Judith Dvorkin facts for kids
Judith Dvorkin (born April 22, 1928 – died July 24, 1995) was an American musician who wrote music and stories for musical works. She was a talented composer, which means she wrote the music, and a librettist, meaning she wrote the words (called a libretto) for operas and other musical plays. She also sometimes used the name Judy Spencer.
Dvorkin was born in New York City. She loved music and studied it at Barnard College with a teacher named Otto Luening. She continued her studies at Columbia University with Luening and another famous composer, Elliott Carter. Later, she learned even more in special classes with Roger Sessions at the University of California, Berkeley.
Her Musical Creations
Judith Dvorkin was especially known for her chamber operas and theater works. A chamber opera is like a regular opera but usually smaller, with fewer singers and musicians. She also wrote many pieces for voices and musical instruments.
Here are some of her important works:
- Humpty Dumpty (1988): This was an opera based on the famous story Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.
- Blue Star (1983): Another opera she created.
- The Capitoline Venus (1969): This was a one-act opera, which means it's shorter than a full opera. It was inspired by a story from the writer Mark Twain. Judith Dvorkin wrote the words (the libretto) for this opera, while Ulysses Kay wrote the music.
- Marpessa: A Myth: A piece written for a soprano (a high-voiced female singer), a clarinet, and a piano.
- Cyrano: This work was based on the well-known play Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand.
- Maurice
- Perspectives: A piece written for the flute.
- Song Cycle: A collection of songs meant to be sung by a choir.
- Four Women: Another piece for a choir.
- The Children: A work for a bass singer (a low-voiced male singer), flute, oboe, and violin.
Recordings
Some of Judith Dvorkin's music has been recorded so people can listen to it. One of her works, Maurice, was released on a CD by New World Records.
