WorldView Episode 57: Jennifer Higdon
Episode fifty-seven of WorldView features Jennifer Higdon, an American composer who has become a leading figure in contemporary classical composition. The recipient of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize in Music and several Grammy awards, Higdon was originally influenced by popular music, a background reflected in many of her compositions today.
Jennifer Elaine Higdon was born in Brooklyn in 1962, but spent much of her childhood in Georgia and Tennessee. She first began performing and listening to classical music in high school, as a percussionist and flutist in school ensembles. Despite having very little background in classical music, Higdon attended Bowling Green State University to study music theory and performance. It was during this time that she wrote her first composition, “Night Creatures”. Written for flute and piano, the two-minute long piece alternates between only six notes. After graduating from Bowling Green, Higdon earned an Artist’s Diploma from the Curtis Institute of Music.
In the past several decades, Higdon has emerged as a leading figure in modern classical composition. She has completed commissions for several ensembles and performers, including the Chicago Symphony, the National Symphony Orchestra, baritone Thomas Hampson and violinist Hilary Hahn. Many of Higdon’s works are considered neoromantic, a musical style characterized by both romantic themes and modern musical techniques. Higdon often uses traditional tonal structures, while exploring various harmonic progressions and methodology.
In this episode of WorldView, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and conductor Robert Spano perform Higdon’s “City Scape”. The work was commissioned by the Atlanta Symphony in 2002, and reflects the composer’s memories of growing up in Atlanta. “City Scape” is made up of three movements: “Skyline”, “River Sings a Song to Trees”, and “Peachtree Street”. Enjoy!
WorldView Episode Fifty-Seven Playlist:
Zhou LONG, “Song of the Ch’in”, {Ying Quartet} - Telarc
Jennifer HIGDON, “City Scape”, {Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Robert Spano} - Telarc
Ernest TOMLINSON, “Graceful Dance”, {Northern Sinfonia, David Lloyd-Jones} - Naxos
Libby LARSEN, “Rodeo Reina De Cielo (Rodeo Queen of Heaven)”, {Enhakē} - Naxos
WorldView is a classical music radio show featuring composers from everywhere in the world - except Western Europe. Tune in to hear works by lesser-known artists such as Nancy Dalberg and Isang Yun, and widen your knowledge of classical music. Hinke Younger hosts each week’s episode of WorldView on Mondays at 9AM and 6PM (with a rebroadcast Saturdays at 2PM) on Charlottesvilleclassical.org.