George Crumb

Composer

Birthday October 24, 1929

Birth Sign Scorpio

Birthplace Charleston, WV

DEATH DATE Feb 6, 2022 (92)

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About

Composer of contemporary classical music who became known for his extended instrumental and vocal techniques. His orchestral work "Echoes of Time and the River" won him the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1968.

Before Fame

He received his D.M.A. from the University of Michigan in 1959. He primarily taught for a living, and his students included such future notables as Margaret Brouwer, Uri Caine, Christopher Rouse, Osvaldo Golijov, Jennifer Higdon, and Cynthia Cozette Lee.

Trivia

He explored the use of metallic vibrato on the piano and played the contrabass strings with a mallet in several of his pieces.

Family Life

His family was residing in Charleston, West Virginia, when he was born. His son David also became a successful composer.

Associated With

He and David Lang both won Pulitzer Prizes for Music.