Alex Burtzos (born 1985 in Denver, Colorado, United States) is an American composer based in New York City and Orlando, Florida.

Alex Burtzos
Alex Burtzos leading a rehearsal in New York City in 2015.
Born (1985-11-11) November 11, 1985 (age 39)
Denver, Colorado
NationalityAmerican
Alma materLoyola University New Orleans Manhattan School of Music
OccupationComposer
Websitehttps://alexburtzosmusic.com/

Life and career

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Alex Burtzos was born in Denver, Colorado, and grew up in nearby Colorado Springs.[1] He studied music at Loyola University New Orleans before moving to New York City in 2010, where he earned his doctorate in composition from Manhattan School of Music in 2016.[2] His primary teachers include James Paton Walsh, J. Mark Stambaugh, and Reiko Fueting.[3] Burtzos' music has been performed across four continents, and has received awards from numerous organizations within the United States.[4][5] He has received particular attention for his compositions for authentic baroque-era instruments.[6] Other of Burtzos' compositions utilize rappers, metal guitar, and other sounds drawn from popular music.[7]

Burtzos is the founder of ICEBERG New Music, a composers collective based in New York City.[8] In 2018, he was named the Endowed Chair of Composition Studies at The University of Central Florida.[7]

Compositions

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Solo

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  • pWr (2021) for Cello Solo
  • Perforation (2018) for Piano Solo
  • Should the Wide World Roll Away (2018) for Piano Solo
  • Wilfred Owen at the Gates (2015) for Piano Solo
  • He Never Heard That Fleshless Chant (2011) for Oboe Solo
  • Football in Marja (2011) for Piano Solo
  • Baroque Fantasy on 'Go Down, Moses' (2008) for Organ Solo

Chamber

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  • Sin City (2023) for big band
  • What We Wish to Remember of Ourselves (2021) for woodwind quartet and piano
  • Relativity (2020) for three bassoons
  • SEA (2020) for two vibraphonists
  • Atoms (2020) for electric guitar and drum kit
  • PIPES (2020) for 10 flutes
  • King | Cawdor (2019) for violin, bass clarinet, cello, and piano
  • Māyā (2019) for woodwind quintet
  • R A G E (2018) for ensemble
  • pOwer trIo (2018) for saxophone, piano, percussion
  • The Birth of Dangun (2018) for piano trio
  • we ain't got no $$$ honey but DAMN we got _____ (2017) for percussion quartet
  • Megalopolis (2017) for saxophone ensemble
  • The Hourglass Equation (2017) for flute, violin, bassoon, and harpsichord
  • The F Word (2016) for amplified ensemble with MC
  • SONATA/SONARE (2016) for trio sonata
  • The Rembrandt of Avenue A (2015) for amplified ensemble with MC
  • X Codes (2015) for violin, clarinet, and piano
  • Alice and Zoltan 4ever (2014) for saxophone, bass trombone, and piano
  • One Final Gyre (2014) for two saxophones
  • OMAHA (all the things you could be you are you were) (2014) for string quartet
  • The Impossible Object (2014) for violin and piano
  • SXTG >;-) (2013) for clarinet, cello, and guitar
  • Teach the Torches to Burn Bright (2013) for violin, clarinet, and piano
  • 12.14.12 (2013) for ensembles
  • Prince Prospero (2013) for soprano, flute, oboe, saxophone, guitar, piano, and percussion
  • A Country of Vast Designs (2012) for string quartet
  • The Revivalist (2012) for saxophone quartet
  • March the Twenty-Fifth (2011) for woodwind quartet
  • The Outlaw in the Gilded Age (2010) for violin, clarinet, saxophone, horn and piano

Choral and Vocal

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  • Sky (2022) for soprano, baritone, and piano
  • Five Arias from 'HE Who Gets Slapped' (2022) for five vocal soloists with piano
  • Wooden Woman (2020) for singing cellist with chamber orchestra
  • MIRABILIS (2018) for SSAATTBB chorus with string sextet
  • Many Worlds I (2016) for baritone, trumpet, bass clarinet, and trombone
  • The Explosion, and Other Tales (2016) for mezzo-soprano and piano
  • Gursky Songs (2015) for baritone and piano trio
  • Love and Loss and Loathing and Lizards (2015) for soprano, MC, and amplified ensemble
  • Come Away Death (2012) for Countertenor and Harp with SATB chorus
  • The Hill Wife (2012) for mezzo-soprano with ensemble
  • Days Into Days (2011) for soprano with large ensemble

Electronic and Mixed Media

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  • The Turing Test (2019) for two guitars and fixed media
  • LEGION (2017) for flute, piano, and fixed media
  • When He First Appears (2017) for soprano, viola, harp, and fixed media
  • MASKS (2016) for baritone, guitar, piano, and tape
  • In a Cool, Green Hall (2010) for mixed media

Orchestra and Wind Ensemble

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  • d[RAM]edy (2023), concerto for piano and wind ensemble
  • Arias and Interludes from 'HE Who Gets Slapped' (2022) for five vocal soloists and orchestra
  • Echo Chamber (2019) for wind ensemble
  • Pulse (2019) for orchestra
  • The Black Riders (2013) for orchestra
  • Sky Above Clouds (2011) for orchestra
  • In Search of a Bird (2011) for chamber orchestra
  • The Conqueror (2009) for wind ensemble
  • Psyche (2009) for wind ensemble
  • Colorado (2008) arranged for wind ensemble
  • Colorado (2007) for orchestra

Opera

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  • HE Who Gets Slapped (2022), opera in two acts

References

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  1. ^ "New Music USA - "Alex Burtzos"". Newmusicusa.org. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  2. ^ "Manhattan School of Music Alumni Achievements". Msmnyc.edu. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  3. ^ "Reiko Fueting - List of Students". Reikofueting.com. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  4. ^ "Brian Israel Award - List of Winners". Societyfornewmusic.org. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  5. ^ "Memphis Flyer: "Belvedere Chamber Music Festival brings classical performers and composers from around the globe"". Memphisflyer.org. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  6. ^ "Boston Globe - "New music, old instruments with Aston Magna"". Bostonglobe.com. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  7. ^ a b "UCF Today - "New UCF Music Professor Composes Classical Music With a Twist"". Today.ucf.edu. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  8. ^ "Memphis Flyer - "Blueshift Ensemble partners with New York's ICEBERG at Crosstown"". Memphisflyer.com. Retrieved 18 December 2018.