Spiegelman, Joel (Warren)

Spiegelman, Joel (Warren), American pianist, harpsichordist, conductor, and composer; b. Buffalo, N.Y., Jan. 23, 1933. He studied at the Yale School of Music (1949–50), the Univ. of Buffalo (B.A., 1953), the Longy School of Music at Cambridge, Mass. (1953–54), and Brandeis Univ., where he attended the classes of Shapero, Fine, and Berger (1954–56; 1960–61; M.F.A.); also studied with Boulanger privately in Paris and took courses at the Cons. there (1956–57). He taught at the Longy School of Music (1961–62), Brandeis Univ. (1961–66), and Sarah Lawrence Coll. (from 1966), where he was director of its Studio for Electronic Music and Sound Media. He made tours as a harpsichordist; was director of the N.Y. Electronic Ensemble (1970–73) and conductor of the Russian Orch. of the Americas (1976–79). His output as a composer reveals an eclectic bent.

Works

Ouverture de Saison 1958 for 2 Harps, 2 Flutes, Piano, and Celesta (1958); 2 Fantasies for String Quartet (1963, 1974); Kusochki (Morsels) for Piano, 4-Hands (1966); 3 Miniatures for Clarinet and Piano (1972); Chamber Music for Piano Quartet and Percussion (1973); Midnight Sun for Oboe and Tape (1976); A Cry, a Song, a Dance for Strings (1978); How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place for Bass, Chorus, and Organ (1982); Astral Dimensions II—Metamorphosis for Piano, Violin, and Cello (1983; rev. 1984); Cicada Images: Moltings for Soprano, Flute, Piano, Pipa, Erhu, and Percussion (1983).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire