Reise, Jay

Reise, Jay , American composer and teacher; b. N.Y., Feb. 9, 1950. He studied composition with Jimmy Giuf-fre (1968–70), and pursued his education at Hamilton Coll. (A.B. in English literature, 1972) and the Univ. of Pa. (M.A. in music composition, 1975). He also studied with Messiaen, Davidovsky, Earle Brown, and Schuller at Tanglewood (summers, 1975–77), where he won the Koussevitzky Prize in composition in 1975, and later pursued training in Carnatic (South Indian) rhythm with Adrian L’Armand (1989–92). After teaching at Kirkland Coll. (1976–78) and Hamilton Coll. (1978–80), he joined the faculty of the Univ. of Pa., where he became a prof. of composition. In 1978 and 1984 he held N.E.A. fellowships, in 1980 a Guggenheim fellowship, and in 1998 a Bellagio fellowship. Reise composed the first “operafilm,” Devil in the Flesh (1998–2000).

Works

DRAMATIC: Rasputin, opera (N.Y., Sept. 17, 1988); The Selfish Giant, choreographic tone poem (London, Dec. 4, 1997); Devil in the Flesh: The Operafilm (1998–2000). ORCH.: Hieronymo’s Mad Againe (1976); Paraphonia for Chamber Orch. (1978); 3 syms. (Symphony of Voices, 1978; 1980; 1983); Prelude for Strings (1982); Rhythms Unto Night (1994); Yellowstone Rhythms for Bassoon and Orch. (1997). Concert Band: Tinicum Rhythms (1997). CHAMBER: Concerto-Fantasy for 9 Players (1975); 2 string quartets (1977, 1983); Nightones for Trumpet, String Quartet, and Keyboard Percussion (1981); Fantasy for Cello and Piano (1983); Sinfonietta for Wind Quintet (1985); Trio Rhythmikosmos for Violin, Cello, and Piano (1993); Duo Rhythmikosmos for Violin and Piano (1994); Chesapeake Rhythms for 11 Players (1995). VOCAL: Movements of Imagination for Soprano and Chamber Orch. (1974); Cleopatra for Soprano and Chamber Ensemble (1979); Satori for Soprano and Piano Trio or Piano (1995); Arcadian Shadows for Soprano, Clarinet, Cello, and Piano (1996). OTHER: Organ music; piano pieces.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire