William Laurence Bergsma (April 1, 1921 – March 18, 1994) was an American composer and teacher. He was long associated with Juilliard School, where he taught composition, until he moved to the University of Washington as head of their music school until 1971.
In 1946 he accepted a position at Juilliard, where he remained until 1963, eventually holding such positions as chair of composition and from 1961 to 1963, associate dean. In 1963 he moved on to the University of Washington, heading the music school until 1971, remaining a professor from then on after stepping down from the administrative post. In 1966 Bergsma founded the Contemporary Group at the University of Washington, an organization of composers and musicians who stage performances of new musical works and educate students and the public about contemporary music; the group remains active to this day.
Bergsma's music is noted for its lyrical, contrapuntal qualities. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Bergsma rejected serialism in favor of a more conservative style, though one distinctly rooted in the 20th century. He eschewed the avant-garde—his obituary in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer describes him as having "never deserted tonality" and seeing "dozens of his former avant-garde colleagues returning to the fold"—though he did embrace aleatoric techniques later in his career.
He composed two operas, The Wife of Martin Guerre (1956) and The Murder of Comrade Sharik (1973), which are markedly different in style. The first is a somber tale of a 16th-century French peasant's disappearance and return upon which he is suspected to be an impostor; the music is marked by dissonance which emphasizes the tension in the story, particularly in the final courtroom scene. The second is more lighthearted and comic; Bergsma wrote his own libretto after the story Heart of a Dog by Mikhail Bulgakov, which involves a dog transforming into a citizen of 1920s Moscow as a result of a doctor's experiments. The partially aleatoric orchestral writing is intended to be the voice of Stalin, and uses quotes from Carmen, La traviata and Don Giovanni for comedic effect. He was also a skillful composer of smaller works, including many for chamber ensemble and solo piano as well as orchestral writings.
Bergsma died in Seattle of a heart attack, at the age of 72.
Selected works
Gold and the Señor Commandante (1940-41), ballet (also 9-movement suite)
The Sun, the Soaring Eagle, the Turquoise Prince, the God (1968) Choir
The Murder of Comrade Sharik (1973), opera
Symphony no. 2, "Voyages" (1976), mezzo-soprano, chorus, and orchestra
Viola Concerto (1978)
The Voice of the Coelacanth (1981), horn, violin, and piano
Variations (1984), piano
References
James P. Cassaro and Kurt Stone: "William Bergsma". Grove Music Online, ed. L. Macy. Accessed 24 May 2005. (subscription access).
James P. Cassaro: "William Bergsma". Grove Music Online (OperaBase), ed. L. Macy. Accessed 24 May 2005. (subscription access).
Worldlinkpages.com: William Bergsma, accessed 24 May 2005
, accessed 24 May 2005.
"Obituary: William Bergsma". (March 21, 1994). Associated Press.
External links
Program for a Memorial Concert in Honor of William Bergsma
Two Interviews with William Bergsma, August 9, 1986 and August 8, 1987
Overview page for William Bergsma papers, 1941-1986
"William Bergsma Collection", Sibley Music Library, Eastman School of Music
March 08, 2023
william, bergsma, william, laurence, bergsma, april, 1921, march, 1994, american, composer, teacher, long, associated, with, juilliard, school, where, taught, composition, until, moved, university, washington, head, their, music, school, until, 1971, born1, ap. William Laurence Bergsma April 1 1921 March 18 1994 was an American composer and teacher He was long associated with Juilliard School where he taught composition until he moved to the University of Washington as head of their music school until 1971 William BergsmaBorn1 April 1921 Oakland Died18 March 1994 aged 72 Seattle Alma materEastman School of Music OccupationComposer EmployerJuilliard SchoolUniversity of Washington AwardsGuggenheim Fellowship 1946 1951 Arts and Letters Award in Music 1945 Contents 1 Life 2 Selected works 3 References 4 External linksLife EditBergsma was born in Oakland California After studying piano with his mother a former opera singer and then the viola he moved on to study composition Bergsma attended Stanford University for two years 1938 40 before moving to the Eastman School of Music where he earned his bachelor s and master s degrees his most significant teachers there were Howard Hanson and Bernard Rogers In 1946 he accepted a position at Juilliard where he remained until 1963 eventually holding such positions as chair of composition and from 1961 to 1963 associate dean In 1963 he moved on to the University of Washington heading the music school until 1971 remaining a professor from then on after stepping down from the administrative post In 1966 Bergsma founded the Contemporary Group at the University of Washington an organization of composers and musicians who stage performances of new musical works and educate students and the public about contemporary music the group remains active to this day Bergsma was the recipient of two Guggenheim Fellowships a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and an award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters Students of Bergsma include composers Jack Behrens Philip Glass Karl Korte Robert Parris and Steve Reich Bergsma s music is noted for its lyrical contrapuntal qualities Unlike many of his contemporaries Bergsma rejected serialism in favor of a more conservative style though one distinctly rooted in the 20th century He eschewed the avant garde his obituary in the Seattle Post Intelligencer describes him as having never deserted tonality and seeing dozens of his former avant garde colleagues returning to the fold though he did embrace aleatoric techniques later in his career He composed two operas The Wife of Martin Guerre 1956 and The Murder of Comrade Sharik 1973 which are markedly different in style The first is a somber tale of a 16th century French peasant s disappearance and return upon which he is suspected to be an impostor the music is marked by dissonance which emphasizes the tension in the story particularly in the final courtroom scene The second is more lighthearted and comic Bergsma wrote his own libretto after the story Heart of a Dog by Mikhail Bulgakov which involves a dog transforming into a citizen of 1920s Moscow as a result of a doctor s experiments The partially aleatoric orchestral writing is intended to be the voice of Stalin and uses quotes from Carmen La traviata and Don Giovanni for comedic effect He was also a skillful composer of smaller works including many for chamber ensemble and solo piano as well as orchestral writings Bergsma died in Seattle of a heart attack at the age of 72 Selected works EditGold and the Senor Commandante 1940 41 ballet also 9 movement suite The Fortunate Islands 1947 string orchestra Tangents 1951 piano A Carol on Twelfth Night 1954 orchestra The Wife of Martin Guerre 1956 opera A Desk for Billie 1956 score for educational film March with Trumpets 1956 band Concerto for wind quintet 1958 Chameleon Variations 1960 orchestra Fantastic Variations on a Theme from Tristan and Isolde 1961 viola and piano In Celebration 1963 orchestra Violin Concerto 1965 violin and orchestra The Sun the Soaring Eagle the Turquoise Prince the God 1968 Choir The Murder of Comrade Sharik 1973 opera Symphony no 2 Voyages 1976 mezzo soprano chorus and orchestra Viola Concerto 1978 The Voice of the Coelacanth 1981 horn violin and piano Variations 1984 pianoReferences EditJames P Cassaro and Kurt Stone William Bergsma Grove Music Online ed L Macy Accessed 24 May 2005 subscription access James P Cassaro William Bergsma Grove Music Online OperaBase ed L Macy Accessed 24 May 2005 subscription access Worldlinkpages com William Bergsma accessed 24 May 2005 William Bergsma UW Composer of International Renown accessed 24 May 2005 Obituary William Bergsma March 21 1994 Associated Press External links EditThe Contemporary Group Program for a Memorial Concert in Honor of William Bergsma Official site Two Interviews with William Bergsma August 9 1986 and August 8 1987 Overview page for William Bergsma papers 1941 1986 William Bergsma Collection Sibley Music Library Eastman School of Music Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Bergsma amp oldid 1115880654, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
