Composers
George Walker
1922 - 2018About
George Walker (1922-2018) has earned international recognition both as a piano soloist and as a composer. He has been commissioned by the New York Philharmonic, the Cleveland Philharmonic, the Eastman School of Music, the Fromm Foundation, the Kindler Foundation, the Boys Choir of Harlem, the Maryland International Piano Competition, the David Foundation, Frederic Moyer and the Astral Foundation, and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. His works have been performed by the Boston Symphony, National Symphony, the symphony orchestras of Detroit, Dallas, Minneapolis, Denver, Buffalo, the London Symphony, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Walker received a four year scholarship to Oberlin Conservatory where he earned his Bachelor of Music degree at the age of 18. He received his Artist Diploma in piano and composition from the Curtis Institute of Music and a Diploma in piano from the American Academy in Fontainebleau, France. His Doctor of Musical Arts degree is from the Eastman School of Music. Some of the world-renowned musicians with whom he studied are Rudolf Serkin, Rosario Scalero, Nadia Boulanger, Gregory Piatigorsky, William Primrose, and Gian Carlo Menotti. Walker's many awards include honorary doctorates from Lafayette College and Oberlin Conservatory. He has received numerous grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and an award from the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters. Additional fellowships were received from the Fulbright Commission, John Hay Whitney Foundation, the Guggenheim and Rockefellow Foundation, the MacDowell Colony and Yaddo. To crown this distinguished list of achievements, George Walker was awarded the Pulitzer prize in 1996 for his composition, Lilacs. This was the first time a Black musician had been so honored. Walker is professor emeritus at Rutgers University. He has over sixty published works and numerous recordings on the CBS, Desto, Mercury, orion, Serenus, Gun-Mar, and Da Camera Magna labels. Major works appearing on these issues include his Piano and Trombone Concerti, four piano sonatas, Variations for Orchestra, eleven songs for voice and piano, sonatas for violin and piano, and cello and piano, a brass quintet, and his Lyric for Strings.
Related Information
http://www.darryltaylor.com/alliance/composers/george-t-walker
Works by George Walker
Title | Collection | Voice Type | Range | Poet |
---|---|---|---|---|
A Red, Red, Rose | Voice | A#3 - G5 | Robert Burns | |
Bequest | Emily Dickinson Songs for High Voice & Piano | Voice | E4 - A5 | Emily Dickinson |
Ev'ry Time I Feel De Spirit | Voice | F4 - Ab5 | Biblical | |
Hey Nonny No | Medium | E4 - D5 | anonymous | |
I Got a Letter From Jesus | Medium | D4 - F#5 | Biblical | |
I have no life but this | Emily Dickinson Songs for High Voice & Piano | Voice | E4 - A5 | Emily Dickinson |
I Never Saw A Moor | Three Songs for Voice & Piano | Voice | E4 - A5 | Emily Dickinson |
I Went to Heaven | Voice | F#4 - E5 | Emily Dickinson | |
In Time of Silver Rain | Three Songs for Voice & Piano | Voice | D4 - B5 | Langston Hughes |
Lament | Voice | A3 - F5 | Countee Cullen | |
Lilacs | Voice | B3 - C6 | Walt Whitman | |
Mary Wore Three Links of Chain | Medium | E4 - E5 | Biblical | |
Mother Goose | Three Songs for Voice & Piano | Voice | F#4 - G5 | Irene Sekula |
Nocturne | Voice | C#4 - G#5 | Donald S. Hayes | |
Response | Voice | E4 - E5 | Paul Laurence Dunbar | |
So We'll Go No More A-Roving | Voice | D4 - G5 | Lord Byron | |
Softly, Blow Lightly | Voice | C#4 - G5 | Donald S. Hayes | |
Sweet, Let Me Go | Voice | D4 - G#5 | anonymous | |
Take, O Take Those Lips Away | Tenor | E3 - C4 | William Shakespeare | |
The Bereaved Maid | Voice | D4 - F5 | anonymous | |
Velvet Shoes | Soprano | D4 - G5 | Elinor Wylie | |
What if I say, I shall not wait? | Emily Dickinson Songs for High Voice & Piano | Voice | D4 - B5 | Emily Dickinson |
Wild Nights | Emily Dickinson Songs for High Voice & Piano | Voice | F4 - C6 | Emily Dickinson |
With Rue My Heart is Laden | Voice | C#4 - F#5 | A. E. Housman |
Title | Published | Size | Solo with Ensemble | Duration Range | Level | Orchestration |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
An Eastman Overture | Yes | Full Orchestra | 5-10 | Professional | 2+Picc.2+EH.2+BCl.2+Cbsn: 4.4.3.1: Timp.Perc(4).Hp: Str | |
Antifonys | Yes | Full Orchestra | 5-10 | Professional | 1(d Picc).1.1.0: 1.1.1.0: Timp.Perc(2).Clst: Str | |
Antifonys for String Orchestra | Yes | String Orchestra | 5-10 | Professional | str | |
Cantata | Yes | Full Orchestra | Soprano, Tenor | 10-20 | Professional | Soprano, Tenor Soli: SATB or Boys Chorus: 1(d AFl).2.0.0: 0.3.0.0: Timp.Perc(2).Organ: Str |
Cello Concerto | Yes | Full Orchestra | Cello | 20+ | Professional | Cello Solo: 2+Picc(d AFl).2+EH.2+BCl.2+Cbsn: 4.4.3.1: Timp.Perc(4).Clst(d Hpsd).Hp: Str |
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra | Yes | Full Orchestra | Piano | 20+ | Professional | Piano Solo: 2+Picc.2.2+BCl.2+Cbsn: 4.3.3.1: Timp.Perc(4).Celesta.Hp: Str |
Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra | Yes | Full Orchestra | Trombone | 10-20 | Professional | Trombone Solo: 2+Picc.2.2.2+Cbsn: 4.2.2.1: Timp.Perc(3).Clst.Hp: Str |
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra | Yes | Full Orchestra | Violin | 20+ | Professional | Violin Solo: 2+Picc(2dAFl).2+EH.2+BCl.2: 4.4.3.1: Timp.Perc(4).Hps(amplified).Clst.Hp.Gtr: Str |
Da Camera | Yes | String Orchestra | Chamber | 10-20 | Professional | Violin, Cello, Piano, String Orchestra, Harp, Celesta (amplified), Timpani, Percussion (2) and Optional String Ensemble (approx. 6.5.4.4.2 youth ens) | |
Dialogus for Cello and Orchestra | Yes | Full Orchestra | Cello | 10-20 | Professional | Cello Solo: 2+Picc+AFl.2+EH.2+BCl.2+Cbsn: 4.4.3.1: Timp.Perc(5).Pno.Clst.Hp: Str |
Foils for Orchestra: Hommage a Saint George | Yes | Full Orchestra | 10-20 | Professional | 2+Picc.2+EH.2+BCl.2+Cbsn: 4.4.3.1: Timp.Perc.Pno.Hp: Str | |
Folksongs for Orchestra | Yes | Full Orchestra | 10-20 | Professional | 2+Picc.2+EH.2.2: 2.2.2.1: Timp.Perc(6). Pno(d Hpscd).Hp: Str | |
Hoopla: A Touch of Glee | Yes | Full Orchestra | 5-10 | Professional | 2.2+EH.2+BCl.2+Cbsn:4.4.3.1: Timp.Perc.Hp: Str | |
Icarus in Orbit | Yes | Full Orchestra | 5-10 | Professional | 2+Picc.2.2.2: 3.3.2.1: Timp.Perc(4).Hp.Clst: Str | |
Lilacs for Voice and Orchestra | Yes | Full Orchestra | Soprano |Tenor | 5-10 | Professional | Soprano or Tenor Solo: 2+Picc+AFl.2+EH.2+BCl.2: 4.4.4.1: Timp.Perc(4).Harpsichord.Hp: Str |
Lyric for Strings | Yes | String Orchestra | 5-10 | Professional | str | |
Lyric for Strings: for Young Musicians | Yes | String Orchestra | 5-10 | Professional | str | |
Mass | Yes | Full Orchestra | Soprano, Alto, Tanor, Bass | 20+ | Professional | Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass Soli: SATB Chorus: 2+Picc+AFl.2+EH.2+BCl.2+Cbsn: 4.2.3.1: Timp.Perc(5).Organ.Hp: Str |
Orpheus | Yes | Chamber Orchestra | Narrator (Baritone), 3 speakers (Tenor, Bass, Soprano) | 10-20 | Professional | Narrator (Baritone), 3 speakers (Tenor, Bass, Soprano)1.1.1.1: 2.2.1.0: Timp.Perc(2).Pno.Hp: Str |
Overture in Praise of Folly | Yes | Full Orchestra | 5-10 | Professional | 2+picc, 2+eh, 2+bcl, 2+Cbsn: 4.4.3.1: Timp, Perc (5), Piano (+celeste), Hp: Str | |
Pageant and Proclamation | Yes | Full Orchestra | 10-20 | Professional | 2+Picc.2+EH.2+BCl.2+Cbsn: 4.4.3.1: Timp.Perc(4).Pno(d Clst).Hp: Str | |
Poeme | Yes | Full Orchestra | Violin | 10-20 | Professional | Violin Solo: 1(d Picc).2.1(d BCl).1: 2.1.1.1: Timp.Perc(3).Pno.Hp: Str |
Serenata | Yes | Full Orchestra | 10-20 | Professional | 2(1d Picc).2.2.2: 2.2.1.0: Timp.Perc(3).Pno: Str | |
Sinfonia No. 1 | Yes | Full Orchestra | 10-20 | Professional | 2+Picc.2+EH.2+BCl.2+Cbsn: 4.4.3.1: Timp.Perc(6).Pno(d Hpscd).Hp: Str | |
Sinfonia No. 2 | Yes | Full Orchestra | 10-20 | Professional | 2+Picc.2+EH.2+BCl.2+Cbsn: 4.4.3.1: Timp.Perc(3).Guitar.Pno.Hp: Str | |
Sinfonia No. 3 | Yes | Full Orchestra | 10-20 | Professional | 2+Picc.2+EH.2+BCl.2+Cbsn: 4.4.3.1: Timp.Perc(4).Clst.Hp: Str | |
Sinfonia No. 4 "Strands" | Yes | Full Orchestra | 10-20 | Professional | 2,1 2(1) 2(1) 2,1; 4331; Timp, Perc, Pno, Hp; Stgs | |
Sinfonia No. 5 "Visions" | Yes | Full Orchestra | 10-20 | Professional | SATB Chorus; 2,1 2,1 2,1 2,1; 4431; timp, 4 perc. hp, pno, hpchd (elec.); stgs | |
Tangents for Chamber Orchestra | Yes | Chamber Orchestra | 5-10 | Professional | 2.2.2 (1d BCl).2.: 2.2.1.0: Timp.Perc(2).Pno(d Clsta).Harp: Str | |
Variations for Orchestra | Yes | Full Orchestra | 10-20 | Professional | 2+AFl+Picc.2+EH.2+BCl.2+Cbsn: 4.3.3.1: Timp.Perc(5).Pno(d Clst).Hp: Str | |
Violin Concerto | Yes | Full Orchestra | Violin | 20+ | Professional | 3332, 4431, timp, perc, hps (amplified), clst, hp, gtr, str |
Composer | Title | Work | Instrumentation | Level | Number of Movements | Accompanied | Size | Duration Range |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
George Walker | Bauble | Piano | 1 | No | Solo | |||
George Walker | Chorale Prelude on Liebster Jesu, wir sing hier | Organ | 1 | No | Solo | |||
George Walker | Prayer: An Offertory | Organ | 1 | No | Solo | |||
George Walker | Prelude and Caprice | Piano | Advanced | 1 | No | Solo | ||
George Walker | Sonata No. 1 | Piano | 3 | No | Solo | |||
George Walker | Sonata No. 2 | Piano | 4 | No | Solo |