Gregory Short
Gregory Short | |
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Short in 1999 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Gregory Norman Short |
Born |
Toppenish, Washington, United States | August 14, 1938
Died |
April 1, 1999 60) Freeland, Washington, United States | (aged
Genres | Classical |
Occupation(s) | Composer, pianist |
Instruments | Piano, keyboards |
Years active | 1960s–1999 |
Labels | Albany, Koch |
Gregory Norman Short (August 14, 1938 – April 1, 1999) was an American composer and pianist. Gregory Short was one of the first pianists to offer entire programs of American and Northwest music to audiences in Seattle, Washington and through his The American Composer series on Public Broadcasting Service.[1] Short’s compositions have been performed in Canada, Germany, and the United States.[2]
Early life and education
He attended the Juilliard School of Music, the University of Washington, and the University of Oregon where he earned the Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition and Theory.
Career
A composer who produced more than 300 works, much of Short's inspiration came from Northwest Native American traditional culture. "I felt there a genuine spirituality. That nature and man are the same. And between the real world and the spirit world, there is no division."[3] He completed a four-part cycle of compositions about the dynamics of the mountains and original people in the Northwest.[4] In addition to Native American cultural traditions, he found inspirational themes in the Bible, novels of J. R. R. Tolkien, essays of Khalil Gibran, and pivotal social changes such as the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.[5]
Many of his compositions drew inspiration from the people and environment of state of Washington, where he was an active composer and pianist as a long-time resident on Puget Sound.[6] Short was named the 1989 Washington State Centennial Artist.[7]
With a long career as a pianist, "I wanted to put together the life I wanted to live. (Writing music) is kind of like you are in trance. I know that I put in a lot of time." He tried to write each day from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., and most days he was back at his worktable by 6 p.m. for another two or three hours of composition.[8] As with Charles Ives, whose music manuscripts Short found at the Juilliard library, he sought to express the entire universe in music.[9] In the years before his death, Short was composing and arranging for piano and orchestra with the aid of his computer. Moreover, he was working on a film score and a book.[10]
Recorded works
- Northwest Composers Vol. II (Florence Mesler Recordings, 1972) Gregory Short, The Pilgrim, song cycle for soprano, piano, and percussion from Kim Si-sup's poem translated by David Mesler; Florence Mesler (Lyric-Spinto Soprano), Gregory Short, (Piano), Phil Curtis assisted by Roy Freedman (percussion) )
- Celebrating Six Years at the Met (Random Touch Records, Inc., 1994) Gregory Short: Blue Dawn; Kendall Feeney (piano), James Schoepflin (clarinet), and Charlotte Bickford (violin)
- Reflections of the Northwest (TROY 184, 1995) Gregory Short, The Raven Speaks, based on Northwest Coast Indian Songs and Dances; Northwest Symphony Orchestra conducted by Anthony Spain
- Natural Symphony - Featuring Seattle's Finest Classical Musical Artists (Classical KING-FM 98.1, 1999) Gregory Short, Mt. Takhoma; Northwest Symphony Orchestra conducted by Anthony Spain
- Soli Deo Gloria" (Stephen H. Owades, 1999) Gregory Short, Mass; Richard Clark (cantor); Jeremy Friedman, Matt Masie, Zhanna Maysyuk (percussion); Paul Chudigian (electronics setup), conducted by John Zielinski
- The Basket (NXNW 080199, 1999) Gregory Short additional orchestrations
- Pahto, for large orchestra (Dialekt Recordings, 2000) Gregory Short, Pahto; Northwest Symphony Orchestra conducted by Anthony Spain
- Mystical Mountains (KOCH 3-7399-2 HI, 2001) Gregory Short, Mount Takhoma; Northwest Symphony Orchestra conducted by Anthony Spain
References
- ↑ Gregory Short Composer/Pianist, Gregory Short (1989)
- ↑ Professional Information, Gregory Short
- ↑ Freeland man tells stories of the Northwest with his music, Whidbey News-Times, July 5, 1997.
- ↑ Northwest composer’s work spring from love of nature, The Bremerton Sun. October 2, 1997, p.2
- ↑ Freeland man tells stories of the Northwest with his music, Whidbey News-Times, July 5, 1997.
- ↑ Reflections of the Northwest, (1995, TROY 184): Northwest Symphony Orchestra, Anthony Spain, conductor
- ↑ Gregory Short Composer/Pianist, Gregory Short (1989)
- ↑ Freeland man tells stories of the Northwest with his music, Whidbey News-Times, July 5, 1997.
- ↑ Gregory Short Composer/Pianist, Gregory Short (1989)
- ↑ Gregory Short Memorial, St. John’s Episcopal Church
Further reading
- Beers, Carole (April 6, 1999). "Gregory Norman Short, 60, Music Composer, Teacher". Seattle Times (obituary).
External links
- Gregory Short at AllMusic
- Northwest Composers Works performed by the Northwest Symphony Orchestra