Polin, Claire

Polin, Claire , American flutist, teacher, and composer; b. Philadelphia, Jan. 1, 1926. She studied flute with Kincaid and composition with Persichetti in Philadelphia, Mennin at the Juilliard School of Music in N.Y., and Sessions and Foss at the Berkshire Music Center in Tanglewood; held the degrees of B.Mus. (1948), M.Mus. (1950), and D.Mus. (1955). She taught at the Philadelphia Musical Academy (1949–64) and at Rutgers Univ. (1958–91). A versatile scholar, she wrote and lectured on music, and traveled and played flute in distant lands, including Israel, Russia, and Japan; advanced bold theories, suggesting, for example, a link between Hebrew and Welsh legends, and composed industriously in a cogently modernistic manner, often with recursive ancient modalities.

Works

ORCH .: 2 syms. (1961; Korean, 1976); Scenes from Gilgamesh for Flute and Strings (1972); Amphion (1978); Mythos for Harp and String Orch. (1982). CHAMBER : 3 string quartets (1953, 1959, 1969); Flute Sonata (1954); Structures for Flute (1964); Consecutivo for Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, and Piano (1964); Cader ldris for Brass Quintet (1970); The journey of Owain Madoc for Brass Quintet and Percussion (1971); Maki-mono I for Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, and Piano (1972) and Il for Brass Quintet (1972); Sonata for Flute and Harp (1972); Aderyn Pur for Flute, Alto Saxophone, and Bird Tape (1973); Tower Sonata for Flute, Clarinet, and Bassoon (1974); Death of Procris for Flute and Tuba (1974); Serpentine for Viola (1974); Telemannicon for Oboe and Self-Tape (1975); Klockwork for Alto Saxophone, Horn, and Bassoon (1977); Synaulia for Flute, Clarinet, and Piano (1977); Vigniatures for Harp and Violin (1980); Felina for Harp and Violin (1981); Res naturae for Woodwind Quintet (1982); Kuequenaku-Cambriola for Piano and Percussion (1982); Freltic Sonata for Violin and Piano (1986); Garden of Earthly Delights for Woodwind Quintet (1987); Regensburg for Flute, Guitar, and Dancer (1989); Taliesin for Flute, Oboe, and Cello (1993); piano pieces. VOCAL : Welsh Bardic Odes for Soprano, Flute, and Piano (1956); Canticles for Men’s Voices (1959); Lorca Songs for Voices and Piano (1965); Infinito for Alto Saxophone, Soprano, Chorus, and Narrator (1973); Biblical Madrigals for Chorus (1974); Windsongs for Soprano and Guitar (1977); Isaiah Syndrome for Chorus (1980); Mystic Rondo for Man’s or Woman’s Voice, Violin, and Piano (1987–88).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire