Israel, Brian M.

Israel, Brian M., American composer, pianist, and teacher; b. N.Y., Feb. 5, 1951; d. Syracuse, N.Y., May 8, 1986. He wrote an opera before he was eight, and received BMI student composer awards in 1966 and 1968. He pursued training in composition with Kay at Lehman Coll. in N.Y., (B.A., 1971) and with Palmer, Phillips, and Husa at Cornell Univ. (M.F.A., 1974; D.M.A., 1975), where he was on the faculty (1972–75). In 1975 he began teaching at Syracuse Univ., and in 1984 was made a prof. there. As a pianist, he performed much contemporary music. At the time of his death from leukemia, he was at the height of his compositional creativity. His works form an eclectic traversal from Baroque contrapuntal devices to serialism, juxtaposing humor and grotesqueries. He wrote extensively for concert band and frequently featured lesser-used instruments in solos.

Works

dramatic: Opera: Ladies’ Voices, miniopera (1970); The Obtaining of Portia, chamber opera (Bloomington, Ind., April 13, 1976); Love and Other Important Nonsense (1977); Winnie the Pooh, children’s opera (Syracuse, June 1, 1979). ORCH.: Contrasts for Cello and Orch. (1967); Sym. No. 2 (1974), No. 4 for Women’s Chorus and Orch. (1984), and No. 6 for Soprano, Bass, and Orch. (Syracuse, N.Y., May 4, 1986); Viola Concerto (1974); Dorian Variations for Strings (1981); 2 sinfoniettas (1983, 1985); Mandolin Concerto (1985). Band: Sym. No. 1 (1972–74), No. 3 (1981), and No. 5 for Men’s Chorus, Organ, and Band (1983–84); Concerto Sacra (1974); Piano Concerto (1979; Ithaca, N.Y., March 2, 1980); Concerto Buffo for 9 Soloists and Band (1980); Baritone Saxophone Concerto (1982); Trumpet Concerto (1982); Rhapsody for Baritone Horn and Band (1983); Winter Evening Song (1983); Clarinet Concerto (1984); Double Concerto for Sopranino and Bass Saxophones and Band (1984). CHAMBER: Sonata for Cello and Percussion (1969); Clarinet Sonata (1969); 3 string quartets: No. 1, Canonic Variations (1971), No. 2, Musik fir den nachsten toten (1976; rev. 1983), and No. 3 (1978); Pastoral for Oboe, Strings, and Piano (1971); Oboe Sonata (1972); Wind Quartet (1973); Piano Quintet (1973); Dance Variations for Trumpet and Tape (1974); 2 sonatas for 2 Tubas (1976, 1977); Sonata for 2 Trombones (1977); Characteristic Variations for Trumpet (1978); Concertino for Clarinet and String Quartet (1978); Serenade for 3 Trumpets (1978); Piano Trio, “in memoriam Ernest Bloch” (1980); Sonata for 2 Horns (1980); Concerto for Tuba Ensemble (1980); Alto Saxophone Sonata (1980); Sonata di Chiesa for 4 Trumpets (1983); Serenata for Flute, Cello, and Harpsichord (1983); Concertino for Saxophone Ensemble (1985); Sonatinetta for Mandolin and Guitar (1984); Arioso and Canzona for Saxophone Ensemble (1985); Surrealistic Serenade for Mandolin and Euphonium (1985); Piano Quartet, Variations on a Hymn Tune (1985); Trois Grotesques for Clarinet or Soprano Saxophone and Piano (1985). Piano: Night Variations (1973); 6 Miniatures (1982); 12 Bagatelles (1985). VOCAL: Madrigal on Nudity for Chorus (1971); …Where Night Gathers for Tenor and 2 Pianos (1974); M’bevrashua, after Burma Shave road signs, for Chorus and Percussion (1974); Lovesongs, Lions, and Lullabyes (Barcarolles) for Soprano, Clarinet, and Piano (1979); In Praise of Practically Nothing for Tenor and 9 Instruments (1980); Psalm 117 for Chorus, Organ, and Trumpet (1981); The Song of Moses, canticle for Chorus, Organ, and Brass Quartet (1985).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire