Jennifer Margaret Barker
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Jennifer Margaret Barker (born 6 May 1965 in
Glasgow Glasgow is the Cities of Scotland, most populous city in Scotland, located on the banks of the River Clyde in Strathclyde, west central Scotland. It is the List of cities in the United Kingdom, third-most-populous city in the United Kingdom ...
, Scotland) is a Scottish-American
classical composer This is a list of lists of composers grouped by various criteria. Name * List of composers by name Women * List of female composers by name * List of female composers by birth date *List of Australian female composers Genre * Anime composer * ...
and
pianist A pianist ( , ) is a musician who plays the piano. A pianist's repertoire may include music from a diverse variety of styles, such as traditional classical music, jazz piano, jazz, blues piano, blues, and popular music, including rock music, ...
. Her compositional style is highly influenced by the landscape, culture and musical heritage of Scotland. She is Professor of Composition and Theory at the
University of Delaware The University of Delaware (colloquially known as UD, UDel, or Delaware) is a Statutory college#Delaware, privately governed, state-assisted Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Newark, Delaware, United States. UD offers f ...
. Her music has been recorded on the
Naxos Records Naxos comprises numerous companies, divisions, imprints, and labels specializing in classical music but also audiobooks and other genres. The premier label is Naxos Records, which focuses on classical music. Naxos Musical Group encompasses about ...
, Composers Recordings Inc.,
New World Records New World Records is a record label that was established in 1975 through a Rockefeller Foundation grant to celebrate America's bicentennial (1976) by producing a 100-LP anthology, with American music from many genres.Albany Records Albany Records is a record label that concentrates on unconventional contemporary classical music by American composers and musicians. It was established by Peter Kermani in 1987 and is based in Albany, New York. In May 2024, Albany Records wa ...
, Meyer Media and PnOVA Recordings labels. She is published by
Boosey & Hawkes Boosey & Hawkes is a British Music publisher (sheet music), music publisher, purported to be the largest specialist classical music publisher in the world. Until 2003, it was also a major manufacturer of brass instrument, brass, string instru ...
,
Theodore Presser Company The Theodore Presser Company is an American music publishing and distribution company located in Malvern, Pennsylvania, formerly King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, and originally based in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. It is the oldest continuing music p ...
, Vanderbeek & Imrie Ltd., Southern Percussion and McKenna-Keddie Publishing.


Biography

Raised in
Blanefield Blanefield is a settlement in Scotland contiguous with Strathblane's northwestern fringe. To the west is the volcanic plug Dumgoyne, Glengoyne Distillery and the Trossachs National Park. The West Highland Way—a long-distance trail—passes cl ...
,
Stirlingshire Stirlingshire or the County of Stirling ( ) is a Shires of Scotland, historic county and registration county of Scotland. Its county town is Stirling.Registers of Scotland. Publications, leaflets, Land Register Counties. It borders Perthshir ...
, Barker studied composition with Scottish composer, John Maxwell Geddes at the
University of Glasgow The University of Glasgow (abbreviated as ''Glas.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals; ) is a Public university, public research university in Glasgow, Scotland. Founded by papal bull in , it is the List of oldest universities in continuous ...
(B.Mus. Hons.), before crossing the Atlantic for graduate studies with American Pulitzer prize-winning composers Melinda Wagner and
George Crumb George Henry Crumb Jr. (24 October 1929 – 6 February 2022) was an American composer of avant-garde contemporary classical music. Early in his life he rejected the widespread modernist usage of serialism, developing a highly personal musical ...
at
Syracuse University Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York, United States. It was established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church but has been nonsectarian since 1920 ...
(M.M.) and the
University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania (Penn or UPenn) is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. One of nine colonial colleges, it was chartered in 1755 through the efforts of f ...
(A.M., Ph.D.) respectively. She also worked with British composers Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and
Judith Weir Dame Judith Weir (born 11 May 1954) is a British composer. She served as Master of the King's Music from 2014 to 2024. Appointed by Queen Elizabeth II, Weir was the first woman to hold this office. Early life Weir was born in Cambridge, Englan ...
on the 1992 Scottish Chamber Orchestra's Young Composers Course in Orkney, and with American composers Daniel Strong Godfrey and
Jay Reise Jay Reise (born 1950) is an American composer. Biography Reise spent his childhood surrounded by classical music and jazz, but began his composition studies with Jimmy Giuffre and Hugh Hartwell in 1970. After graduating at Hamilton College in 1 ...
. In 2021 she was named the recipient of the Delaware Division of the Arts Masters Fellowship for Artistic Excellence and Service to the State. Further awards in composition include the 2022 Miriam Gideon Prize from the International Alliance for Women in Music, winner of the 2022 New Ariel Recordings Composition Competition (USA), winner of the 2018
Pi Kappa Lambda Pi Kappa Lambda () is an international honor society for music. It was established at Northwestern University in 1918. It has chartered more than 270 chapters. History Pi Kappa Lambda was established on May 17, 1918, at Northwestern University. ...
Chamber Commission (USA), the 2007 Individual Artist Established Fellowship for Artistic Excellence by the
Delaware Delaware ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic states, South Atlantic regions of the United States. It borders Maryland to its south and west, Pennsylvania to its north, New Jersey ...
Division of the Arts and Delaware State Arts Council, winner of the 2006 Relâche (musical group) Philadelphia Commissions Project (USA), winner of the 1996 Cambridge Contemporary Music Festival Composition Competition (UK), winner of the 1993 Helen L. Weiss Music Prize for Composition awarded by the
University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania (Penn or UPenn) is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. One of nine colonial colleges, it was chartered in 1755 through the efforts of f ...
(USA), finalist in the 1998-99 AUROS Group for New Music Composition Competition (USA), and finalist in the 1993
Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival The Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival (also known by the acronym HCMF, stylised since 2006 as the lowercase hcmf//) is a new music festival held annually in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England. Since its foundation in 1978, it has featu ...
Young Composers Award (UK). Barker has also received awards in 2019, 2020 and 2023 from The American Prize. As a pianist, she studied with Lawrence Glover, Gustav Fenyö and Anne Crawford at the
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (), formerly the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama () is a conservatoire of dance, drama, music, production, and film in Glasgow, Scotland. It is a member of the Federation of Drama Schools. Founde ...
, and with George Pappastavrou at
Syracuse University Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York, United States. It was established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church but has been nonsectarian since 1920 ...
and Gary Spielstead, of
The University of Western Ontario The University of Western Ontario (UWO; branded as Western University) is a public research university in London, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land, surrounded by residential neighbourhoods and the Thames River bisecting t ...
, Canada. She studied violin with J. Mullen Begbie (Concertmaster of the
Royal Scottish National Orchestra The Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) () is a Scottish orchestra, based in Glasgow. It is one of the five national performing arts companies of Scotland. Throughout its history, the Orchestra has played an important part in Scotland’s ...
) and Angus Andersen (Concertmaster of the
Scottish Chamber Orchestra The Scottish Chamber Orchestra (SCO) is an Edinburgh-based UK chamber orchestra. One of Scotland's five National Performing Arts Companies, the SCO performs throughout Scotland, including annual tours of the Scottish Highlands and Islands and So ...
), and oboe with Phillip Hill (Principal Oboist with the
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (BBC SSO) is a Scottish broadcasting symphony orchestra based in Glasgow. One of five full-time orchestras maintained by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), it is the oldest full-time professional rad ...
). As a young pianist Barker won many awards at the Edinburgh Competition Festival and Glasgow Music Festival, most notably the ECF’s 1983 William Townsend Memorial Senior Medal, the 1979/1981/1982 Norma Dalziel Chamber Trophies, and the 1977 Marion P. Gibb Prize. She was also awarded the
Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music The ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) is an examination board and registered charity based in the United Kingdom. ABRSM is one of five examination boards accredited by Ofqual to award graded exams and diploma qualification ...
’s 1979 Lindsay Lamb Memorial Bursary. She is related through her aunt to British abstract artist,
Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Order of the British Empire, CBE (8 June 1912 – 26 January 2004) was one of the foremost British Abstract art, abstract artists, a member of the influential Penwith Society of Arts. Early life Wilhelmina Barns-Grah ...
. Her niece, Peigi Barker, is the voice of Young Merida in Pixar Animation Studios'
Brave (2012 film) ''Brave'' is a 2012 American animated fantasy adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. The film was directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman, co-directed by Steve Purcell, and produced by Katherine Sar ...
. Her sister-in-law, Eilidh Mackenzie, is 2010
Scots Trad Music Awards The Scots Trad Music Awards or Na Trads were founded in 2003 by Simon Thoumire to celebrate Scotland's traditional music in all its forms and create a high profile opportunity to bring the music and music industry into the spotlight of media an ...
Gaelic Singer of the Year and former member of Mac-Talla. Mackenzie is featured on two of Barker's recordings: ''Geodha'' on her ''Nyvaigs'' CD and ''Tìrean cèin'' (''Distant Shores''), a multimedia crossover work.


Works and performances

Notable amongst Barker's catalogue is her work for children's chorus and symphony orchestra, titled ''Nollaig'', which has received performances from the
Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) is an American symphony orchestra based in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1880 by Joseph Otten as the St. Louis Choral Society, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is the second-oldest professional symphony o ...
with the St. Louis Children's Chorus, the
Detroit Symphony Orchestra The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) is an American orchestra based in Detroit, Detroit, Michigan. Its primary performance venue is Orchestra Hall (Detroit, Michigan), Orchestra Hall at the Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit's Midtown, Detroit, ...
, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra with the New Jersey Youth Choirs, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra with the Virginia Children’s Chorus, the Fort Collins Symphony, the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra with the Central Illinois Children's Chorus, and the Lynchburg Symphony with Cantate Children’s and Youth Choir of Central Virginia. ''Nollaig'' was commissioned by the Virginia Children's Chorus with the Virginia Symphony and premiered under the baton of Wes Kenney at Hampton Coliseum in Hampton Roads, Virginia, USA to an audience of just under 10,000 people. With permission from the composer, a chamber version of this work was created by Dr. Betty Bertaux, director of The Children’s Chorus of Maryland, for publication on her
Boosey & Hawkes Boosey & Hawkes is a British Music publisher (sheet music), music publisher, purported to be the largest specialist classical music publisher in the world. Until 2003, it was also a major manufacturer of brass instrument, brass, string instru ...
choral series. Further choral-instrumental works include ''Harmony of Angels'', commissioned and premiered by the Bearsden Choir with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Brass and Percussion, and ''Ealasaid'', premiered by 6-WIRE and the University of Delaware Chorale at Carnegie Hall in New York. Described as “a haunting journey through a woman’s experience of life and love”, Barker’s song-cycle for soprano, flute and piano setting four poems by Robert Burns, titled ''A Lassie’s Love'', has been recorded on the Meyer Media LLC label. Commissioned by Scottish ensemble, Vocali3e, the creation of the work, and subsequent concert tours of the work in Scotland and America, were supported by grants from
Creative Scotland Creative Scotland ( ; ) is the development body for the arts and creative industries in Scotland. Based in Edinburgh, it is an executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government The Scottish Government (, ) is the execut ...
, The Jean Armour Burns Trust, The National Trust for Scotland, Made in Scotland Onward Touring Fund and the Delaware Division for the Arts, USA. The work was premiered at The Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Ayrshire, Scotland in May 2015. The review of the 2016 Victoria International Arts Festival performance in Malta describes the cycle as “a very beautiful song cycle, alternating from the light-hearted and flirtatious nature of a young girl to the more introspective and mature musings of an older woman”. Also of note in Barker’s portfolio of compositions is her composition for flute and piano titled ''Na Trì Peathraichean (The Three Sisters…of Glencoe)'' which “impressionistically evoke(s) the landscape and atmosphere of three neighbouring mountain ridges in the Scottish Highlands”. Originally commissioned and recorded by Virginia Symphony flautist, Laurie Baefsky, for the inaugural CD release of the Meyer Media label (2000), this work has recently been recorded by award-winning international Powell Flutes artist, Alice K. Dade, for
Naxos Records Naxos comprises numerous companies, divisions, imprints, and labels specializing in classical music but also audiobooks and other genres. The premier label is Naxos Records, which focuses on classical music. Naxos Musical Group encompasses about ...
(2018). With a YouTube video of the first movement of the work, ''Gearr Aonach'', reaching almost half a million views, this composition has been reviewed as “evocative and virtuosic at the same time”; “impressive…a vivid landscape of colors and textures…majestic…richly evocative”; “very attractive”; “a wonderfully atmospheric piece, denoting the gentle wind (that) rustles through the crevices and the ferns, truly evocative and haunting.” With undergraduate and graduate degrees in piano performance, Barker's continued work as a collaborative pianist is highly evident in her writing for piano. Martin Jones (pianist) has recorded two of her three compositions for solo piano, ''Moana'' and ''BuMian'', on the PnOVA: American Piano Music Series. American pianist Kevin Robert Orr has recorded her solo piano work, ''Geenyoch Ballant'', and also performed it to critical review in America, Europe and Asia: “Orr then went on to play a much more modern work by Jennifer Margaret Barker. It…took full advantage of the basically percussive nature of the modern piano. There were echoes of Carl Orff, Shostakovich, Copland, and even Mahler, to be heard throughout the piece. But in the end, it was clearly Barker’s own.” ''Geenyoch Ballant'' was written for the 2003 American Liszt Society National Conference. In addition, American composer, Melinda Wagner, engaged Barker to create the piano reduction of her 1999 Pulitzer Prize-winning work, Concerto for Flute, Strings, and Percussion, for publication by the
Theodore Presser Company The Theodore Presser Company is an American music publishing and distribution company located in Malvern, Pennsylvania, formerly King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, and originally based in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. It is the oldest continuing music p ...
. Among Barker’s more Celtic-flavoured compositions are two works setting the poetry of Scottish poet and academic,
Derick Thomson Derick Smith Thomson (Scottish Gaelic: ''Ruaraidh MacThòmais''; 5 August 1921, Stornoway – 21 March 2012, Glasgow) was a Scottish poet, publisher, lexicographer, academic and writer. He was originally from Lewis, but spent much of his life ...
. The first work, ''Geodha'', is a chamber work for string trio and timpano utilizing material from an earlier, larger work inspired by and named for Thomson’s poem ''Geodha Air Chùl Na Grèine''. The second work sets the poetry of ''Seann Oràn'' within a work for flute and acoustic guitar. On Barker’s ''Nyvaigs'' CD, one can hear Thomson reciting his poem, ''Geodha Air Chùl Na Grèine'', followed by Barker’s setting of the poem in song, performed by Eilidh Mackenzie.Nyvaigs CD liner notes, Retrieved 15 October 2018.


Discography

* ''Nyvaigs'', Composer's Recording Inc./New World Records, CRI862, NWCR862 (2000) * ''Geenyoch'', Meyer Media MMV01001 (2005) * ''Golden Thread'', Virginia Children's Chorus (2005) * ''6ixth Sense'', Ting-Ting, China (2013) * ''Excursions'', Meyer Media, MM14028 (2013) * ''PnOVA: American Piano Music Series'', Volume 2, Mahin Media (2016) * ''A Lassie's Love'', Meyer Media (2017) * ''Living Music'', Naxos 8.559831 (2018) * ''Almost All-American: 21st Century Works for Clarinet'', Albany Records TROY1788 (2019) * ''6-Wire on 57th'', Meyer Media MM21045 (2021) * ''Contemporary Eclectic Music for the Piano'', Volume 22, New Ariel Recordings (2022) * ''Transcontinental: Music Without Borders'', Meyer Media MM23054 (2024)


References


Sources

*https://britishmusiccollection.org.uk/composer/jennifer-margaret-barker *Barker, "Jennifer Margaret Barker", Homestead, www.jennifermargaretbarker.com, Accessed 29 July 2018. *http://www.boosey.com/cr/catalogue/ps/powersearch_results.cshtml?search=Bertaux, Accessed 29 July 2018 *The Contemporary Hornist, "umurangi-kikorangi", Robert Patterson, 2016, www.robertgpatterson.com/the-contemporary-hornist/, Accessed 31 July 2018. *American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, www.ascap.com, Accessed 31 July 2018. *Victoria International Arts Festival, "Transcending boundaries with Transcontinental", 28 July 2018, www.viaf.org.mt/transcending-boundaries-with-transcontinental/, Accessed 31 July 2018. * Meyer Media, "Artists", www.meyer-media.com/jennifermbarker/index.shtml, Accessed 31 July 2018 * Victoria International Arts Festival, "Composer/Pianist Jennifer Margaret Barker in concert with Caraid Trì", 16 July 2016, www.viaf.org.mt/composerpianist-jennifer-margaret-barker-in-concert-with-caraid-tri/. Accessed 1 August 2018 * Floyd, James Michael, "Composers in the Classroom: A Bio-Bibliography of Composers at Conservatories, Colleges, and Universities in the United States", pub. Scarecrow Press Inc., UK, 2011


External links

*Composer's Website: http://www.jennifermargaretbarker.com *University of Delaware Website: http://www.music.udel.edu/who-we-are/faculty-and-staff/jmbarker *Scottish Music Centre: http://www.scottishmusiccentre.com/ *British Music Collection: https://britishmusiccollection.org.uk/composer/jennifer-margaret-barker *
American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) () is an American not-for-profit performance-rights organization (PRO) that collectively licenses the public performance rights of its members' musical works to venues, broadc ...
: https://www.ascap.com/ {{DEFAULTSORT:Barker, Jennifer Margaret Scottish emigrants to the United States Living people 1965 births American classical composers American women classical composers American classical pianists American women classical pianists 21st-century American pianists 20th-century American pianists 20th-century American women pianists 21st-century American women pianists 21st-century classical pianists Scottish classical composers Scottish women classical composers Scottish pianists Scottish women pianists