William Susman

{{Infobox person

| name = William Susman

| image = William Susman.jpg

| image_upright = 0.7

| caption =

| birth_name = William Joseph Susman

| birth_place = Chicago, United States

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1960|8|29}}

| death_date =

| education = University of Illinois
Stanford University

| occupation = Composer, pianist, film producer

| years_active = 1983–present

| organizations =

| website = {{url|http://www.susmanmusic.com}}

}}

William Joseph Susman (born August 29, 1960) is an American composer of concert and film music and a pianist. He has written orchestral and chamber music as well as documentary film scores."All Music" [http://www.allmusic.com/artist/william-susman-mn0001001664/biography William Susman Biography]

Music

Susman's music blends isorhythm and hocketing with montuño and clave rhythms in a fusion that combines both the complexity of Western classical tradition and the syncopation and polyrhythms of Afro-Cuban music. [https://meettheartist.online/2022/05/23/william-susman-composer/ Meet The Artist)] In addition to performances of his music in the U.S. and Europe, his compositions have been broadcast, for example his piano concerto on WQXR,[http://www.wqxr.org/#!/musicians/william-susman/ Last played Monday, July 18 2016 at 01:18 AM / Piano Concerto / William Susman] WQXR 18 July 2016 in New Sounds on WNYC,"New Sounds, WNYC" [http://www.wnyc.org/shows/newsounds/episodes/2009/07/16 Psychosounds, J. Schaefer, New Sounds, Broadcast on WNYC] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20090808055912/http://www.wnyc.org/shows/newsounds/episodes/2009/07/16 archive of the original]) Echoes"Echoes Radio Show" [http://www.echoes.org/playlists/0936C.html Syndicated to NPR (Public Radio International)] on NPR and Concertzender.Concertzender (8 September 2003). [http://www.concertzender.nl/programma/thema-william-susman-2/ "14:00 - 16:00 Thema: William Susman"].

He founded the record label Belarca Records to distribute his material and the work of other living composers.Belarca Records[https://belarca.com/]

Influences

Susman's earliest orchestral works were influenced by Iannis Xenakis and György Ligeti.Opus One Memphis [http://opusonememphis.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/interview-with-william-susman-composer-of-zydeco-madness/ Interview with William Susman] He is interested in algorithmic composition, following his composition teacher Herbert Brun at the University of Illinois and John Chowning at The Center For Computer Research in Music and Acoustics at Stanford University.All Music Guide [http://www.allmusic.com/artist/william-susman-q210974/biography Stephen Eddins Biography for William Susman] CCRMA Stanford Archives [https://ccrma.stanford.edu/~aj/archives/docs/all/150.pdf Young composer pursues a career] His microtonal compositions were influenced by Ben Johnston. He also studied piano with Pauline Lindsey (a student of Artur Schnabel), Steve Behr (pianist with Louis Armstrong) and Alan Swain.

Awards

ASCAP Foundation Young Composer Award for Trailing VorticesASCAP. [http://www.ascap.com/eventsawards/awards/concertawards/2004/previous.aspx Morton Gould Young Composer Awards Recipients 1979-2003]
ASCAP Foundation Raymond Hubbell Award for Movement for Orchestra
BMI Student Composer Award for Pentateuch[http://www.bmi.com/genres/entry/bmi_student_composer_award_winners BMI Student Composer Award Winners] BMI
Fromm Music Foundation at Harvard for Trailing VorticesFromm Music Foundation archives. [https://frommfoundation.fas.harvard.edu/people/william-susman Fromm Commission]
Gaudeamus International Musicweek for Trailing Vortices
International Documentary Association Pare Lorenz Award, for Oil on Ice IMDb.[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0420036/awards/?ref_=tt_awd IDA Pare Lorenz Award 2004]
KUCYNA/ALEA III International Composers Competition for Twisted Figures
Percussive Arts Society for Exchanges

Works

Orchestra

In A State of Patterns (2018)
Piano Concerto (2011)
Snow Lion of Peace (2009)
Zydeco Madness: To the Forgotten of Hurricane Katrina (2006)
Angels of Light (1991)
Uprising (1989)
Trailing Vortices (1986)
Pentateuch (1984)
Openings (1982)
Movement for Orchestra (1980)

Chamber ensemble

The Heavens Above for Two Brass Quintets (2023)
Seven Scenes for Four Flutes (2011)
Camille (2010)
Clouds and Flames (2010)
Native New Yorker (2005)
Three Different Keyboards (2001)
The Starry Dynamo (1994)
Exposé (1989)
Twisted Figures (1987)
Streamlines (1984)
For Three Trombones (1983)

Wind quintet

Six Minutes Thirty Seconds (1995)

Brass quintet

The Heavens Above (1998)

Vocal/Choral

Facing a New Normal (2022)
Salaam Alaykum, Shalom Alaychem (2011) SATB
Eternal Light (2010) SATB
Scatter My Ashes (2009)
Living These Seasons (2009) SATB & piano
Moving in to an Empty Space (1992)
Interlude (1984)
Two Songs (1983)
Elie (1983) SATB
Three Songs (1981)

Percussion

Haskalah for marimba and organ (2017)
Material Rhythms for percussion quartet (2010)
Amores Montuños for flute & marimba (2008)
Marimba Montuño for marimba (2002)
Floating Falling for cello and timpani (1987)
Exchanges for percussion soloist and winds (1982)

String quartet

String Quartet No. 6: Isolation Songs (2020)
String Quartet No. 5: Dancing on Air (2013)
String Quartet No. 4: Zydeco Madness (2006)
String Quartet No. 3: Patterns of Change (1997)
String Quartet No. 2: Up to the Sky (1988)
String Quartet No. 1: Streams (1984)

Piano Trio

Clouds and Flames (2010)

Piano

Loud Harmonies - Book I (2024) A set of 22 piano pieces
Quiet Rhythms - Book IV (2013) A set of 22 piano pieces
Quiet Rhythms - Book III (2012) A set of 22 piano pieces
Quiet Rhythms - Book II (2010) A set of 22 piano pieces
Quiet Rhythms - Book I (2010) A set of 22 piano pieces
Piano Montuño (2004)
Uprising (1988)

Solo and duo

Zydeco Madness for accordion (2005)
Duo Montuño for clarinet & piano (2004)
Duo Montuño for alto sax & piano (2004)
Duo Montuño for viola and piano (2004)
Motions of Return for flute & piano (1996)
For Cello (1984)
Halilah for viola (1983)
Nnyl for trombone (1983)
Turbulence for flute (1983)
Violin Study (1983)

Electronic

Waves for piano and computer-generated sound (version with notated piano part) (1982)
Waves for Any number of improvisers and computer-generated sound (1982)

Film music

Game Day (2017)
People of the Graphic Novel (2012)
Joann Sfar Draws from Memory (2012)
When Medicine Got It Wrong (2009)
Balancing Acts: A Jewish Theater in the Soviet Union (2008)
Making the Man (2007)
Fate of the Lhapa (2007)
Native New Yorker (2005)
Oil on Ice (2004)
Asphyxiating Uma (2002)
Deep Under the Ice (2000) aka NASA Explores Under the Ice
Daydream Believer (1998)
Alaska's Arctic Wildlife (1997)
Indonesia (1996)
The Philippines (1996)
Southern Africa Safari (1995)
Discovering the Amazon and the Andes (1994)
The Elephant Seals of Ano Nuevo (1994)
Exploring Tropical Australia (1993)

References

External links

[http://www.susmanmusic.com/ Susman Music] - Official Website including audio files and scores
{{Twitter}}
[http://www.acousticmusic.com/fame/p05604.htm Music for Moving Pictures] A review written for the Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange by Mark S. Tucker
[http://frommfoundation.fas.harvard.edu/people/william-susman William Susman] Fromm Music Foundation, Commission 1986
[http://mckenzienewsservice.com/news/Susman-Music/Native-New-Yorker.htm National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. to Screen Award-Winning Film Native New Yorker] mckenzienewsservice.com
[https://books.google.com/books?id=vJgJAQAAMAAJ&pg=PT111 Contemporary Directions Ensemble] Short biography, University of Michigan School of Music 1987
[https://books.google.com/books?id=bz3lAAAAMAAJ&pg=PT105 First Dissertation Recital] Short biography, University of Michigan School of Music 9 July 1987
[http://www.unaff.org/2005/f_native.html Native New Yorker] 8th United Nations Associations Film Festival (UNAFF) 2005
[http://www.acmusic.org/sound-of-silent-film-nyc/ Sound of Silent Film: NYC] acmusic.org
[https://www.voicemagazine.org/archives/articledisplay.php?ART=10107&issue=2249 In Conversation With William Susman] Interview in The Voice Magazine, 2014