Nancy Laird Chance facts for kids

Nancy Laird Chance, born on March 19, 1931, is a talented American musician. She is known as both a skilled pianist and a composer, meaning she writes music. She went to college at Bryn Mawr College and later at Columbia University. There, she learned from famous music teachers like Vladimir Ussachevsky, Otto Luening, and Chou Wen-chung.

About Nancy Laird Chance

After finishing her studies, Nancy Laird Chance worked in several music-related jobs. She taught piano to students and continued to compose her own music. She also worked as an arts administrator. This means she helped manage and organize artistic programs.

Awards and Recognition

Nancy Laird Chance has received many important awards for her musical works. In 1981, she won the ASCAP/Nissim prize for her orchestral piece called Liturgy. She won this same award again in 1984 for her work Odysseus. The ASCAP/Nissim prize is a special award for excellent orchestral music.

She also received two awards from the NEA. NEA stands for the National Endowment for the Arts. This is a U.S. government agency that supports artistic projects. In 1988, she earned fellowships from the MacDowell Colony and Sundance Film. These fellowships helped her focus on creating new compositions.

Musical Compositions

Nancy Laird Chance has written many different types of music. Her compositions include pieces for full orchestras, smaller groups of instruments, and even choirs. She has also written music for films.

Works for Orchestra

• Liturgy, 1979
• Odysseus, suite, 1983
• Planasthai, 1991

Chamber Music

Chamber music is written for a small group of instruments.

• Darksong, 1972
• Edensong, 1973
• Daysongs, 1974
• Ritual Sounds, 1975
• Ceremonial, 1976
• Declamation and Song, 1977
• Duos II, for oboe and English horn, 1978
• Duos III, for violin and violoncello, 1980
• Exultation and Lament, for saxophone and timpani, 1980
• Solemnities, 1981
• Woodwind Quintet, 1983
• Rhapsodia, 1984
• String Quartet, no.1, 1984–5
• Elegy, for string orchestra, 1986
• Heat and Silence, 1989

Choral and Vocal Works

These pieces are written for singers, often with instruments.

• Domine, Dominus, for double chorus without instruments, 1964
• Odysseus, for chorus and orchestra, 1981–3
• In Paradisium, for chorus and chamber ensemble, 1986–7
• Pie Jesu, Libera me, Hosanna and Benedictus, for chorus and chamber ensemble, 1990
• 3 Rilke Songs, for Soprano, flute, English horn, and violoncello, 1966
• Duos I, for Soprano and flute, 1975

Other Works

• Say the Good Words, for violin and synthesizer, 1989
• Last Images, a film, 1988

Nancy Laird Chance's music has been recorded and released on CDs by Opus One. This means her compositions can be enjoyed by people all over the world.