Jean Eichelberger Ivey facts for kids
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Jean Eichelberger Ivey (born July 3, 1923 – died May 2, 2010) was an American composer. She wrote many different kinds of music, including pieces for solo instruments, small groups, voices, and orchestras. People knew her as a creative and respected composer of electronic music.
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Early Life and Education
Jean Eichelberger Ivey was born in 1923. She went to high school in Washington, D.C. Even though her family faced challenges during the Great Depression, Jean was very smart. She won a full scholarship to Trinity College. She earned her bachelor's degree there in 1944.
After that, she continued her studies. She earned master's degrees in piano and music composition. Later, she earned her doctorate from the University of Toronto in 1972. In the 1940s and 1950s, she taught music theory. She taught at Trinity College, the Peabody Conservatory of Music, and Catholic University. In 1964, she started studying for another advanced degree. This included learning about electronic music.
Pioneering Electronic Music at Peabody
Jean Eichelberger Ivey made a big impact at the Peabody Conservatory. In 1967, she started the Peabody Electronic Music Studio. This was the first studio of its kind at a music conservatory. She taught musical composition and electronic music there. Most of her electronic pieces mix electronic sounds with regular instruments or voices.
She first showed electronic music to teachers using her own equipment. She then convinced the Conservatory to buy its own gear. This led to the official opening of the studio in 1969. Ivey led this studio, later called the Computer Music Studio. She also directed the computer music program until she retired in 1997. She helped many young composers during her time there.
The Baltimore Symphony performed two of her works. These pieces combined recorded electronic sounds with a live orchestra. Her music has been released on several record labels.
Notable Achievements and Awards
Jean Eichelberger Ivey is recognized in important music books. She is listed in The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. She is also in Who's Who in America. A documentary film called A Woman Is... a Composer was made about her.
She received many awards for her work. These include a Guggenheim fellowship. She also got two fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts. Since 1972, she received yearly awards from ASCAP. She also earned special awards from Peabody.
Ivey believed that composers should use all musical tools available. She felt music should help share human ideas and feelings.
Influence on Music
For a long time, composing and conducting were mostly done by men. Jean Eichelberger Ivey helped change this. She faced challenges as a woman in music and in universities. Women often had fewer chances to get jobs, grants, or have their music recorded. She worked hard to overcome these challenges. She opened doors for other women in music.
Works and Students
Jean Eichelberger Ivey created many interesting musical pieces. Some of her notable works include:
- Pinball
- Hera, Hung from the Sky (inspired by a poem)
- Testament of Eve (1974)
She also taught many students who became successful composers. Some of her well-known students include Michael Hedges, Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez, Vivian Adelberg Rudow, and Daniel Crozier.
See also
In Spanish: Jean Eichelberger Ivey para niños
