Munn, Zae

Munn, Zae, American composer; b. Moscow, Idaho, Jan. 3, 1953. She studied cello, piano, and voice in her youth, then completed her formal education at the Chicago Musical Coll. at Roosevelt Univ. (B.M., 1978) and the Univ. of 111. at Champaign-Urbana (M.M., 1979; D.M.A. 1985). She held teaching positions at St. Cloud State Univ. in Minnesota (1983–84), Transylvania Univ. in Lexington, Ky. (1984–86), and Bowdoin Coll. in Brunswick, Maine (1986–89), and also held adjunct faculty positions at Moravian Coll. (1989–90) and Lehigh Univ. (1989–90) in Bethlehem, Pa. From 1990 to 1994 she was an asst. prof, at Saint Mary’s Coll. in Notre Dame, Ind., becoming an assoc. prof, in 1994. She also taught summer courses at the Interlochen Arts Camp (from 1997).

Works

orch.:Modem (1987; rev. 1992); Quantum Stew for Concert Band or Wind Ensemble (1992); It’s the Soup That Animates the Noodles for Chamber Orch. (1995). chamber:Provenance for String Quartet (1978; rev. 1988); Serendipity for Oboe, Clarinet, Timpani, Trombone, Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, and Percussion (1980); Interface for Viola and Marimba (1983); Projectual for Cello (1985); Skit No 1, in 3 versions for Chamber Orch., String Orch., or String Quartet (1988); With a Vengeance for Piano Trio (1991); Ockeghem Today for 3 Trumpets, 4 Horns, 3 Trombones, and Tuba (1993); They Were Mysterious Guests, Hard to Capture for Alto Saxophone and Piano (1996); A Fraction of Your Grace for Clarinet and String Quartet (1997); Nudged Along On Time’s Notched Stick for Guitar, Flute, and Viola (1997); Play Up A Storm for Flute, Clarinet, Bassoon, Violin, and Cello (1997); Tangles in the Web for Percussion Ensemble (1997); A Fine Garment, A Gentle Weave, Woven With Whispers and Exclamation Points for Woodwind Quintet (1998); No Longer Suitable for Framing for Clarinet and Trombone (1999); Start Dancing for Viola and 4 Roto-Toms (1999); Libero Arbitrio for Oboe, Bassoon, and Piano (2000). keyboard: piano:Fascination at a Distance (1987); Viscomp 1 and Viscomp 2 (1991); Three Piano Pieces With Important Things for the Left Hand (1995). harpsichord:Pronto, Lamento, Casino (1999). organ:Yelling at God (1998). vocal: mixed chorus:Care-Charmer Sleep for Chorus and Drone (1985); The Whole Machine of the World (1992); To Be Like Music (1993); Certainty of Stone, a young person’s guide to the chorus for Chorus and Piano (1996); Five Animals Songs for Chorus and Piano (1998). women’s chorus:The Muse, the Stove, and the Willow Plate (1988); Grandma’s Alleluia (1989); Memorial (1992). children’s chorus:Come With Me for Treble Chorus and Piano (1995). solo voice and instruments:Lauber Lieder, 4 songs for Soprano and Piano (1994; also for Mezzo-soprano and Piano); Two for Three, 2 songs for Soprano, Flute, and Viola (1994); What’s for Supper?, 4 songs for Soprano, Viola, and Piano (1995). other:In the Scarred Distortions of the Words for 7 to 9 Readers, Piano, 1 to 3 Percussion, and 5 to 8 Brass (1995); The Canvas for Treble Chorus and Orch. (1998). tape:Faster (1989).

—Laura Kuhn/Dennis Mclntire