Laurence Traiger (born October 16, 1956, died October 18, 2024) was an Americancomposer. Originally fromBellmore,Long Island, New York, he studied and worked in Europe since 1976.[1]
At age 11 he composed duos for violin; at age 14 he took lessons in harmony,counterpoint and composition from his violin instructor, William Cosgriff, and at 16 had a work performed at theHartt School of Music. In 1974 he graduated fromJohn F. Kennedy High School (Bellmore, New York) where he studied under Barry A. Beeber and performed with the Long Island Youth Orchestra and the Long Island Holiday Festival Orchestra under Martin C. Dreiwitz. He received a scholarship from theUniversity of Kansas, studying composition under Prof.John Pozdro. LeavingKansas after his sophomore year, he moved to Europe. He first studied with Prof.Cesar Bresgen at theMozarteum University of Salzburg, graduating in 1980.[2] From 1980 to 1982 Traiger studied at theConservatoire National inParis withIvo Malec. In 1982 he became a student in the master class ofWilhelm Killmayer at theMunich College of Music.[3]
His list of works include chamber music, choral music, orchestral music, film music as well as compositions for educational works and historical instruments.[4] Many of his works reflect an interest in Jewish mysticism.[5][6] For didactic works he strives to provide something that the student could use as a vehicle for expression, attempting to capture the teenage disposition in a moody and thoughtful, yet energetic and optimistic tone.[7] Traiger has received numerous commissions from renowned ensembles and radio choirs.[8] Traiger has had many collaborations with theMitteldeutscher Rundfunk Choir,[9] including an invitation to compose a piece for Schumann-2010,[10] honoring the 200th anniversary ofRobert Schumann's birth.[11] His work has appeared on MDR's CD "Das Hohelied Salomos."[12] He has been described byHoward Arman as one of the few composers of music for Baroque instruments today.[1]
Laurence Traiger taught at theHochschule für Musik und Theater München and the Innsbruck branch ofMozarteum University of Salzburg.[13] His areas of interest include music history, theory for music teachers, composition and arrangement, and vocalpolyphony of the 16th Century.[14] At the 2013 Internationale Sommerakademie Mozaertum, Traiger was featured in aKomponistenporträt (the presentation of a living composer in talk and music).[15]
In 1986, Traiger "turned away from the 'avant-garde' and tried to find my own voice in tonality."[1]
With Richard Voss,[16] Traiger has written two tune book collections of Irish folk music, arranging the songs for piano solo in both. "Roving Through Ireland" is a collection of 38 traditional Irish ballads.[17] "O'Carolan's Tunes for Piano"[18] is a collection of 32 songs, originally for harp, byTurlough O'Carolan, 17th Century Irish harper. Voss and Traiger have three other tune book collaborations, including "Auf Den Spuren Der Inkas".[19]
"According to Juliet" is amonodrama (in four scenes for soprano, flute and accordion) written by Traiger. Using excerpts from the original text ofArthur Brooke'sRomeus and Juliet, written shortly before Shakespeare's birth, Traiger tells the beautiful but hopeless love story from Juliet's perspective.[20][21] The work was premiered at the 2007 Black Forest Music Festival in Badenweiler; the Munich premiere of thelibretto was 16 March 2010.[22] Reviewer Bianca Flier reported that the interplay of the voice and instrumentsgrips the audience until the dramaticfinale, and that "the composer has created a moving and compelling, almost unearthly work."[23]
"Aliyat" is a work formezzo-soprano and orchestra. Based on mystical teachings of Judaism, the composition describes the journey of a disembodied soul through the various stages of life after death, as one imagines oneself in the mystical tradition ofKabbalah.[24]
Traiger wrote thecantata, "Be Still," in memory of the9/11/2001 tragedy. Commissioned by theOrpheus Choir [de] ofMunich,[25]Joel Frederiksen was the narrator/bass soloist for the 30 June 2002 premiere,[26] at the Europäischen Wochen,Passau.[27] The OCM has long collaborated with Traiger, and premiered many of his works.[25] Traiger and Frederiksen have other collaborations, most recently their work honoring Baroque architectDomenico Martinelli. For "Project Martinelli,"[28] Traiger was commissioned, and wrote a Baroque piece forarciliuto,theorbo and soprano based upon text byFrank Lloyd Wright.[29]
"Prayer Without Words"[30] has been widely played piece, with three concerts at the ScharzwaldFestival in 2006,[31] as well as at the International Festival of Sacred Choral Music in Rottenburg am Neckar 2008,.[32]
"Nach Im Schlaf" was written in 1998 for theMitteldeutscher Rundfunk Chor; a 12-part composition, it is based on text from the Song of Songs. It was performed by theNorddeutscher Rundfunk Chor at the opening of its 2012–2013 season.[33] His 2015 piece for the choir, "Till This Night," uses the famous monologue from Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" in which Romeo says of his mistress: "Swear it, my eye; before this happy night not you know what beauty is."[34]
In 2014, Traiger wrote the music for the award-winning[35] documentary movie "Fukushima Nichts Ist Wie Es War."[36]
On the 2018 occasion ofNelson Mandela's 100th birthday, Traiger createdRheinMain Ode to Mandela, a work for speakers, two choirs, instrumental ensemble, percussion and organ commissioned by the Vocal Art Frankfurt Festival.[37]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
