Moss, Lawrence (Kenneth)

Moss, Lawrence (Kenneth), American composer and teacher; b. Los Angeles, Nov. 18, 1927. He studied at the Univ. of Calif, at Los Angeles (B.A., 1949), at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. (M.A., 1950), and with Kirchner at the Univ. of Southern Calif, in Los Angeles (Ph.D., 1957). He held a Fulbright scholarship (1953–54), 2 Guggenheim fellowships (1959–60; 1968–69), and 3 NEA grants (1975,1977,1980). He taught at Mills Coll. (1956–59) and Yale Univ. (1960–68), then was a prof, and director of the composition dept. at the Univ. of Md. at Coll. Park (from 1969). In 1986 he was composer-in-residence at the Rockefeller Center in Bellagio, Italy. His style of composition tends toward polycentric tonality, with sporadic application of serial techniques and electronic sounds.

Works

dramatic: opera:The Brute, comic opera (1960; Norfolk, Conn., July 15, 1961); The Queen and the Rebels (1989). theater:Unseen Leaves for Soprano, Oboe, Tapes, Slides, and Lights (Washington, D.C., Oct. 20, 1975); Nightscape for Soprano, Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Percussion, Dancer, Tape, and Slides (1978); Dreamscape for Dancer, Tape, and Lights (1980); Images for Clarinet, Tape, and Dancer (1981); Rites for Tape, Slides, Lights, and Dancers (1983); Song to the Floor for Dancer and Tape (1984); That Gong-Tormented Sea for Tape and Dance (1985); Lesbia’s Sparrow for Singer, Tape, and Dancer (1985); Incidental Music for Percussion and Mime/Dancer (1986); Blackbird for Clarinet, Mime/Dancer, and Tape (1987); Summer Night on the Yogahenney River for Soprano, Dancer, and Tape (1989). or ch. :Suite (1950); Scenes for Small Orch. (1961); Paths (1970); Symphonies for Brass Quintets and Chamber Orch. (1977); Clouds for Chamber Ensemble (1989); Chinese Lullaby for Band (1994); Dragon and Phoenix for Band (1997). chamber: 3 string quartets (1958,1975,1980); Violin Sonata (1959); Music for 5 for Brass Quintet (1963); Patterns for Flute, Clarinet, Viola, and Piano (1967); Auditions for Woodwind Quintet and Tape (1971); B.P: A Melodrama for Trombone, Piano, and Tape (1976); Chanson for Flute Choir (1979); Apresludes for Flute and Percussion (1983); Music of Changes for 7 Performers and Conductor (1986); Various Birds for Woodwind Quintet (1987); Violaria, una dramma per musica for Viola and Tape (1988); Clouds for Chamber Ensemble (1990); Through a Window...for Flute, Clarinet, and Contrabassoon (1991); Quartet for Flute, Cello, Percussion, and Piano (1992); Saxpressivo for Alto Saxophone and Tape (1992); 6 Little Pieces for Saxophone and Piano (1993); Fantasy for Harp (1996); River Music for Saxophone Quartet (1996); Into the Woods for Flute and Tape (1996); Conversations for Oboe, Violin, Viola, and Cello (1997); Lifelines for Clarinet and Tape (1998); Dao Ditties for Clarinet, Violin, Percussion, and Piano (1998); Harried for Bass Clarinet and Tape (1999); piano pieces. vocal:A Song of Solomon for Chorus and Piano (1956); Song of Myself for Baritone and Chamber Ensemble (1957); Ariel for Soprano and Orch. (1969); Loves for Soprano, Flute, Clarinet, Viola, Harp, and Piano (1982); Voyages for Tenor, Flute, Clarinet, Percussion, Violin, Viola, and Cello (1985); Grand is the Seen for 6 Soloists and Chorus (1989); Love Songs for Baritone and Harp (1990); Songs of the Earth and Sky for Mezzo-soprano, Clarinet, Violin, and Piano, 4-Hands (1990); 10 Miracles, song cycle for Tenor, Oboe, and Harp (1993); From Dawn to Dawn for Baritone, Oboe, and Orch. (1994); A Bird...A Sleep...A Thought...for Chorus and Piano (1998); 3 Chinese Poems for Soprano and Cello (1999).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire