Larsen, Libby (actually, Elizabeth Brown)

Larsen, Libby (actually, Elizabeth Brown), American composer; b. Wilmington, Del., Dec. 24, 1950. She was a pupil of Argento, Fetler, and Eric Stokes at the Univ. of Minn. (B.A., 1971; M.A., 1975; Ph.D., 1978). With Stephen Paulus, she founded the Minn. Composers Forum in Minneapolis in 1973, serving as its managing composer until 1985; she also was composer-in-residence of the Minn. Orch. (1983–87). Her works have been widely performed in the U.S. and abroad. One of her most impressive scores, the choral sym. Coming Forth into Day (1986), utilizes a text by Jehan Sadat, the widow of the slain leader of Egypt.

Works

dramatic: Opera: The Words upon the Windowpane (1978); The Silver Fox, children’s opera (1979); Tumbledown Dick (1980); Clair de lune (1984); Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus (1989; St. Paul, Minn., May 25, 1990); Mrs. Dalloway, chamber opera (1992; Cleveland, July 22, 1993); Eric Hermannson’s Soul (1997). orch.:Tom Twist for Narrator and Orch. (1975); Weaver’s Song and Jig for String Band and Chamber Orch. (1978); Pinions for Violin and Chamber Orch. (1981); Ringeltanze for Men’s Chorus, Handbells, and Orch. (1982; Grand Rapids, Mich., Dec. 3, 1983); Deep Summer Music (1983); Parachute Dancing, overture (1983); 5 syms.: No. 1, Water Music (1984), No. 2, Coming Forth Into Light, for Soprano, Baritone, Chorus, and Orch. (1985; St. Paul, Minn., April 14, 1986), No. 3, Lyric (1990-91; Albany, N.Y., May 3, 1991), No. 4 for Strings (1998), and No. 5 (Denver, Sept. 17, 1999); Coriolis (1986); What the Monster Saw (1987); Trumpet Concerto (1988); Collage Boogie(1988); 3 Summer Scenes (1989); Cold, Silent Snow, concerto for Chamber Orch. (1989); Piano Concerto, Since Armstrong (1989; Minneapolis, May 8, 1992); Ghosts of an Old Ceremony for Orc(. and Dancers (Minneapolis, April 17, 1991); Marimba Concerto, After Hampton (1992); Mary Cassatt for Mezzo-soprano, Trombone, and Orch. (1993); Ways of Spreading Light for Orch. and Chorus (1994); Overture for the End of a Century (1994). chamber:4 on the Floor for Violin, Cello, Double Bass, and Piano (1977); Bronze Veils dor Trombone and Percussion (1979); Ulloa’s Ring for Flute and Piafo (1980); Scudding for Cello (1980); Triage for Harp (1981); Aubade for Flute (1982); Jazz Variations for Bassoon (1984); North Star Fanfare for Chamber Ensemble (1984); The Astonishing Flight of Gump for Chamber Ensemble (1986); Juba for Cello and Piano (1986); Love and Hisses for Double Wind Quintet (1986); Black Birds, Red Hills for Soprano, Clarinet, and Piano (1987); Vive for Flute Quartet (1988); Xibalba for Bassoon and 2 Percussionists (1989); Aspects of Glory for Organ (1990); Schoenberg, Schenker, Schillinger for String Quartet (1991); Celebration of Light for Chorus and Brass Quintet (1994).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire