So
often we look at music and composers who walked the earth hundreds of years
ago. These men and women were quite talented and certainly worth being
remembered. But did you know that we also have talented composers alive and
working in the world today? This month, Clef Notes looks at a few of these
composers and their music. Today, we kick things off with Paul Schoenfield.
If
you frequently tune to 90.9, you’ve likely heard Schoenfield’s Four Parables or perhaps his Café Music. But did you know that Café Music was inspired by a Minneapolis
restaurant’s house trio? That’s right – Schoenfield is not only a composer but
a pianist, and after stepping in for the pianist in this house trio, it dawned
on him that it would be neat to write classy dinner music that could also be
performed in a concert hall! He took the Broadway, gypsy, and light classical
sounds he heard the trio perform and created his own work.
Schoenfield
began his music studies as a child on piano and quickly realized he had a passion
for composing. His teachers include famous names such as Rudolf Serkin and
Julius Chajes. His works have been performed by major orchestras including the
New York Philharmonic and the Seattle Symphony. His music finds inspiration in
folk and popular styles as well as traditional classical models.
Join
me next time as we look at a composer known for writing flute and piccolo
music!
