kraft (September 6 , 1923 – February 12, 2022) was an American composer, conductor, teacher, timpanist, and percussionist. Born in Chicago, Kraft studied music and percussion in New York City, where he gained an interest in composition. He became one of the first composers to write for percussion ensemble , and is recognized for his contributions to New Music, the American experimentation in serious music.
Kraft composed music for various mediums, including orchestra, chamber ensembles, choir, and solo instruments. His works are known for their complex rhythmical structure, harmonic vocabulary, and use of percussive techniques in orchestration. Among his most notable compositions are "Concerto for Four Percussion Soloists and Orchestra," "Vintage Renaissance and Beyond," "Symphony No. 1," and "Encounters."
In addition to his work as a composer, Kraft was also an accomplished conductor and performer. He spent much of his career as a member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, serving as the orchestra's principal timpanist for nearly 20 years. He also worked as a music director for various organizations, including the Philharmonia Chamber Orchestra and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.
Kraft received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the 1980 Music Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Percussive Arts Society. He was also a member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, and served on the boards of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) and the American Music Center.
Kraft was a beloved figure in the contemporary classical music scene, and his influence is still felt by many musicians and composers today. His death in 2022 was widely mourned by the music community, and his legacy as a composer, performer, and educator will be remembered for generations to come.
Compositions featuring William Kraft
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Concerto a tre, for violin, piano & percussion | 9:43 min | Chamber Music | 2005 |
| 2 | Encounters XII, for harp & percussion | 12:54 min | Chamber Music | 2003 |
| 3 | Encounters XI: The Demise of Suriyodhaya, for English horn & percussion | 19:26 min | Chamber Music | 1998 |
| 4 | Symphony of sorrows | 14:56 min | Symphony | 1996 |
| 5 | Encounters VIII, for percussion ("Divinations") | 14:18 min | Chamber Music | 1995 |
| 6 | Concerto for percussion & chamber ensemble | 10:45 min | Chamber Music | 1993 |
| 7 | Cadeau, for flute & piano | 8:56 min | Chamber Music | 1992 |
| 8 | Encounters X, for violin & marimba | 11:38 min | Chamber Music | 1992 |
| 9 | Songs of Flowers, Bells and Death, Requiem for Victims of all Wars, for chorus & percussion orchestra (Contextures 4) | 15:25 min | Choral | 1991 |
| 10 | Incantation, for guitar | 7:36 min | Chamber Music | 1990 |
| 11 | Vintage Renaissance, for orchestra | 13:23 min | Orchestral | 1989 |
| 12 | Episodes, for violin & piano | 13:03 min | Chamber Music | 1987 |
| 13 | Quartet for the Love of Time | 11:11 min | 1987 | |
| 14 | Settings from Pierrot Lunaire, for soprano & ensemble | 24:57 min | Vocal Music | 1987 |
| 15 | A Kennedy Portrait (Contextures III), for narrator & orchestra | 16:52 min | Orchestral | 1986 |
| 16 | Melange for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, celeste & percussion | 14:03 min | Chamber Music | 1985 |
| 17 | Gallery 4-5, for clarinet, violin, viola, cello & piano | 15:28 min | Chamber Music | 1985 |
| 18 | Fire and Ice, film score | 70:08 min | Film Score | 1983 |
| 19 | Gallery '83, for 6 instruments | 12:57 min | Chamber Music | 1983 |
| 20 | Dialogues and Entertainments, for wind ensemble | 20:07 min | Band Music | 1980 |
| 21 | The Sublime and the Beautiful | 7:59 min | Chamber Music | 1979 |
| 22 | Translucences, for piano | 10:26 min | Keyboard | 1978 |
| 23 | Avalanche, film score | 35:28 min | Film Score | 1978 |
| 24 | Des Imagistes | 23:47 min | Electronic/Computer Music | 1974 |
| 25 | In Memoriam Igor Stravinsky, for violin & piano | 10:37 min | Chamber Music | 1972 |
| 26 | Encounters III, for trumpet & percussion | 15:33 min | Chamber Music | 1971 |
| 27 | Games: Collage No. 1, for brass | 8:12 min | Chamber Music | 1970 |
| 28 | Contextures: Riots - Decade '60 | 16:34 min | Orchestral | 1967 |
| 29 | Double trio, for piano, tuba, heavy percussion & prepared piano, amplified guitar, light percussion | 22:15 min | Chamber Music | 1966 |
| 30 | Encounters II, for tuba | 6:20 min | Chamber Music | 1966 |
| 31 | Concerto for Four Percussionists & Orchestra | 18:46 min | Concerto | 1964 |
| 32 | Silent Boughs "To Jackie", for mezzo-soprano & string orchestra | 17:31 min | Vocal Music | 1963 |
| 33 | Music for Gloria (in memoriam Steven Stucky), for piano | 1:08 min | Keyboard | - |
| 34 | Encounters XVII, for clarinet & percussion | 8:50 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 35 | Vintage Renaissance and Beyond, for ensemble | 13:44 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 36 | Music for string quartet & percussion | 17:11 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 37 | Nonet for brass & percussion | 22:28 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 38 | Veils and Variations, for horn & orchestra | 22:35 min | Concerto | - |
| 39 | Of Ceremonies, Pageants and Celebrations for orchestra | 12:06 min | Orchestral | - |
| 40 | Quartet for Percussion | 14:51 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 41 | Triangles, concerto for percussion & 10 instruments | 18:06 min | Concerto | - |
| 42 | Theme and Variations for percussion | 8:15 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 43 | Requiescat for Rhodes electric piano | 13:38 min | Keyboard | - |
| 44 | Suite for Percussion | 11:41 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 45 | Encounters IX, for alto saxophone & percussion | 9:28 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 46 | A Moment of Your Time, for piano | 1:09 min | Keyboard | - |
| 47 | Avalanche Outtake Suite, for orchestra | 12:24 min | Orchestral | - |
| 48 | Concerto for Four Solo Percussion & Wind Ensemble (transcribed from version for percussion & orchestra) | 22:54 min | Concerto | - |
| 49 | Concerto for piano | 23:39 min | Concerto | - |
| 50 | Concerto for piano & orchestra | 23:39 min | Concerto | - |
| 51 | Concerto for timpani & orchestra | 23:09 min | Concerto | - |
| 52 | Contextures II: the Final Beast, for soprano, tenor, chorus, orchestra, chamber ensemble | 32:39 min | Orchestral | - |
| 53 | Encounters I, for percussion & tape ("Soliloquy") | 14:07 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 54 | Encounters IV, a duel for trombone & percussion | 19:31 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 55 | Momentum for 8 percussion | 5:08 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 56 | Encounters V, for cello & percussion ("In the Morning of the Winter Sea") | 12:29 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 57 | Encounters VI, concertino for roto-toms & percussion quartet | 10:06 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 58 | Encounters VII, for narrator & percussion ("Blessed are the Peacemakers") | 16:51 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 59 | Encounters XIII, concertino for percussion & woodwind quintet | 8:38 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 60 | Encounters XIV, for violin, piano & percussion ("Concerto a Tre") | 11:01 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 61 | Encounters XV, for guitar & percussion | 11:09 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 62 | Evening Voluntaries, for horn | 6:45 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 63 | Fore!, for 4 percussionists | 12:44 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 64 | Interplay for cello & orchestra | 16:56 min | Concerto | - |
Albums featuring William Kraft
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Timpani Concerti(CD, Compilation) | 2015 | Laurel Record |
| 2 |  |
Fire And Ice (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)(CD, Limited Edition) | 2013 | BSX Records |
| 3 |  |
Los Angeles Philharmonic, John Adams, Leila Josefowicz, Kraft, Joseph Pereira, Rosenman – The Dharma At Big Sur(10×File, AAC) | 2010 | Deutsche Grammophon |
| 4 |  |
An Encounter With The Music Of William Kraft(CD, Album) | 2008 | Albany Records |
| 5 |  |
New England Conservatory Wind Ensemble, Frank L. Battisti, Bernard Rands, John Harbison, William Kraft, Karel Husa – Works For Wind Ensemble(CD, Album) | 1999 | Albany Records |
| 6 |  |
Concerto For Timpani And Orchestra / Concerto For Piano And Orchestra / Evening Voluntaries / Veils And Variations For Horn And Orchestra(CD, ) | 1999 | Albany Records |
| 7 |  |
John Cerminaro, Charlotte Cerminaro, Robert Schumann, William Kraft, Joseph Haydn, Rand Steiger, Henri Lazarof – Screamers: Difficult Works For The Horn(CD, Album, Compilation) | 1997 | Crystal Records (5) |
| 8 |  |
William Kraft - The Boston Musica Viva, Richard Pittman, Jane Manning – Concerto For Percussion & Chamber Ensemble • Settings From Pierrot Lunaire • Episodes • Gallery 4-5(CD, ) | 1996 | Albany Records |
| 9 |  |
Edgard Varèse, William Kraft / Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta – Arcana, Integrales, Ionisation / Contextures / Concerto For Percussion(CD, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered) | 1995 | Decca |
| 10 |  |
William Kraft, Thomas Akins, Mona Golabek, Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Paul Polivnick, Jeff Von Der Schmidt, Berkeley Symphony Orchestra, Kent Nagano – Three Concerti: Timpani Concerto / Piano Concerto / Veils & Variations(CD, Album) | 1993 | Harmonia Mundi |
| 11 |  |
The Music Of William Kraft(CD, ) | 1993 | Cambria |
| 12 |  |
Music Of William Kraft(CD, Compilation) | 1992 | Composers Recordings Inc. (CRI) |
| 13 |  |
Lou Harrison - Eudice Shapiro, David Craighead, Los Angeles Percussion Ensemble, William Kraft – Concerto For Violin And Percussion Orchestra / Concerto For Organ With Percussion Orchestra(CD, Compilation) | 1992 | Crystal Records (5) |
| 14 |  |
Contextures II: The Final Beast / Interplay / Of Ceremonies, Pageants And Celebrations(CD, Album) | 1989 | Elektra Nonesuch |
| 15 |  |
The Sublime And The Beautiful / Gallery '83 / Des Imagistes(LP) | 1987 | Composers Recordings Inc. (CRI) |
| 16 |  |
Varese, Xenakis, Messiaen, Cage – Orquesta Filarmónica De Los Ángeles, Conjunto De Percusión De Los Ángeles, Orquesta New Philharmonia, Robert Sherlaw Johnson, John Tilbury Directed By William Kraft, Zubin Mehta, Elgar Howarth – Ionización / Antikhthon / | 1984 | Decca |
| 17 |  |
Walter Piston, William Kraft – Symphony No. 5, Concerto Grosso(LP, Stereo) | 1980 | The Louisville Orchestra First Edition Records |
| 18 |  |
William Kraft, The National Philharmonic Orchestra Of London – Avalanche (Original Soundtrack) | 1978 | Delos |
| 19 |  |
David Craighead With Gordon Stout And The Los Angeles Percussion Ensemble, William Kraft – Organist David Craighead(LP, Album) | 1977 | Crystal Records (5) |
| 20 |  |
Leonard Rosenman / William Kraft - Los Angeles Percussion Ensemble, Su Harmon, Michael Kermoyan, Ellen Geer – Chamber Music No. 2/Des Imagistes(LP, Stereo, Quadraphonic) | 1976 | Delos |
| 21 |  |
Ingolf Dahl, Frederick Lesemann, William Kraft, Karen Ervin – Dahl - Lesemann - Kraft(LP, Album) | 1973 | Crystal Records (5) |
| 22 |  |
William Kraft, Charles Boone, Karl Kohn (2) – Three West Coast Composers(LP, Stereo) | 1973 | Desto |
| 23 |  |
Aaron Copland / William Kraft, Zubin Mehta, Los Angeles Philharmonic – Lincoln Portrait / Contextures: Riots - Decade '60 / Concerto For 4 Percussion Soloists And Orchestra | 1969 | Decca |
| 24 |  |
Walter Piston / William Kraft - The Louisville Orchestra, Robert Whitney – Symphony No. 5 / Concerto Grosso(LP, Album) | 1965 | First Edition Records |
| 25 |  |
Henri Temianka, William Kraft, Los Angeles Percussion Ensemble, Raquel Adonaylo – A Percussion Spectacular Ginastera: Cantata / Chávez: Toccatta(LP, Stereo) | 1964 | CBS Masterworks |
| 26 |  |
Henri Temianka Conducting The Los Angeles Percussion Ensemble, William Kraft, Raquel Adonaylo, Alberto Ginastera, Carlos Chávez – A Percussion Spectacular : Cantata / : Toccatta | 1963 | Columbia |
| 27 |  |
Percussion By William Kraft(LP) | - | Crystal Records (5) |
| 28 |  |
The Horn Club Of Los Angeles, Gunther Schuller / William Kraft / Alec Wilder – New Music For Horns(LP, Repress, Stereo) | - | Angel Records |
Videos featuring William Kraft
William Kraft - Des Imagistes
Des Imagistes, for percussion sextet and Two Reciters (1974)
Ellen Geer & Michael Kermoyan, vocals
Los Angeles Percussion Ensemble
"An 'Image' is that which presents an intellectual and emotional complex in an instant of time... It is the representation
Cantata para America Magica: I. Preludio y Canto a la Aurora
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Cantata para America Magica: I. Preludio y Canto a la Aurora · Alberto Ginastera · Los Angeles Percussion Ensemble · Henri Temianka · Raquel Adonaylo
Carlos Chávez: Toccata for Percussion Instruments - Albe
William Kraft - ???? ??? ??? ?????????? (1983) ?? classical orchestra m/
http://wherethebuffaloroam1968.blogspot.com/2018/09/acero-audiovisual-fire-icerock-rule.html
Another Heavy Metal Magazine films. Art by Frank Frazetta.
Botched Rescue
Cephalopod Attack
Darkwolf
Escape from the Subhumans
Fire and Ice End Title
Flight of
Cantata para America Magica: II. Nocturno y Canto de Amor
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Cantata para America Magica: II. Nocturno y Canto de Amor · Alberto Ginastera · Los Angeles Percussion Ensemble · Henri Temianka · Raquel Adonaylo
Carlos Chávez: Toccata for Percussion Instruments - Alberto
Cantata para America Magica: III. Canto Para La Partita de Los Guerreros
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Cantata para America Magica: III. Canto Para La Partita de Los Guerreros · Alberto Ginastera · Los Angeles Percussion Ensemble · Henri Temianka · Raquel Adonaylo
Carlos Chávez: Toccata for Percussion Instru
Cantata para America Magica: IV. Interludio Fantástico
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Cantata para America Magica: IV. Interludio Fantástico · The Los Angeles Percussion Ensemble · Alberto Ginastera · Los Angeles Percussion Ensemble · Henri Temianka
Carlos Chávez: Toccata for Percussion Inst
Cantata para America Magica: V. Canto de Agoniá y Desolación
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Cantata para America Magica: V. Canto de Agoniá y Desolación · Alberto Ginastera · Los Angeles Percussion Ensemble · Henri Temianka · Raquel Adonaylo
Carlos Chávez: Toccata for Percussion Instruments - Albe
Cantata para America Magica: VI. Canto de la Profecia
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Cantata para America Magica: VI. Canto de la Profecia · Alberto Ginastera · Los Angeles Percussion Ensemble · Henri Temianka · Raquel Adonaylo
Carlos Chávez: Toccata for Percussion Instruments - Alberto Gin
Toccata for Percussion Instruments: I. Allegre sempre giusto
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Toccata for Percussion Instruments: I. Allegre sempre giusto · The Los Angeles Percussion Ensemble · Carlos Chávez · Los Angeles Percussion Ensemble · Henri Temianka
Carlos Chávez: Toccata for Percussion In
Toccata for Percussion Instruments: II. Largo
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Toccata for Percussion Instruments: II. Largo · The Los Angeles Percussion Ensemble · Carlos Chávez · Los Angeles Percussion Ensemble · Henri Temianka
Carlos Chávez: Toccata for Percussion Instruments - Alb
Toccata for Percussion Instruments: III. Allegro un poco marziale
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Toccata for Percussion Instruments: III. Allegro un poco marziale · The Los Angeles Percussion Ensemble · Carlos Chávez · Los Angeles Percussion Ensemble · Henri Temianka
Carlos Chávez: Toccata for Percussi
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