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Gloria Wilson Swisher

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Gloria Wilson Swisher (March 12, 1935 – July 23, 2023) was an American composer, music educator and pianist.

Gloria Wilson Swisher
Born(1935-03-12)March 12, 1935
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
DiedJuly 23, 2023(2023-07-23) (aged 88)
Edmonds, Washington, U.S.
Occupation(s)composer, music educator and pianist

Biography

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Gloria Wilson Swisher was born in Seattle, Washington. She graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle where she received a Bachelor of Music, summa cum laude, Mills College in Oakland, California, where she earned a Master of Music in composition and the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where she earned a Ph.D. in 1960. She studied composition under John Verrall, Darius Milhaud, Bernard Rogers, and Howard Hanson. She was a member of The International Association of Women in Music, the Darius Milhaud Society and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.[1] She was awarded the Sigma Alpha Iota Inter-American prize for her composition Salutations for oboe and piano.[2] Swisher was the subject of a 2009 University of Washington dissertation, The choral music of Gloria Wilson Swisher, by Robert Bigley.[3]

Swisher taught at Washington State University in Pullman, Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Shoreline Community College (1969–1998) in Seattle, and the University of Washington in Seattle. She was a Professor Emerita of Music at Shoreline Community College, and often performed as a duo pianist with Nancy Matesky. She was a founding member of Ars Nova Press, Inc., a non-profit corporation that promotes and reprints the work of quality composers.[4][5] Swisher died on July 23, 2023, at the age of 88.[6]

Works

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Selected works include:

Orchestral Works:

  • 1957 Canción, for orchestra
  • 1960 Concerto for clarinet and orchestra
  • 1986 Niigata No. Sumie Black Ink Impressions of Niigata, concerto for piano and orchestra
  • 2004 Concerto for flute and orchestra
  • Serafina, portrait for orchestra

Works for large ensemble:

  • 1955 3 Pieces for Piano & Band
  • 1958 Suite for Piano & Wind Sinfonietta
  • 1963 Dances for Tomorrow
  • 1977 Thanksgiving I
  • 1978 Procession
  • 1984 Words to a Grand Child, for mixed choir and orchestra
  • The Mountain and The Island

Masses and liturgical music:

  • Psalm 150 for mixed choir, 2 trumpets, timpani and piano
  • God is Gone Up With A Merry Noise, for mixed choir and organ

Stage works: Opera:

  • 1983 The Artist and The Other - libretto: Willy Clark
  • 1999 The Prestigious Music Award - premiered on February 18–20, 1999 at the Shoreline Community College Little Theater - libretto: Willy Clark
  • 2008 The Legend of Poker Alice - libretto: Willy Clark[7]

Theatre:

  • 2004 Gallagher And The Moonbeam
  • Incidental music to "For Such A Time as This - text: Ann Chamberlin

Works for choir:

  • 1973 Two Faces of Love, for mixed choir and piano
  • Beat! Beat! Drums, for mixed choir, 2 trumpets, timpani and piano
  • Let Us Celebrate, for mixed choir, 2 trumpets and piano

Vocal music:

  • 1977 Sisters, for soprano and piano
  • I Sit and Sew
  • Tenebris
  • The Cabal at Nickel Nackeys
  • 1983 Sonnets for Donald, for soprano and piano
  • 1990 Three for T, for tenor and piano
  • 1995 A Velvet Madonna, for soprano and piano
  • Montana, song cycle of six songs for mezzo soprano or baritone and piano

Chamber music

  • 1990 Salutations, for oboe and piano
  • In 1991 Caprichos for guitar and piano
  • Pas de trois, for flute, violin and piano
  • Sado, for flute and piano
  • Theatre Trio for trumpet, alto saxophone and piano

Works for Organ:

  • 2001 Chorale Prelude on "Slane" and "In Dulce Jubilo"

Works for Piano:

  • 1983 "Joel" Variations
  • Siciliana
  • Transcending[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Pleasure for the Ear: The Composers". Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
  2. ^ "SIGMA ALPHA IOTA INTER-AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS (under Chamber Music section)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 November 2010. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  3. ^ "The choral music of Gloria Wilson Swisher". Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  4. ^ "Composer Biography:Gloria Wilson Swisher". Archived from the original on 4 May 2009. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
  5. ^ Who's Who in American Music: Classical. Jaques Cattell Press. 1985.
  6. ^ "Passages: Gloria Wilson Swisher ('56 BA, Music), pianist, composer and longtime UW Music friend and advisory board chair | School of Music | University of Washington". music.washington.edu. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
  7. ^ "Sigma Alpha Iota Member Laureate: Annual Updates". Archived from the original on 27 November 2010. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
  8. ^ "The Music of Gloria Wilson Swisher". Music Library of the University of Washington. Retrieved 14 September 2010.
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