Judith Lang Zaimont facts for kids

Judith Lang Zaimont (born November 8, 1945) is an American composer and pianist. She writes music that mixes older styles with new ideas, and she is known for her interesting rhythms.

A Young Musician's Start

Judith Lang Zaimont was born in Memphis, Tennessee. Her family was Jewish. Both Judith and her sister, Doris, started piano lessons with their mother, Bertha Lang. Bertha was a great pianist and singer. She was very active in music and even led the New York State Music Teachers Association.

Judith began studying at Juilliard when she was 12 years old. From 1958 to 1964, she learned piano and music theory there. Her piano teacher was Rosina Lhévinne. She also studied theory and played duo-piano with Ann Hull. Judith and Doris became successful duo-pianists. They even appeared on TV shows like Lawrence Welk's and Mitch Miller's. In 1963, they made their debut at Carnegie Hall.

Judith's musical talent was clear from a very young age. Her family remembers her singing in her sleep as a child. She could also play music by ear and read new music very quickly. She became interested in composing after playing music by Chopin. She didn't like practicing the same notes over and over. She said, "I like to mess around with the notes." She started trying to compose music when she was eleven. When she was just twelve, she won first place from the National Federation of Music Clubs for one of her pieces.

Education and Teaching

Judith continued her music education. She earned a diploma from the Long Island Institute of Music in 1966. She then received a bachelor's degree from Queens College in 1968. Later, in 1978, she earned a master's degree from Columbia University.

She studied composition with Hugo Weisgall and Jack Beeson at Queens College. At Columbia, she studied with Otto Luening. She also traveled to France on a special fellowship. There, she studied how to arrange music for orchestras with André Jolivet. Judith Lang Zaimont has taught music at several universities. These include the Peabody Conservatory of Music, Adelphi University, and the University of Minnesota. She is now retired from teaching.

Her Musical Style

Zaimont's music often uses ideas from older musical periods. These include Romanticism and Impressionism. She also adds techniques from the 20th century. Her music usually has a clear key or "tonal" center. It also has a recognizable structure. She is proud that her music has clear forms but is still very creative.

One of the most unique things about Zaimont's music is her use of complex rhythms. She often changes the time signature suddenly. She believes rhythm is the most important part of making a piece of music flow together. She likes to surprise listeners with where the main beat lands. She also uses "cross rhythms," which are different rhythms played at the same time.

Zaimont says her melodies are more like instruments playing than voices singing. This means her melodies can have uneven shapes. They might jump octaves or move in a straight line. She often changes the mood in her pieces. She also uses dance rhythms and gives her works descriptive titles. Many of her pieces are inspired by nature. Zaimont describes her style as "highly dramatic." She says it has "non-traditional but tonal underpinnings." She also states, "My style is essentially chromatic and non-contrapuntal."

She also thinks texture is very important in music. Texture is how the different layers of sound are put together. She is very good at writing music that sounds natural for each instrument. This comes from her strong "inner hearing." She had to rely on this even more after an ear operation in 1984. This operation caused hearing loss in her left ear. She said, "When I woke up the next morning, I couldn't hear birds. And I haven't heard them through natural hearing ever since."

Who Influenced Her Music

Zaimont was inspired by many famous composers. These include Berlioz, Chopin, Scriabin, Prokofiev, Debussy, Ravel, Messiaen, Stravinsky, and Copland. She was drawn to how these composers used texture. She also liked their fast "harmonic rhythm" (how quickly chords change).

She said, "I prefer textures where there's a lot of 'stuff'." She also explained that her melodies need clear textures. This helps to make the music's ideas stand out. She has been called a "Romantic Modernist," and she agrees that this describes her well. Early in her career, she was influenced by George Gershwin and Jazz music. You can hear this in her earlier works. She also loves French music, especially Debussy. She enjoys music that has words or text. Even though composers are influenced by others, Zaimont believes it is important for each composer to find their own unique musical voice.

Her Impact on Music

Judith Lang Zaimont has also worked hard to highlight the challenges faced by female composers. She strongly supports women composers. However, she does not like being called a "woman composer." She said she never heard the term "adjective-composer" until 1972. This was when a radio host asked her what it was like to be a "woman composer." She explained that she had never thought of herself that way.

She has also pointed out that female composers are often missing from music teaching materials. She believes students are not taught enough about women composers. This is especially true for living female composers. She has encouraged teachers to include more music by women and new music in their college courses. Zaimont has contributed to this area herself. She has written music for different skill levels. She also served as the main editor for a book series called The Musical Woman: An International Perspective. These books were published because women composers from the past were being overlooked. Another important achievement is her many publications. These include the book series and several other articles.

Awards and Honors

• National Federation of Music Clubs, 10 prizes (1962–1970)
• Debussy Fellowship of the Alliance Françoise (1971–1972)
• MacDowell Fellowship (1971 and 1976)
• Guggenheim Fellowship (1983)
• International Alliance for Women in Music Recording Award for Neon Rhythm (1995)
• Honored Composer at the Van Cliburn International Competition (2001)
• Aaron Copland Award (2003)
• Gottschalk Centenary Composition Gold Medal for Man's Image and His Cry (1969)
• National Endowment for the Arts (1982)
• McCollin International Composition Competition First Prize for Symphony no.1 (1995)
• BMI Young Composer Award for Four Songs for Mezzo-Soprano and Piano (1996)
• Artist Fellowship in Music Composition-Bush Foundation (2005)

Her Musical Works

You can find a full list of Judith Lang Zaimont's musical works online at [1].