Beatrice Witkin facts for kids

Beatrice Braverman Witkin (May 13, 1916 – February 7, 1990) was an American composer and pianist. She became famous for her electronic music. One of her most well-known pieces was the theme song she created for the TV show Wild, Wild World of Animals in 1973.

Early Life and Music Studies

Beatrice Witkin loved music from a young age. She learned to play the piano from Eduard Steuermann. She also studied how to compose music with famous teachers like Roger Sessions. She earned a bachelor's degree from Hunter College. Later, she received a master's degree from New York University.

In 1938, Beatrice married Louis Witkin. They had two children, a daughter named Judy and a son named Steve.

Awards and Recognition

Beatrice Witkin received many important awards and grants for her music. She got support from big organizations like the Rockefeller Foundation and the Ford Foundation. She also received money from the National Endowment for the Arts.

She released two music albums featuring chamber music. She also won the Creative Arts Public Service Grant. The ASCAP gave her a Standard Award.

A Pioneer in Electronic Music

In 1963, Witkin helped start the Contemporary Chamber Ensemble. This group performed new music and asked composers to write new pieces. She was a guest composer at the MacDowell Colony in New Hampshire. She was also a long-time member of the Women's Composers Forum and ASCAP.

In 1968, Beatrice Witkin was invited to work at the Electronic Music Studio. This studio was at the New York University School of the Arts. Two years later, her electronic song Glissines won a prize. It was part of High Fidelity magazine's Electronic Music Contest.

Her most famous electronic piece was the theme for Wild, Wild World of Animals. She created this music for the television show in 1973.

Her Musical Works

Beatrice Witkin wrote many different kinds of music. She composed pieces for bands, small groups of instruments (chamber music), and orchestras. She also created electronic music. Her works included music for plays and songs for singers.

Some of her notable electronic compositions include:

• Breath and Sounds (for tuba and tape)
• Echologie (for flute and tape)
• Glissines
• Time Machine
• The theme for Wild, Wild World of Animals

Her papers, which include her musical notes and other documents, are kept at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut.