Elizabeth Hayden Pizer facts for kids

Elizabeth Faw Hayden Pizer, born on September 1, 1954, is a talented American composer. She also works as a music journalist, helps organize old records (an archivist), and produces radio or TV shows. Elizabeth was born in Watertown, New York. She studied music at the Boston Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. She later married Charles Pizer, who is also a musician and composer. In 1982, she won the First Prize in the Delius Composition Contest for her music.

Musical Compositions by Elizabeth Pizer

Elizabeth Pizer has created many different types of music. Her works include pieces for orchestras, smaller groups of instruments, voices, and even electronic sounds.

Orchestral and Band Music

Some of her larger musical pieces are:

• Elegy for Strings (1977/79): This piece is for a string orchestra, which is a group of violins, violas, cellos, and basses. It can also be played by a string quartet, which is a smaller group of four string instruments.
• Fanfare Overture (1977/79): This work is written for a symphonic band, a large group of wind and percussion instruments.

Chamber and Vocal Music

Elizabeth Pizer has also composed music for smaller groups of instruments or for singers:

• Look Down, Fair Moon (1976): A song for a singer and piano.
• Quilisoly (1976): This piece can be played by a flute and piano, or by a violin and piano.
• String Quartet (1981): A piece for four string instruments.
• Five Haiku (1978): Written for a soprano (a high female voice) and a small group of instruments. It can also be played with just a soprano and piano.
• Five Haiku, II (1979): This version is for a mezzo-soprano (a medium-range female voice) and piano.
• Ten Haiku (1978/79; arranged 1983): A piece for saxophone and piano.
• Nightsongs (1986): Songs for a medium voice and piano, using words by Milton Drake.
• Shakespeare Set (1978–87): A collection of songs for a voice without any instruments.

Electronic Music Creations

Elizabeth Pizer has also explored music made with electronic sounds:

• Sunken Flutes (1979): This piece uses electronic tape to create its sounds.
• Arlington (1989): Another work created using electronic tape.
• Embryonic Climactus (1989): An electronic tape composition.
• The Infinite Sea (1990): This piece can be played using electronic tape alone, or with electronic tape and a narrator.
• Aquasphere (1990): A musical work made with electronic tape.

Recorded Music and Albums

Elizabeth Pizer's music has been recorded and released on CDs. Some of these recordings include:

• Romantics: American Piano Music (1992) by North/South Recordings.
• Desertscapes -- Music of American Women Composer (1997) by MMC Recordings.
• New American Piano Music (2001) by Innova Recordings.

Published Books

Besides composing, Elizabeth Pizer has also written books. One of her published books is:

• Music of the Ancient Near East (New York, 1954).