HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Paul Alan Levi (born June 30, 1941, in
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
) is an American
composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and def ...
whose compositions have been performed in
Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhattan), 57t ...
, among other major venues in United States and Europe, as well as on national television. He is the composer of the 1971-1984
PBS The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educat ...
identity music.


Biography

Levi received a B.A. in music at
Oberlin College Oberlin College is a Private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college and conservatory of music in Oberlin, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1833, it is the oldest Mixed-sex education, coeducational lib ...
and later received his M.M. and D.M.A at
Juilliard The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Founded by Frank Damrosch as the Institute of Musical Art in 1905, the school later added dance and drama programs and became the Juilliard School, named aft ...
while studying with composition teachers
Hall Overton Hall Franklin Overton (February 23, 1920 – November 24, 1972) was an American composer, jazz pianist and music teacher. Life He was born in Bangor, Michigan, the first of the three sons of Stanford and Ruth (Barnes) Overton. He grew up in Gra ...
and
Vincent Persichetti Vincent Ludwig Persichetti (June 6, 1915 – August 14, 1987) was an American composer, teacher, and pianist. An important musical educator and writer, he was known for his integration of various new ideas in musical composition into his own work ...
. He has taught at the
Aaron Copland Aaron Copland (, ; November 14, 1900December 2, 1990) was an American composer, critic, writer, teacher, pianist, and conductor of his own and other American music. Copland was referred to by his peers and critics as the "Dean of American Compos ...
School of Music,
Rutgers University Rutgers University ( ), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a Public university, public land-grant research university consisting of three campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's C ...
,
Manhattan School of Music The Manhattan School of Music (MSM) is a private music conservatory A music school is an educational institution specialized in the study, training, and research of music. Such an institution can also be known as a school of music, music a ...
,
New York University New York University (NYU) is a private university, private research university in New York City, New York, United States. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded in 1832 by Albert Gallatin as a Nondenominational ...
,
Lehman College Lehman College is a public college in New York City, United States. Founded in 1931 as the Bronx campus of Hunter College, it became an independent college in 1967. The college is named after Herbert H. Lehman, a former New York governor, United ...
, and
Baruch College Baruch College (officially the Bernard M. Baruch College) is a public college in New York City, United States. It is a constituent college of the City University of New York system. Named for financier and statesman Bernard M. Baruch, the colle ...
, and has been the composer in residence at Wolf Trap Farm Park,
Portland State University Portland State University (PSU) is a public research university in Portland, Oregon, United States. It was founded in 1946 as a post-secondary educational institution for World War II veterans. It evolved into a four-year college over the next ...
, and the
White Plains High School White Plains High School is a high school in the White Plains Public Schools system of White Plains, New York, United States. Built in 1962, it sits on 75 acres and has been expanded. It was selected by the U.S. Department of Education as a Sc ...
. Levi has won numerous awards and grants including a
Guggenheim Fellowship Guggenheim Fellowships are Grant (money), grants that have been awarded annually since by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, endowed by the late Simon Guggenheim, Simon and Olga Hirsh Guggenheim. These awards are bestowed upon indiv ...
, the Grand Prize for Opera from the National Music Theater Network, Fellowships from the
National Endowment for the Arts The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created in 1965 as an independent agency of the feder ...
, the American Composers Alliance Recording Award, and grants from the
American Music Center New Music USA is a new music organization formed by the merging of the American Music Center with Meet The Composer on November 8, 2011. The new organization retains the granting programs of the two former organizations as well as two media progr ...
and
Meet the Composer New Music USA is a new music organization formed by the merging of the American Music Center with Meet The Composer on November 8, 2011. The new organization retains the granting programs of the two former organizations as well as two media progr ...
. He lived for a year in Munich on a DAAD Grant and has had residencies at several artist colonies. Levi's commissions include
the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center ''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The ...
, New York Choral Society, New Amsterdam singers, New York Chamber Symphony, Chamber Music Northwest, Robert DeCormier Singers, and the Music Today Series. Performers of his music include conductors
Pierre Boulez Pierre Louis Joseph Boulez (; 26 March 19255 January 2016) was a French composer, conductor and writer, and the founder of several musical institutions. He was one of the dominant figures of post-war contemporary classical music. Born in Montb ...
,
Jesús López-Cobos Jesus ( AD 30 or 33) was a Jewish preacher and religious leader who most Christians believe to be the incarnation of God and Muslims believe was a prophet. Jesus may also refer to: People Religious figures * Elymas Bar-Jesus, a Jew in the ''Act ...
,
Robert De Cormier Robert Romeo De Cormier Jr. (January 7, 1922 – November 7, 2017), sometimes known as Robert Corman, was an American musical conductor, arranger, and director. He arranged music for many singers and groups, including Harry Belafonte and Peter, P ...
, Clara Longstreth,
Gustav Meier Gustav Meier (13 August 1929 – 26 May 2016) was a Swiss-born conductor and director of the Orchestra Conducting Program at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University. He was also Music Director of the Greater Bridgeport Symphony Orche ...
, and
Gerard Schwarz Gerard Schwarz (born August 19, 1947), also known as Gerry Schwarz or Jerry Schwarz, is an American symphony conductor and trumpeter. As of 2019, Schwarz serves as the Artistic and Music Director of Palm Beach Symphony and the Director of Orc ...
; pianist Justin Kolb; and singers Margaret Ahrens, David Bender, Adam Klein, Antonia Lavanne, Douglas Perry,
Neva Pilgrim Neva Pilgrim (November 21, 1938 – January 21, 2024) was an American soprano known for her work in the performance of contemporary classical music. She grew up on a farm in Cottonwood County in southwestern Minnesota, near Bingham Lake, between ...
,
Lucy Shelton Lucy Shelton is an American soprano best known for her performance of contemporary music. She graduated from The Putney School in 1961 and Pomona College in 1965. The only artist to receive the International Walter W. Naumberg Award twice (as a ...
, Sheila Schonbrun, and James Archie Worley, as well as Cantors Richard Botton and Mark Lipson. Publishers include Becatone Music, Lawson-Gould Music Publishers, Margun Music, Merion Music, Mobart Music Publications, and New Jewish Music Press. Recordings can be heard on
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 ...
(Acts of Love; Bye, Bye Toots),
Centaur Records Centaur Records is one of the oldest and largest independent classical labels in America. The company is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and was founded by Victor Sachse in 1976. Centaur's catalog includes classical, historical, pops, contemp ...
(Mark Twain Suite), and CRI (Five Progressions for Three Instruments).


Musical style

Levi composes in a wide variety of styles and genres, never pigeonholing himself as a composer of a specific type of music. His vocal and choral works are notable for their clear projection of content and meaning of the text without compromising the quality of the music. In addition to his many works written for professional performers, Levi has composed a group of pieces that were commissioned as presents for major birthdays of amateur musicians, including cellist James Wolfensohn. Levi writes, “The most important thing I learned from
Hall Overton Hall Franklin Overton (February 23, 1920 – November 24, 1972) was an American composer, jazz pianist and music teacher. Life He was born in Bangor, Michigan, the first of the three sons of Stanford and Ruth (Barnes) Overton. He grew up in Gra ...
was to write with a comedian's sense of timing, even in non-comedic works.” His pieces feature a combination of lyricism and drama, often with an underlying or overt sense of humor. His most significant works, both for chorus, orchestra, and soloists, include the comedic Mark Twain Suite as well as his
Passover Passover, also called Pesach (; ), is a major Jewish holidays, Jewish holiday and one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals. It celebrates the Exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Biblical Egypt, Egypt. According to the Book of Exodus, God in ...
Oratorio,
Dayenu Dayenu (Hebrew: , ''Dayyēnū'') is a song that is part of the Jewish holiday of Passover. The word "dayenu" means approximately "it would have been enough," "it would have been sufficient," or "it would have sufficed" (''day-'' in Hebrew is "e ...
, which commemorates the Exodus from Egypt and an escape from a concentration camp during the Holocaust. The New Music Connoisseur has written, “Mr. Levi has a natural flair for theatrical choral music”. Like many composers, Mr. Levi has written memorial works, but also has composed a piece celebrating birth, ''In the Womb'', for chorus with electronic accompaniment. Levi has been an influential composition teacher to many composers including
Alex Weiser Alex Weiser is an American composer of contemporary classical music. Early life and education Weiser was born in New York City to a Jewish family. He attended Stuyvesant High School and Yale University, and received a master's degree in Music The ...
and Murray Hidary. Levi is also a pianist and conductor. He has accompanied many songs by 20th-century composers and conducted his own works as well as musicals, operettas, and the works of Murray Hidary. Levi and his wife, Cathy Waldman, have performed as the Four-Hand Band.


Selected Musical Works


Choral works

*Dateless Calendar (2010) Poems by Sally Fisher For chorus and chamber orchestra *Acts of Love (2002) Poems by Sally Fisher For chorus and chamber orchestra (
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 ...
) *“In the Womb” From In the Beginning... (2000) Libretto by Toni Mergentime Levi Chorus with electronic accompaniment *Bye, Bye Toots: A Memorial Cantata (1998) Based on poems by
Ann Chernow Ann Chernow (née Levy; born February 1, 1936) is an American artist who is known for her portrait-style illustrations that evoke the images of female cinematic figures of the 1930s and 1940s.Barbara Cavaliere, "Ann Chernow," ''Arts Magazine'' (M ...
and Burt Chernow For chorus and piano (Lawson-Gould Music Publishers) *Dayenu (1996) A Passover Oratorio For tenor and baritone solos, chorus and orchestra (Mobart Music Publications) *Journeys & Secrets (1994) Poems by Toni Mergentime Levi For chorus and chamber orchestra (Mobart Music Publications) *Holy Willie's Prayer (1992) Text by
Robert Burns Robert Burns (25 January 1759 – 21 July 1796), also known familiarly as Rabbie Burns, was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the List of national poets, national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. He is the be ...
For chorus and chamber orchestra (Mobart Music Publications) *Bow Down Thine Ear, O Lord (1991) Psalms 86 and 19 For 8 voices or double chorus, a cappella *Songs for the Synagogue (1989) Co-composer: Rabbi Mark Lipson For cantor, adult and children's choirs, and quintet or chamber orchestra (New Jewish Music Press) *Mark Twain Suite (1983) For chorus, tenor solo and orchestra (Lawson-Gould Music Publishers)


Chamber works

*Not in 4 (2008) for piano four-hands *Maverick (2006) for violin and guitar *Second String Quartet (2004) *Activities (2000) for flute and piano *Bow Jest (1983) for solo cello *Elegy and Recreations (1980) for oboe, clarinet, horn, string trio, piano(Margun Music) *Five Progressions for Three Instruments for flute, clarinet and viola (CRI Records) *String Quartet #1 (1970)


Solo vocal

*Six Yiddish Scenes (2002) for low voice and piano, also for high voice or chorus with piano *Zeno's Arrow (2001) Seven Songs to Poems by
Jan Schreiber Jan Schreiber (born 1941) is an American poet, translator, and literary critic who has been part of the renascence of formal poetry that began in the late twentieth century. He is the author of five books of verse, two books of verse translation ...
for tenor or soprano and piano *Black Wings (1986) texts by
Randall Jarrell Randall Jarrell (May 6, 1914 – October 14, 1965) was an American poet, literary critic, children's author, essayist, and novelist. He was the 11th Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress—a position that now bears the title Poet ...
for soprano and piano *This Much I Know (1983) text by
Gertrude Stein Gertrude Stein (February 3, 1874 – July 27, 1946) was an American novelist, poet, playwright, and art collector. Born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania (now part of Pittsburgh), and raised in Oakland, California, Stein moved to Paris in 1903, and ...
for soprano and piano *Spring Sestina (1982) text by Toni Mergentime Levi for soprano, fl, ob, cl, bsn, vib, pno, vln, va, vc, bass (Margun Music) *“The Truth” (1975) text by
Randall Jarrell Randall Jarrell (May 6, 1914 – October 14, 1965) was an American poet, literary critic, children's author, essayist, and novelist. He was the 11th Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress—a position that now bears the title Poet ...
for soprano, solo cello, flute, clarinet, bassoon, piano, harpsichord, string quartet *Jabberwocky (1968) text by
Lewis Carroll Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (27 January 1832 – 14 January 1898), better known by his pen name Lewis Carroll, was an English author, poet, mathematician, photographer and reluctant Anglicanism, Anglican deacon. His most notable works are ''Alice ...
for voice and piano


Orchestral

*Transformations of the Heart (1987) *Symphonic Movement (1972)


Piano Solo

*Venetian Mazes (2012) *Suite for the Best of Hands (1999) *Touchings (1990) *Suite for the Best of Times (1991) *Summer Elegy (1982)


Opera

*In the Beginning... (2000) Libretto by Toni Mergentime Levi An opera parable in seven scenes *Thanksgiving (1976) A serio-comic opera in one act Libretto by Toni Mergentime Levi For 12 singers and chamber orchestra


Birthday commissions

*Zeno's Arrow (2001) Seven Songs to Poems by
Jan Schreiber Jan Schreiber (born 1941) is an American poet, translator, and literary critic who has been part of the renascence of formal poetry that began in the late twentieth century. He is the author of five books of verse, two books of verse translation ...
for tenor or soprano and piano *Activities (2000) for flute and piano *Suite for the Best of Hands (1999) for solo piano *Suite for the Best of Times (1991) for solo piano *Bow Jest (1983) for solo cello


Title themes for television

*''Cuisine Rapide'' (1989) *''Ossie and Ruby'' (1987) *''Madeleine Cooks'' (1986) *
PBS The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educat ...
Signature Tune (1971-1984)


Music for television and films

*Years In The Making, Documentary on Late Life Creativity especially in Wesport, CT(200

*A Gathering of Glory, documentary on 100 years of the arts in Westport, CT (2003) *Divorced Kids’ Blues, jazz-cum-Bach score for Afterschool Special, American Broadcasting Company, ABC-TV (1987) *Daddy Can't Read, rock score for Afterschool Special, American Broadcasting Company, ABC-TV (1987) *The Natural History of the Water Closet: A Documentary Cantata Choral/orchestral music for
PBS The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educat ...
film (1976) *Who Built This Place? Piano ragtime score for
PBS The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educat ...
documentary on landmark architecture (1972)


References


External links

Composer's Official Website
www.PaulAlanLevi.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Levi, Paul Alan 1941 births American male composers 21st-century American composers Juilliard School alumni Portland State University faculty Living people 21st-century American male musicians