Coates, Gloria
Coates, Gloria
Coates, Gloria, compelling American composer; b. Wausau, Wise, Oct. 10, 1938. She was educated at La. State Univ. (B.Mus. in composition and voice; M.Mus. in composition and musicology), and pursued postgraduate studies at Columbia Univ. She also attended the Cooper Union Art School. Her principal mentors in composition were Otto Luening and Alexander Tch-erepnin. In 1969 she went to Munich, and in 1971 she founded the German-American Contemporary Music Series in both Munich and Cologne, serving as its director until 1983. From 1975 to 1984 she taught music for the Univ. of Wise. International Programs in Munich, and also in London in 1976. Coates gained wide recognition with the premiere of her Music on Open Strings (Sym. No. 1) at the Warsaw Autumn Festival on Sept. 20, 1978. While she has composed a number of distinguished scores in several genres, it is as a symphonist that she has made her most significant contribution to the late 20th century repertoire. Her syms. often display a remarkable originality, assured technique, dramatic sweep, and luminous expressivity. A number of CD recordings of her works have been adorned with her original paintings.
Works
orch.:ll syms.: No. 1, Music on Open Strings, for String Orch. (1973-74; Warsaw, Sept. 20, 1978), No. 2, Illuminato in Tenebris or Music in Abstract Lines (1988; N.Y., Nov. 16, 1989; based on Planets for Chamber Orch., 1974; Hannover, Feb. 2, 1975), No. 3, Symphony Nocturne, for String Orch. (1976-77; Heidelberg, lune 24, 1988), No. 4, Chiaroscuro (1984-90; Stuttgart, June 22, 1990), No. 5, Three Mystical Songs, for Chorus and Orch. (1985-86; Berlin, Nov. 7, 1990), No. 6, Time Frozen (1994-95; 1st perf. of 2nd movement as Music in Micro-tones for Chamber Orch., Boston, Nov. 6, 1987), No. 7 (1990-91; Munich, Feb. 21, 1997), No. 8, Indian Sounds, for Tenor or Soprano Solo Vocalise or Soprano and Alto Duet and Orch. (1991; Dresden, Feb. 27, 1992), No. 9, Homage to Van Gogh (1992-93; Dresden, March 25, 1995), No. 10, Drones of Druids on Celtic Ruins (1993-94; Erding, Oct. 8, 1995), and No. 11 (1998-99; Zeli on the Pram, Austria, July 8, 1999); Transitions for Chamber Orch. (1984-85; Munich, June 12, 1985). chamber: Trio for 3 Flutes (1966; N.Y., March 19, 1967); Five Abstractions of Poems by Emily Dickinson for Woodwind Quartet (1966-75; Geneva, Jan. 27, 1976); 5 string quartets: No. 1 (1966; Munich, Dec. 15, 1983), No. 2, The Olympic (1971-72; Munich, Sept. 19, 1972), No. 3 (1975; Munich, July 12, 1976), No. 4 (1977; Berlin, April 21, 1978), and No. 5 (1988; Munich, March 16, 1995); Tones in Overtones for Piano (1971-72; Munich, Oct. 2, 1973); May the Morning Star Rise for Viola and Organ (Starnberg, March 22, 1974); Spring Morning in Grobholzes’ Garden for 3 Flutes and Tape (WDR, Cologne, Sept. 8, 1976); Breaking Through for Alto Recorder (1987; Heidelberg, June 26, 1988); Breaking Through for Flute (1987-88; Munich, Oct. 18, 1988); Lunar Loops for 2 Guitars (1987-88; Munich, June 8, 1989); Floating Down the Mississippi for 8 Guitars (1987-97; Munich, March 8, 1998); Lichtsplitter for Flute, Harp, and Viola (1988; Munich, June 14, 1989; also for Flute, Harp, Viola, and Percussionist, 1989, Munich, Nov. 18, 1990, and as Transfer 482 for Harp, Flute, Viola, and 2 Percussionists, 1992); In the Mt. Tremper Zen Monastery for 2 Percussionists, Viola, and Harp or Piano (1988-92; Dresden, Oct. 8, 1992); In the Glacier for 10 Flutists and Percussion (Munich, Oct. 18, 1992); Konigshymne (Royal Anthem) for 10 Flutists and Percussion (1992; Dresden, June 2, 1993); Blue Flowers for 10 Flutists (Munich, Oct. 18, 1992); Blue Steel Bent for 10 Flutists (Munich, Oct. 18, 1992); Night Music for Tenor Saxophone, Piano, and Gongs (1992; Erfurt, July 26, 1993); Turning To for 2 Flutists (Munich, Nov. 19, 1995); Homage to Novalis for Flute, Harp, and 2 Cellos or Cello, and Viola (1996; Passau, June 24, 1997); Fairytale Suite for Flute (Passau, June 24, 1997). vocal: 7 Songs with Poems by Emily Dickinson for Voice and Chamber Orch. (1962-88; Munich, Dec. 14, 1989); 15 Songs on Poems by Emily Dickinson for Voice and Piano (1965–97); The Force for Peace in War for Soprano and Chamber Orch. (1973-88; Bonn, May 29, 1989); Fragment from Leonardo’s Notebooks for Soli and Orch., after Leonardo da Vinci (1976-84; Bayreuth, Aug. 25, 1984); Fonte di Rimini (Sinfonia brevis) for Chorus and Orch., after Leonardo da Vinci (1976-84; Bayreuth, Aug. 25, 1984); The Beatitudes for Chorus (1978; Munich, May 8, 1979); The Swan, dramatic scene for Soprano, Oboe or English Horn, Timpani, and 2 Percussionists, after Mallarmé (1988; Munich, May 11, 1989); Cette Blanche Agonie for Soprano and Chamber Orch., after Mallarmé (1988-91; Munich, Feb. 27, 1992); Wir tönen allein for Soprano and Chamber Orch., after Celan (1989-91; Dresden, Feb. 27, 1992); Rainbow Across the Night Sky for Women’s Voices, Violin, Viola, Cello, and 2 Percussionists (1991; Bremerhaven, June 20, 1992).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire