John Harbison

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John Harris Harbison (born December 20, 1938 in Orange, New Jersey) is a composer, best known for his operas and large choral works.

Harbison won a prize for composition at the age of sixteen. He studied music at Harvard University, where he sang with the Harvard Glee Club, and later at Princeton. He is an Institute Professor of music at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a former student of Walter Piston and Roger Sessions. His works include several symphonies, string quartets and concerti for violin, viola and double bass.

He won the Pulitzer Prize for music in 1987 for The Flight Into Egypt (see Discography). He was nominated for a 2006 Grammy Award for Best Small Ensemble Performance for his composition, Mottetti di Montale.

The Metropolitan Opera commissioned Harbison's The Great Gatsby to celebrate Maestro James Levine's twenty-fifth anniversary with the company. The opera premiered on December 20, 1999, conducted by Levine and starring Jerry Hadley, Dawn Upshaw, Susan Graham, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, Mark Baker, Dwayne Croft, and Richard Paul Fink.

Harbison was commissioned by the late Pope John Paul II to write a piece for the Vatican to be performed at the "Reconciliation Between Jews, Christians and Muslims" concert. Abraham, a six-minute composition for brass and choir, had its world premiere on January 17, 2004 under the baton of Sir Gilbert Levine, KCSG.

Harbison is the principal guest conductor for Emmanuel Music in Boston.

When asked for his "artistic Credo" Harbison (1990) replied: "to make each piece different from the others, to find clear, fresh large designs, to reinvent traditions."

He is married to violinist Rose Mary Pederson.

[edit] Discography

Mirabai Songs / Variations (1987). Northeastern Records NR 230-CD. Performed by Janice Felty, mezzo-soprano, Collage New Music Ensemble, conducted by John Harbison — Rose Mary Harbison, violin; David Satz, clarinet; Ursula Oppens, piano. Tracks:

Mirabai Songs, text from Mirabai Versions by Robert Bly: I. It's True, I Went to the Market
II. All I Was Doing Was Breathing
III. Why Mira Can't Go Back to Her Old House
IV. Where Do You Go?
V. The Clouds
VI. Don't Go, Don't Go
Variations, for violin, clarinet, and piano

The Flight into Egypt and other works by John Harbison (1990). New World Records 80395-2. Performed by The Cantata Singers and Ensemble, The Los Angeles Philharmonic New Music Group, and The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. Conducted by David Hoose, John Harbison, and Andre Previn. Tracks:

The Flight Into Egypt, text from the King James translation of the story of the Flight into Egypt in the Gospel of Matthew
The Natural World: Prelude
Where We Must Look for Help, text from Robert Bly
On the Road Home, text from Wallace Stevens
Milkweed, text from James Wright
Concerto for Double Brass Choir and Orchestra: I. Invention on a Motif: Tempo giusto
II. Invention on a Chord: Cantabile
III. Invention on a Cadence: Molto allegro

At First Light (1998). Archetype Records 60106. Performed by Lorraine Hunt, mezzo-soprano, Dawn Upshaw, soprano, Greenleaf Chamber Players, and Metamorphosen Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Scott Yoo. Tracks: