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THE LIFE AND VOCAL WORKS OF LEE HOIBY, AMERICAN COMPOSER AND CLASSICAL PIANIST (1926-2011):
Including a Complete Catalog of His Songs

Author: 
Year:
Pages:216
ISBN:1-4955-0298-8
978-1-4955-0298-9
Price:$179.95
This book includes an extensive biography of Lee Hoiby drawn from dissertations, published interviews with the composer, and personal correspondence between Mr. Hoiby and the author. The book also includes a comprehensive list of Hoiby’s songs with their dates of composition and revision, information that is almost impossible to find since the composer’s death in 2011.

Reviews

“At the moment there is no major source of information about Mr. Hoiby’s songs. This book continues where a few papers and dissertations leave off to offer a full-scale approach to Mr. Hoiby’s life and a catalogue of all of his composed works. I hope this book will excite and challenge you into delving more deeply into Lee Hoiby’s world of lyricism.”
-Robert Thieme,
Professor Emeritus,
West Virginia University


“This admirable study which reflects meticulous and extensive research should … [book] belong in the library of every performer and scholar of contemporary American literature for the voice.”
-Dr. Mary T. Ferer,
Professor Emerita of Music History School of Music
West Virginia University


“Gray’s book draws together various resources to give us a comprehensive Hoiby biography and a look into Hoiby’s views of compositional process. The author also draws on personal communication with Hoiby to give insight into many pieces and performances practice that cannot be found in other resources. This book will be an invaluable resource for all serious research into 20th Century composers.”
-Mei Zhong, Professor of Music,
Ball State University


Table of Contents

Abstract
Foreword
Acknowledgement
Chapter I:
Introduction
The Problem
Chapter II:
Review of Literature
Articles in a Yearbook or Dictionary
Dissertations
Articles
Books
Internet
Chapter III:
Biography
The Early Years
Undergraduate Training
The Menotti Years
Return to the Piano
Return to Composition
Hoiby’s Songs
Chapter IV:
Hoiby’s Oeuvre
Songs
Songs from the 1950’s and 1960’s
Songs from the 1970s
Songs from the 1980s
Songs from the 1990s and 2000s
Prominent Works in other Genres
Operas
Oratorios
Anthems and Choral Works
Instrumental Works
Chapter V:
Analysis of Song Style
General Characteristics
Economy of Means
Consistent Compositional Style
Tully Hall Recital and Revisions
Comparison of Vocal/Instrumental Compositions
Importance of the Poetry
Quality Control
Vocal Composition Process
Prosody
Word Painting
Musical Gesture
Vocal Tuning
Dynamic Markings
Piano Accompaniments
Conclusion
Chapter VI:
Annotations of Selected Songs
The Shining Place
The Shining Place
A letter
How the Waters Closed
Wild Nights
There Came a Wind Like a Bugle
Songs for Leontyne
The Doe
Evening
Autumn
Winter Song
In the Wand of the Wind
The Serpent
Three Ages of Woman
Manners
Filling Station
Insomnia
Three Women
Miss Alma Calls
Lady of the Harbor
The Waltz
Good-by, Good-by World
Chapter VII:
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index