Asia, Daniel

Asia, Daniel, American composer and teacher; b. Seattle, June 27, 1953. He was a student of Stephen Albert at Smith Coll. and of Druckman, Weisberg, and Penderecki at the Yale School of Music (M.M., 1977). He taught at the Oberlin (Ohio) Coll. Cons. of Music (1981–86) and lectured at London’s City Univ. In 1988 he became head of the composition dept. at the Univ. of Ariz, in Tucson. He also served as composer-in-residence of the Phoenix Sym. Orch. from 1991. His music belies a variety of American influences, ranging from Copland and Bernstein to John Adams and Druckman.

Works

ORCH.: 4 syms.: No. 1 (1987; Seattle, Feb. 19, 1990), No. 2, Celebration Symphony, In Memory of Leonard Bernstein (1989-90; Tucson, April 30, 1992), No. 3 (1991-92; Phoenix, May 6, 1992), and No. 4 (1993–94); Black Light (1990; N.Y., Oct. 13, 1991); At the Far Edge (1991); Gateways (1993; Cincinnati, Oct. 7, 1994); Piano Concerto (1994; Grand Rapids, Feb. 10, 1995); Cello Concerto (1997; Greensboro, N.C., Jan. 1998). CHAMBER: Piano Set I (1976) and II (1977); Dream Sequence I for Amplified Trombone (1976); and II for Flute (1989); String Quartet No. 1 (1976–77); Sand I for Flute, Horn, and Double Bass (1977); Live Images for 4 Woodwinds (1978); Rivalries for Chamber Ensemble (1980); Scherzo Sonata for Piano (1978); Piano Quartet (1989); Piano Trio (1996). VOCAL: Sand II for Mezzo- soprano and Chamber Orch. (1978); Ossabaw Island Dream for Mezzo-soprano and Chamber Orch. (1982); Celebration for Baritone, Chorus, Brass Quintet, and Organ (1988); Breath in a Ram’s Horn for High Voice and Piano (1995); Purer Than Purest Pure for Chorus (1996).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire