Kim, Earl

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Kim, Earl

Kim, Earl (actually, Eul), American composer and pedagogue of Korean descent; b. Dinuba, Calif., Jan. 6, 1920. He commenced piano training at 9, and then studied with Homer Grun. He subsequently studied with Schoenberg (composition and theory) at the Univ. of Calif, at Los Angeles (1939), and then became a student of Bloch at the Univ. of Calif, at Berkeley (1940). His studies were interrupted by service in the U.S. Army Intelligence Service during World War II, after which he returned to Berkeley to study with Sessions (M.A., 1952). After serving as a prof, at Princeton Univ. (1952–67), he was James Edward Ditson Prof, of Music at Harvard Univ. (1967–90). In addition to his activities as a composer and teacher, he has made appearances as a pianist and conductor. Among his many honors are the Prix de Paris, a National Inst. of Arts and Letters award, the Brandeis Univ. Creative Arts Award, a Guggenheim fellowship, and an NEA fellowship.

Works

dramatic:Opera: Footfalls (1981). orch.:Dialogues for Piano and Orch. (1959); Violin Concerto (N.Y., Oct. 25, 1979). chamber: 2 Bagatelles for Piano (1952); 12 Caprices for Violin (1980); Scenes from Childhood for Brass Quintet (1984). vocal:Letters Found near a Suicide, song cycle (1954); Exercises en Route for Soprano, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, and 2 Percussion (1961–71); Narratives for High Soprano, Woman’s Voice, Actor, 2 Violins, Cello, 2 Trumpets, Trombone, Piano, Television, and Lights (1973–76); Now and Then for Soprano, Flute, Harp, and Viola (1981); Where Grief Slumbers for Soprano, Harp, and String Orch. (1982); Cornet for Narrator and Orch. (1983); The 7^th Dream for Soprano, Baritone, Violin, Cello, and Piano (1986); The 11^th Dream for Soprano, Baritone, Violin, Cello, and Piano (1988); 3 Poems in French for Soprano and String Quartet (1989); 4 Lines from Mallarmé for Voice, Flute, Vibraphone, and Percussion (1989); Some Thoughts on Keats and Coleridge,“in memoriam Roger Sessions” for Chorus (1990); The 26^th Dream for Baritone, Chorus, and String Orch. (1991–92); Dear Linda for Woman’s Voice, Flute or Piccolo, Piano, Marimba, Percussion, and Cello (1992).