Andrea Clearfield facts for kids
Andrea Clearfield (born in 1960) is an American composer who writes contemporary classical music. Her music is often asked for and played by groups in the United States and other countries. She creates music for orchestras, choirs, solo singers, small groups of instruments, dance, operas, movies, and even projects that combine different art forms.
About Andrea Clearfield
Andrea Clearfield was born on August 29, 1960, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She grew up nearby in a place called Bala-Cynwyd. Her family was very artistic, and she started learning music when she was young. She played the piano, flute, and timpani (a type of drum). She also loved many different kinds of music. Early on, she began writing her own music, even arranging pop songs from the radio for voices and instruments.
While studying at Muhlenberg College, Andrea met her teacher, Margaret Garwood, who was also a composer. Andrea later earned a master's degree in piano from the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts. She then received a special doctorate degree in composition from Temple University. Her main teacher there was Maurice Wright. She also taught music and interdisciplinary arts at The University of the Arts for many years.
Since 1986, Andrea Clearfield has hosted a special concert series called "Salon" in Philadelphia. These events feature many types of music, like classical, jazz, and folk. They also include dance, spoken word, and multimedia art. She organizes these shows, which have become a popular meeting spot for musicians from all different styles.
Her Music Style
Andrea Clearfield writes music for many different things. This includes operas, orchestral pieces, choral works (for choirs), chamber music (for small groups), and dance music. She has also written several large cantatas, which are like long musical stories.
Her music often sounds very beautiful and has strong rhythms. It uses rich harmonies and different layers of sound. Andrea's music is inspired by many cultures and art forms. For example, her cantata called Women of Valor is based on women from the Bible. It also uses poems by modern women writers. Another work, The Golem Psalms, gets its ideas from the old story of the Golem of Prague.
A lot of Andrea's music is influenced by ancient Tibetan music, stories, and culture. This includes her opera, MILA, Great Sorcerer. In her 2012 cantata, Tse Go La (which means "At the threshold of this life"), she even used Tibetan melodies. She collected these melodies during her trips to northern Nepal. She went there to record and help save the traditional music of that area.
Awards and Special Opportunities
Andrea Clearfield has received many awards, special grants, and chances to work as an artist-in-residence throughout her career. Some of these include awards from the NEA and ASCAP. She also received a 2016 Pew Fellowship in the Arts.
She has been a composer-in-residence at many universities. This means she was invited to stay there and create music. Some of these places include Yale-National University of Singapore, the Curtis Institute of Music, and Michigan State University. She was also the main composer at the 2014 Women Composers Festival of Hartford.
Selected Works
Andrea Clearfield's many musical pieces are published by well-known companies. Her works have also been recorded by several music labels.
Music Albums (Discography)
Here are some of the albums that feature Andrea Clearfield's music:
- Three Tributes; includes: Romanza for Violin and Chamber Orchestra. (2021)
- La Loba; includes: Songs of the Wolf. (2020)
- The Diaries of Adam and Eve; includes: A Dream of Trees for violin and double bass. (2019)
- Ecstatic Songs; includes: The Kiss for treble choir, cello and piano. (2018)
- American Canvas; includes: Spirit Island. (2018)
- It's About Time; includes: River Melos. (2017)
- Convergence; includes: Convergence. (2015)
- SO*LOW; includes: River Melos. (2014)
- Metamorphosis; includes: The Golem Psalms. (2012)
- The Poetic Oboe''; includes: Unremembered Wings. (2004)
Operas
- MILA, Great Sorcerer (2018): This opera was first performed in New York City in 2019.
Orchestra and Large Groups
- GLOW (2019): For electric guitar and a small orchestra.
- Romanza (2007): For violin and orchestra.
- Concertino for Marimba and String Orchestra (2004): For marimba (a type of xylophone) and a string orchestra.
Choral Music (with Orchestra)
- Singing into Presence (2022): For choir and orchestra.
- Tse Go La – At the threshold of this life (2012): For two choirs, a small orchestra, and electronics.
- Kabo Omowale (Welcome Home Child) (2008): A choral cantata for choir, a narrator, and orchestra. This was asked for by The Philadelphia Orchestra.
- The Golem Psalms (2006): A choral cantata for a baritone singer, choir, and orchestra.
Choral Music (Chamber/A Cappella)
- The Song of Hannah (2018): For choir and organ.
- Khandroma (Sky Dancer - 2017): For choir, with optional percussion.
- That Summer: A Fantasia on Family (2016): For men's choir, piano, and two percussionists.
- The Kiss (2013): For women's choir, cello, and piano.
- When I am Woman (2013): For treble choir and piano, with poetry by Sonia Sanchez.
Vocal Music (with Orchestra)
- Rabsong Shar – The Eastern Room of the Palace (2016): For soprano singer and chamber orchestra.
- Women of Valor (2000): For soprano and mezzo-soprano singers, a narrator, and orchestra.
Vocal Music (Chamber)
- Tse Go La Chamber Suite (2016): For a singer, flute, piano, percussion, and string quintet.
- Hagar (2011): For soprano and mezzo soloists, violin, percussion, piano, and narrator.
- Women of Valor Suite (2011): A shorter version of the Women of Valor cantata for singers, violin, percussion, piano, and narrator.
Vocal Music (Voice and Piano)
- You Bring Out the Doctor in Me (2013): For tenor singer and piano.
- The Drift of Things; Winter Songs (2012): A song cycle for mezzo-soprano, baritone, and piano.
Chamber/Solo Instrumental Music
- Ha-Galgal (The Wheel – 2019): For solo horn.
- Earth Door/Sky Door (2018): For flute, piano, percussion, and string quartet.
- A Dream of Trees (2016): For violin and bass.
- River Melos (2014): For horn and piano.
- AfterBach (2014): For two flutes.
- Into the Falcon’s Eye (2003): For two horns and piano.
- Spirit Island (1996): For flute, cello, and piano.
- Songs of the Wolf (1994): For horn and piano.
Collaborative and Multimedia Works
Andrea Clearfield also creates music for dance and art installations.
- Just as Mist on a Mirror Fades (2013): Electronic music for a visual artist.
- Califia and the Trespassers (2013): Electronic music for a performance with a filmmaker and choreographer. This piece won an award!
- Chinnamasta (2011): Electronic music for a dance company.
