O’Brien, Eugene
O’Brien, Eugene
O’Brien, Eugene, American composer and teacher; b. Paterson, N.J., April 24, 1945. He studied with Robert Beadell at the Univ. of Nebr. (B.M., 1967; M.M., 1969) and on a Fulbright fellowship with Zimmermann at the Cologne Staatliche Hochschule für Musik (1969–70); after further training with Eaton and Xenakis at Ind. Univ. (1970–71), he completed his studies with Erb at the Cleveland Inst. of Music (D.M.A., 1983). In the meantime, he taught composition at the Cleveland Inst. of Music (1973–81), subsequently serving as its composer-in-residence and as chairman of its composition and theory dept. (1981–85); he was assoc. prof. of music and chairman of the composition dept. at the school of music at the Catholic Univ. of America in Washington, D.C. (1985–87); then assoc. prof. of music at the Ind. Univ. School of Music in Bloomington (from 1987), where he was chairman of the composition dept. (from 1994). He held the Rome Prize Fellowship at the American Academy in Rome (1971–73); also received NEA (1977, 1979) and Guggenheim (1984–85) fellowships.
Works
dramatic: ballet:Taking Measures (Cleveland, Oct. 10, 1984). orch.:Sym. (Lincoln, Nebr., May 16, 1969); Cello Concerto (1971; Rome, Dec. 5, 1972); Rites of Passage (1978); Mysteries of the Horizon (1987; also for Chamber Orch., 1988); Alto Saxophone Concerto (1989; Bloomington, Ind., Dec. 1, 1993); The Clouds of Magellan for the 175th anniversary of Ind. Univ. (1995). chamber:Intessitura for Cello and Piano (1975); Embarking for Cythera for 8 Instruments (1978); Tristan’s Lament for Cello (1979); Allures for Percussion Trio (1979); Black Fugatos for 5 Instruments (1983); Psalms and Nocturnes for Flute, Viola da Gamba, and Harpsichord (1985); Close Harmony for 2 Pianos (1986); Mysteries of the Horizon for 11 Instruments (1987); Rhyme and Reason for Marimba (1993); Fancies and Goodnights for Flute, Clarinet, and Double Bass (1994). piano:Ambages for Piano, 4-Hands (1972). vocal :Ceremony after a Fire Raid for Baritone and String Quartet (1965); Requiem Mass for Soprano, Chorus, and Wind Ensemble (1966); Nocturne for Soprano and 10 Instruments (1968); Elegy for Bernd Alois Zimmermann for Soprano, Trumpet, 2 Percussion, and Cello (1970); Lingual for Soprano, Flute, and Cello (1972); Dédales for Soprano and Orch. (1973; Rome, Dec. 18, 1976); Dreams and Secrets of Origin for Soprano and Orch. (Cleveland, Oct. 19, 1983); Mareas for Soprano and Orch. (1991).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire