Perle, George

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Perle, George (b Bayonne, NJ, 1915). Amer. composer. Prof. of mus., Queens Coll., City Univ. of NY, 1961–84, having held teaching posts at other univs. from 1949. Comp.-in-residence, S. Francisco SO 1989–91. Authority on music and life of Alban Berg. Author of Serial Composition and Atonality (1962, 6th edn. 1991), Twelve-Tone Tonality (1977), The Operas of Alban Berg, Wozzeck (1980), Lulu (1985). As a composer evolved his own serialist method. Works incl. Hebrew Melodies for vc. (1945); 8 str. qts. (some withdrawn); 3 wind quintets; vc. conc. (1966); 3 Movements, orch. (1960); 6 Bagatelles, orch. (1965); Sonnets to Orpheus, ch. (1974); A Short Symphony (1980); vc. sonata (1985); Dance Fantasy, orch. (1986); pf. conc. (1990).

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