Sahl, Michael

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Sahl, Michael

Sahl, Michael , American composer; b. Boston, Sept. 2, 1934. He studied at Amherst Coll. (B.A., 1955), with Sessions and Babbitt at Princeton Univ. (M.F.A., 1957), with Dallapiccola on a Fulbright fellowship in Florence (1957), and with Citkowitz, Foss, and Copland. From 1963 he wrote various film scores. After serving as a creative associate at the State Univ. of N.Y. at Buffalo (1965), he was pianist and music director for Judy Collins (1968–69), and then music director of WBAI-FM in N.Y. (1972–73). He collaborated with Eric Salzman on a number of music theater pieces, including the opera Civilizations and its Discontents (1977), which won the Prix Italia in 1980. They also wrote the book Making Changes: A Practical Guide to Vernacular Harmony (1977). In his output, he developed a populist style in which elements of art music and popular music combine to produce a refreshing synergy.

Works

DRAMATIC : Biograffiti (N.Y., Dec. 14, 1974; in collaboration with E. Salzman); The Conjuror (N.Y., June 1, 1975; in collaboration with E. Salzman); Stauf (N.Y., May 25, 1976; final version, Philadelphia, Sept. 20, 1987; in collaboration with E. Salzman); Civilization and its Discontents (N.Y., May 19, 1977; rev. as a radio opera, 1980; in collaboration with E. Salzman); An Old-Fashioned Girl (N.Y, May 19, 1977); Noah (N.Y., Feb. 10, 1980; in collaboration with E. Salzman); The An of Simple Simon (N.Y, Feb. 1, 1979; rev. as a radio opera, 1980; in collaboration with E. Salzman); Boxes (1982–83; in collaboration with E. Salzman); Dream Beach (N.Y., March 20, 1988); Body Language (1995–96). ORCH .: 5 syms. (1971, 1973, 1978, 1982, 1983); Violin Concerto (1974). chamber : String Quartet (1969); Piano Sonata (1972); Doina for Violin, Piano, Double Bass, and Drums (1979); In the Woods for Clarinet, Violin, Piano, and Double Bass (1984); Jungles for Electric Violin, Electric Guitar, Piano, Double Bass, and Drums (1992); Trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano (1997). other : Vocal music; tape pieces.