Ellen Taaffe Zwilich - Musical Career

Musical Career

Zwilich's compositional style is marked by an obsession with "the idea of generating an entire work – large-scale structure, melodic and harmonic language, and developmental processes – from its initial motives." In addition to large scale orchestral works like Symbolon (1988), Symphony no.2 (Cello Symphony) (1985), and Symphony no.3 (1992), all of which were commissioned by the New York Philharmonic, she has written a number of notable, smaller-scale concertos for relatively uncommon instruments. These include works for trombone (1988), bass trombone (1989), flute (1989), oboe (1990), bassoon (1992), horn (1993) and trumpet (1994). She has also written a small number of choral works and song cycles.

Some other major works include:

• Concerto Grosso 1985 (in commemoration of the 300th anniversary of George Frideric Handel's birth)
• Symphony No. 1 (Pulitzer Prize for Music, 1983)
• Celebration for Orchestra (1984)
• Symphony No. 4 "The Gardens" for Chorus, Children's Chorus and Orchestra (commissioned by Michigan State University)
• Peanuts Gallery (1997)
• Millennium Fantasy, for Piano and Orchestra (2000; commissioned for Pianist Jeffrey Biegel, project featuring 27 orchestras in the USA created by Jeffrey Biegel; first largest consortium of orchestras); premiere with Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Jesus Lopez-Cobos conductor; recorded for Naxos with the Florida State University Orchestra, Alexander Jimenez conductor
• Symphony No. 5 (Concerto for Orchestra) (commissioned by The Juilliard School (Premiere October 27, 2008, Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard Orchestra, James Conlon, conductor)
• Episodes for Soprano Saxophone and Piano (2007)
• Shadows, for Piano and Orchestra (2011; commissioned for pianist Jeffrey Biegel, project coordinator and piano soloist, 8 orchestras in the USA, Canada and England; premiere with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Carlos Miguel Prieto conductor; October 28/29, 2011)