Kraft, Leo (Abraham)
Kraft, Leo (Abraham)
Kraft, Leo (Abraham), American composer and pedagogue; b. N.Y., July 24, 1922. He studied composition with Rathaus at Queens Coll. of the City Univ. of N.Y. (B.A., 1945), Thompson at Princeton Univ. (M.F.A., 1947), and Boulanger in Paris on a Fulbright fellowship (1954–55). He taught at Queens Coll. (1947–89); was Distinguished Composer-in-Residence at N.Y.U. (1988–92). From 1976 to 1980 he was president of the American Music Center. He received various ASCAP awards (from 1961); in 1975 and 1978 he held NEA fellowships. Kraft’s principal works have developed along atonal lines.
Writings
With S. Berkowitz and G. Frontrier, A New Approach to Sight Singing (N.Y., 1960; 3rd ed., 1986); Gradus: An Integrated Approach to Harmony, Counterpoint, and Analysis (N.Y., 1976; 2nd ed., 1987); A New Approach to Ear Training (Melody) (N.Y., 1967); with others, A New Approach to Keyboard Harmony (N.Y, 1978).
Works
orch.: 6 concertos: No. 1 for Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, and Strings (1951), No. 2 for 12 Instruments (1966; rev. 1972), No. 3 for Cello, Wind Quintet, and Percussion (1968), No. 4 for Piano and 14 Instruments (1978; rev. 1982), No. 5 for Oboe and Strings (1986), and No. 6 for Clarinet and Orch. (1986); Larghetto in Memory of Karol Rathaus for Strings and Timpani (1955); Variations (1958); 3 Pieces (1963); Music (1975); Chamber Sym. (1980); Symphony in 1 Movement (1985); A New Ricercar for Strings (1985); Pacific Bridges for Strings and Clarinet obbligato (1989); Tableaux for 10 Winds and Piano (1989); Symphonic Prelude (1993). chamber: Suite for Brass (1947); 4 string quartets (1951, 1959, 1966, 1994); Short Suite for Flute, Clarinet, and Bassoon (1951); Sextet for Clarinet, Piano, and String Quartet (1952); Cello Sonata (1954); Violin Sonata (1956); Wind Quintet (1956); Partita No. 2 for Violin and Viola (1961), No. 3 for Wind Quintet (1964), No. 4 for Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Double Bass, and Piano (1975), and No. 5 for Flute and Guitar (1987); 5 Pieces for Clarinet and Piano (1962); Fantasy No. 1 (1963) and No. 2 (1980) for Flute and Piano; Trios and Interludes for Flute, Viola, and Piano (1965); Dialogues for Flute and Tape (1968); Dualities for 2 Trumpets (1971); Line Drawings for Flute and Percussion (1972); Diaphonies for Oboe and Piano (1975); Dialectica for Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, and Tape (1976); Conductus Novus for Trombones (1979); Strata for 8 Instruments (1979; rev. 1984); Interplay for Trumpet and Percussion (1983); O Primavera for Flute, Oboe, and Clarinet (1984); Inventions and Airs for Clarinet, Violin, and Piano (1984); Statements andCommentaries No. 2 for 2 Cellos (1988); Tableau for Double Wind Septet and Piano (1989); Cloud Studies for 12 Flutes (1989); Washington Square for Flute, Clarinet, Trombone, Cello, Double Bass, Piano, and Percussion (1990); Green Mountain Notes for Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, Violin, and Piano (1991); Omaggio for Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Viola, and Cello (1992); No Time Like This Time for Clarinet and Piano (1993); 7 Bagatelles for Cello (1994). piano:Scherzo (1949); Variations (1951); Sonata (1956); Partita No. 1 (1958); Allegro Giocoso (1958); Statements and Commentaries No. 1 (1965); Easy Animal Pieces (1968); Antiphonies for Piano, 4- Hands, and Tape (1971); Sestina (1971); 10 Short Pieces (1976); 5 Short Pieces and a Reprise (1981); Venetian Reflections (1989). vocal:Festival Song for Chorus (1948); Let Me Laugh for Chorus and Piano (1953); A Proverb of Solomon for Chorus and Chamber Orch. (1953); Thanksgiving for Chorus (1955); When Israel Came Forth for Chorus (1961); I Waited Patiently for Men’s Voices (1963); A New Song for Men’s Voices (1964); Spring in the Harbor for Soprano, Flute, Cello, and Piano (1969); 3 3-Part Songs for Women’s or Men’s Voices (1975); 8 Choral Songs for Chorus (1975); 4 Songs from the Chinese for Soprano, Flute, and Percussion (1990).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire