Hearing the Pulitzers

Congratulations to Tyshawn Sorey!

Saddened to hear of Pulitzer-winning composer David Del Tredici’s passing.

David Del Tredici, Who Set ‘Alice’ to Music, Dies at 86 A Pulitzer Prize-winning composer who liked to redefine himself, he was originally known as an experimentalist but was later identified with a lush style that came to be called the New Romanticism.

We're back with a new episode! What do Dave and Andrew think about John Harbison's 1987 PP winning piece "The Flight Into Egypt?"

Episode 45 - 1987: John Harbison, The Flight Into Egypt | Hearing The Pulitzers In this episode Dave and Andrew discuss a composer known for his eclecticism, who writes music that features the influence of jazz, Stravinskian neoclassicism, Schoenbergian serialism, and a variety of popular idioms. But will that mixture of styles win them over when applied to a Biblical text abou...

Check out our latest episode - halfway through the 1980s!

Episode 43 -1985: Stephen Albert, Symphony RiverRun | Hearing The Pulitzers In this episode, Dave and Andrew continue discussing the streak of Neo-Romantic winners of the Pulitzer Prize in music with Stephen Albert's Symphony RiverRun. But will this symphony win them over? For more information about Stephen Albert, we recommend: Ron Petrides's dissertation "Pitch Organizati...

We’re back with a new episode - check it out!

Episode 42 - 1984: Bernard Rands, Canti del Sole | Hearing The Pulitzers In this episode, Dave and Andrew discuss a composer associated with New Romanticism. But is that label reductive or does it accurately describe Bernard Rands's music? How about this song cycle based on poems about the sun? If you'd like more information about Rands, we recommend: Will Robin's articl...

Looking forward to digging into this work in a coming episode. Congrats to Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels!

Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels Win the Pulitzer Prize for Music Giddens said that the success of their opera “Omar” proves that “nobody has the lock on being a composer.”

Any HtP listeners at the Society For American Music conference in Minneapolis this weekend? Andrew and Dave are giving their presentation tomorrow morning (8:30 session, New Sweden 2/3) , so stop by and say hello!

Here's the title and abstract:

"The Pulitzer Pivot: Duke Ellington, 1965, and the Transformation of the Pulitzer Prize in Music"

In 1965, the Pulitzer Prize music jury recommended that instead of giving a music award, Duke Ellington be presented a special commendation. The Prize had never gone to a jazz composer, but the full Pulitzer Board overruled the jury’s recommendation. A scandal ensued, leading to jury members publicly resigning and notable changes in the selection process. Using jury reports from the Pulitzer Board, a close reading of the music jury’s decisions in 1964 and 1965 not awarding a music prize, and comparisons of winning composers and works pre- and post-1965, this presentation demonstrates how the failure to bestow awards catalyzed salient changes moving toward broader inclusion.

Have you listened to our most recent episode on Ellen Taaffe Zwilich (1983 PP winner)? Once you have, check out our bonus interview with her!

Bonus: An Interview with Ellen Taaffe Zwilich | Hearing The Pulitzers In this special bonus episode, Dave and Andrew talk with Pulitzer Winner Ellen Taaffe Zwilich. What did she learn studying at Florida State University and with former Pulitzer winners Roger Sessions and Elliott Carter? And why does she have a framed "Peanuts" cartoon in her studio? We hope you enjoy...

We're sorry to note the passing of Lewis Spratlan, who won the Pulitzer in 2000 for "Life is a Dream," Opera in Three Acts: Act II, Concert Version.

Lewis Spratlan Obituary (2023) - Lumberton, NJ - Daily Hampshire Gazette View Lewis Spratlan's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

Check out this great new article about 1980 Pulitzer Prize winner David Del Tredici!

Then go back and listen to episode 38 for our take on Del Tredici's "In Memory of a Summer Day."

Revisiting a Composer’s Psychedelic Lewis Carroll Music The Albany Symphony is the first orchestra to record two early works in David Del Tredici’s “Alice” cycle.

With the death of Ned Rorem yesterday at the age of 99, you might add our episode on his Pulitzer Prize-winning orchestral composition "Air Music" to your holiday week listening in addition to our latest episode on Del Tredici:

Episode 34 - 1976: Ned Rorem, Air Music In this episode, Dave and Andrew explore a composer better known for his songs who won for an orchestral work, Ned Rorem. They may enjoy The Nantucket Songs but what will they think about Air Music? And was Air Music actually supposed to win the Pulitzer P...

Why does it matter that Dave has never read "Alice in Wonderland?" You can find out in our latest episode that covers David Del Tredici's "In Memory of a Summer Day."

Episode 38 - 1980: David Del Tredici, In Memory of a Summer Day In this episode, Dave and Andrew discuss a composer Aaron Copland called a "rare find among composers — a creator with a truly original gift." Will they agree with Copland about David Del Tredici's In Memory of a Summer Day?   If you'd like more informati...

Ever wonder what Ned Rorem's orchestral music is like? Good enough that he won the Pulitzer for an orchestral suite instead of his songs in 1976! But that win wasn't without controversy. Find out the fascinating history in our latest episode!

Episode 34 - 1976: Ned Rorem, Air Music In this episode, Dave and Andrew explore a composer better known for his songs who won for an orchestral work, Ned Rorem. They may enjoy The Nantucket Songs but what will they think about Air Music? And was Air Music actually supposed to win the Pulitzer P...

Yet another take on the 1965 Ellington situation -- perhaps everyone interested in the topic and signing petitions should listen to our episode on the subject for more context? 😉

Opinion | Give Duke Ellington the 1965 Pulitzer Prize An overdue reckoning worth reckoning with.

Ted Gioia has started a petition to award Duke Ellington the 1965 Pulitzer denied to him. After hearing our episode about the controversy, what do you think?

Let's Give Duke Ellington the Pulitzer Prize He Was Denied in 1965 Last week, the IOC reinstated Jim Thorpe's 1912 Olympic gold medals—it's time to do the same with Duke Ellington's 1965 Pulitzer Prize.

The Pulitzers continued to award atonal, complex music in 1974 with Donald Martino' Notturno. Will Dave and Andrew embrace this portrait of night sounds?

Episode 32 - 1974: Donald Martino, Notturno In this episode, Dave and Andrew discuss a composer who is usually considered a 12-tone composer, but who also rejected labels. He famously told the New York Times in 1997 that "If anyone writes program notes and says I am a Serial or a 12-tone composer, I...

With Richard Taruskin's recent death (and our most recent episode), it seemed appropriate to quote a letter he wrote the editors of the NY Times about Elliott Carter: "The experience to which Mr. Carter's music gives authoritative access is that of belonging to a self-congratulating coterie, lately beside itself with rage at its loss of power to tyrannize the classical music community."

Taruskin was never one to pull his punches.

Self-Congratulators (Published 1997) Letter by Richard Taruskin on June 29 comment by Paul Griffiths on Elliott Carter's orchestral piece Allegro Scorrevole, which was premiered by Cleveland Orchestra on May 22 (S)7

Time for a new episode, the second on Elliott Carter. What will they think of his second quartet to win the award?

Episode 31 - 1973: Elliott Carter, String Quartet No. 3 In this episode, Dave and Andrew revisit Elliott Carter, who won his first Pulitzer in 1960. They awarded his String Quartet No. 2 two big thumbs up. Will they be as enthusiastic about Carter's String Quartet No. 3? If you'd like more information about El...

We just had our first live podcast recording this week with the Kansas City Conducting Symposium at UMKC! Look for the episode to drop in a few months.

What do you think about Mario Davidovsky's Synchronisms No. 6? Our take is below.

Episode 29 - 1971: Mario Davidovsky, Synchronisms No. 6 In this episode, Dave and Andrew discuss the first episode they have a personal connection to as Andrew has performed Mario Davidovsky's Synchronisms No. 6. How does Dave react to the third music winner to incorporate electronic sounds, and how do those so...

New Pulitzer Prize winner announced today! We haven’t had a chance to hear the work yet, but are always excited by new works added to the list. If you’ve listened to “Voiceless Mass” let us know what you think in the comments.

The Pulitzer Prize Winner That Emerged Out of a Time of Quietness Raven Chacon’s “Voiceless Mass,” a work for ensemble and pipe organ that “evokes the weight of history in a church setting,” won the prize for music.

In our latest episode we talk about Husa's "Music for Prague 1968." Finished the year before Husa won the Pulitzer, the work remains his most-performed piece and one of our favorites. Enjoy this performance from Dave and Andrew's alma mater.

Music for Prague, 1968 Provided to YouTube by The Orchard EnterprisesMusic for Prague, 1968 · Karel Husa · University of Illinois Symphonic Band · Dr. Harry Begian · The University...

Perhaps like Dave and Andrew, you know Karel Husa from his wind band works "Music for Prague 1968" or "Apotheosis of this Earth." In the latest episode, join us as we explore a more intimate side of Husa's compositional output with his 3rd String Quartet.

Episode 27 - 1969: Karel Husa, String Quartet No. 3 In this episode, Dave and Andrew explore a composer renowned today for his works for wind band, but celebrated during his lifetime for music that was, in Nicolas Slonimsky's famous phrase, "oxygenated by humanistic romanticism." Join us as we try and tease...

Take a listen to this fascinating short interview with George Crumb from 2011 that shows how relevant his music continues to be to the American experience.

From 'Shenandoah' To Afghanistan: George Crumb's 'Winds Of Destiny' A song cycle inspired by Civil War-era tunes is adapted for a soldier's return from Afghanistan by stage director Peter Sellars and features soprano Dawn Upshaw.

We didn't know when we started recording this season that the first living composer we explored on the podcast would pass before the episode even debuted. We hope you enjoy learning about George Crumb, who was an American original even in 1968 when he won the Pulitzer.

Episode 26 - 1968: George Crumb, Echoes of Time and the River In this episode, Dave and Andrew explore an early work by a composer who transformed American music with his singular vision. But how did a composer who concocted a personal aesthetic reflecting a fascination with "life, death, love, the smell of the earth...