Yvar Mikhashoff
Encyclopedia
Yvar Emilian Mikhashoff was an American
virtuoso pianist and composer. He is best known for his performance of contemporary classical music
.
Mikhashoff studied at the Eastman School of Music
, the Juilliard School
, and the University of Houston
, and received his doctorate in composition from the University of Texas in 1972. He also studied in France
with Nadia Boulanger
. He served as Professor of Music at the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
from 1973 until his death from AIDS
, in 1993, aged 52.
From 1983 to 1991 he commissioned no fewer than 127 tango
s for solo piano from 127 composers.
Mikhashoff was considered one of the leading performers of contemporary piano music of his day. He worked closely with composers all over the world, including leading figures like John Cage
, Morton Feldman
, Giacinto Scelsi
, Per Nørgård
, Poul Ruders
, and numerous others. In addition to his performance schedule, he also did a lot of artistic advisory work, like working with Pierre Audi
at the Almeida Festival in London, for many years the leading London venue for contemporary music programming, and likewise at the formation of the Music Factory festival in Bergen, Norway, with Geir Johnson.
A complete archive of Mikhashoff's works is held by the Music Library of the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York.
In 1996 the Yvar Mikhashoff Trust for New Music was established to support composers and performers of new music. Past notable recipient include: The Barton Workshop, New Music Consort, North/South Consonance, Nick Fortunato, and Daniel N. Seel
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
virtuoso pianist and composer. He is best known for his performance of contemporary classical music
Contemporary classical music
Contemporary classical music can be understood as belonging to the period that started in the mid-1970s with the retreat of modernism. However, the term may also be employed in a broader sense to refer to all post-1945 modern musical forms.-Categorization:...
.
Mikhashoff studied at the Eastman School of Music
Eastman School of Music
The Eastman School of Music is a music conservatory located in Rochester, New York. The Eastman School is a professional school within the University of Rochester...
, the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
, and the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
, and received his doctorate in composition from the University of Texas in 1972. He also studied in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
with Nadia Boulanger
Nadia Boulanger
Nadia Boulanger was a French composer, conductor and teacher who taught many composers and performers of the 20th century.From a musical family, she achieved early honours as a student at the Paris Conservatoire, but believing that her talent as a composer was inferior to that of her younger...
. He served as Professor of Music at the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, also commonly known as the University at Buffalo or UB, is a public research university and a "University Center" in the State University of New York system. The university was founded by Millard Fillmore in 1846. UB has multiple campuses...
from 1973 until his death from AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
, in 1993, aged 52.
From 1983 to 1991 he commissioned no fewer than 127 tango
Tango music
Tango is a style of ballroom dance music in 2/4 or 4/4 time that originated among European immigrant populations of Argentina and Uruguay . It is traditionally played by a sextet, known as the orquesta típica, which includes two violins, piano, double bass, and two bandoneons...
s for solo piano from 127 composers.
Mikhashoff was considered one of the leading performers of contemporary piano music of his day. He worked closely with composers all over the world, including leading figures like John Cage
John Cage
John Milton Cage Jr. was an American composer, music theorist, writer, philosopher and artist. A pioneer of indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one of the leading figures of the post-war avant-garde...
, Morton Feldman
Morton Feldman
Morton Feldman was an American composer, born in New York City.A major figure in 20th century music, Feldman was a pioneer of indeterminate music, a development associated with the experimental New York School of composers also including John Cage, Christian Wolff, and Earle Brown...
, Giacinto Scelsi
Giacinto Scelsi
Giacinto Scelsi , Count of Ayala Valva was an Italian composer who also wrote surrealist poetry in French....
, Per Nørgård
Per Nørgård
Per Nørgård is a Danish composer.-Biography:Nørgård studied with Vagn Holmboe at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, and subsequently with Nadia Boulanger in Paris. To begin with, he was strongly influenced by the Nordic styles of Jean Sibelius, Carl Nielsen and Vagn Holmboe...
, Poul Ruders
Poul Ruders
Poul Ruders is a Danish composer.Ruders trained as an organist, and studied orchestration with Karl Aage Rasmussen. Ruders's first compositions date from the mid-1960s...
, and numerous others. In addition to his performance schedule, he also did a lot of artistic advisory work, like working with Pierre Audi
Pierre Audi
Pierre Audi is a French-Lebanese theatre director and artistic director.Pierre Audi is the son of the Lebanese banker Raymond Audi and Andrée Michel Fattal, the eldest of three children. Audi's family were originally from originally from Saida, but he attended the French Lycée in Beirut...
at the Almeida Festival in London, for many years the leading London venue for contemporary music programming, and likewise at the formation of the Music Factory festival in Bergen, Norway, with Geir Johnson.
A complete archive of Mikhashoff's works is held by the Music Library of the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York.
In 1996 the Yvar Mikhashoff Trust for New Music was established to support composers and performers of new music. Past notable recipient include: The Barton Workshop, New Music Consort, North/South Consonance, Nick Fortunato, and Daniel N. Seel
External links
- Yvar Mikhashoff Archive from the Music Library - University at Buffalo Libraries
- Yvar Mikhashoff Photograph Collection from UBdigit - Digital Collections - University at Buffalo Libraries
- Yvar Mikhashoff page from The Estate Project