David Maslanka facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Maslanka
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| Background information | |
| Born | August 30, 1943 New Bedford, Massachusetts |
| Died | August 7, 2017 (aged 73) |
| Genres | Wind Literature |
| Occupation(s) | Composer, Musician |
| Years active | 1968–2017 |
David Maslanka (born August 30, 1943 – died August 7, 2017) was an American composer. He was known for writing many different kinds of music. This included pieces for choirs, wind ensembles (like school bands), chamber music, and symphony orchestras. He had Polish family roots.
Maslanka wrote over 150 musical pieces. These included ten symphonies, with eight of them for concert bands. He also wrote more than 15 concertos and a full Mass. His music often had strong, complex rhythms and clear melodies. People all over the world, from the United States to Japan, have performed his music. His last symphony was finished by his son, Matthew Maslanka, after David passed away.
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About David Maslanka's Life
David Maslanka studied music at the Oberlin Conservatory from 1961 to 1965. He also spent a year studying in Salzburg, Austria. Later, he earned more degrees from Michigan State University. There, he learned how to compose music from H. Owen Reed.
Maslanka taught music for over 20 years at Kingsborough Community College in New York. He also taught at Sarah Lawrence College and New York University. From 1990 onwards, Maslanka worked as a full-time composer. He created music mainly from special requests. He lived in Missoula, Montana. He married Alison Matthews in 1981. She passed away shortly before him. David Maslanka had three children: Steven, Matthew, and Kathryn.
Maslanka passed away on August 7, 2017. His Tenth Symphony, written for concert band, was completed by his son Matthew. It was first performed on April 3, 2018, by the University of Utah Wind Ensemble.
Awards and Special Recognitions
David Maslanka received many awards and honors for his music.
- He was given special fellowships five times at the MacDowell Colony in Peterborough, New Hampshire. This is a place where artists can go to work on their projects.
- He also received grants from groups like the American Music Center and the Martha Baird Rockefeller Fund for Music.
- The National Endowment for the Arts gave him a Composer Award three times. This is a big honor for artists in the U.S.
- In 1999, he won an award from the National Symphony Orchestra.
- In 2008, he became an honorary member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, a music fraternity.
- From 1980 until he passed away, Maslanka visited over 100 universities and music festivals. He shared his knowledge as a guest composer.
David Maslanka's Music
Many of Maslanka's pieces for wind instruments and percussion are now very popular. They are often played by bands. Some of his well-known works include:
- A Child's Garden of Dreams
- Rollo Takes a Walk
- Hymn for World Peace
He also wrote many concertos for different solo instruments. These include the euphonium, flute, piano, marimba, alto saxophone, and trombone. His Second and Fourth Symphonies are especially popular among wind ensembles.
Maslanka also wrote music for percussion instruments. Some of these are:
- Montana Music: Three Dances for Percussion
- Variations of 'Lost Love'
- My Lady White
- Arcadia II: Concerto for Marimba and Percussion Ensemble
- Crown of Thorns
He even wrote a complete Mass for a full choir, with solo singers, and a full symphonic band playing along.
Growing up near the New England coast, Maslanka was inspired by the ocean. You can hear this influence in pieces like Sea Dreams. It also appears in the second part of his Second Symphony. Most of his music was published by Carl Fischer Music. His Polish background also influenced his compositions.
See also
In Spanish: David Maslanka para niños
