William Bergsma

William Laurence Bergsma ( born April 1, 1921 in Oakland, California, † March 18, 1994 in Seattle, Washington) was an American composer.

Bergsma studied from 1938 to 1940 in Stanford University and until 1944 at the Eastman School of Music, also at Howard Hanson. Since 1946 he worked at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City as a composition teacher, and from 1963 to 1971 as director of the School of Music at the University of Seattle / Washington. Here he founded the Contemporary Group, the performance of contemporary music and its inclusion in the study of music was dedicated to.

Bergsma composed two operas and two ballets, two suites, a violin concerto, a wind quintet, piano music, choral music, songs and film music.

Works (selection)

  • The Murder of Comrade Sharik, opera
  • The Wife of Martin Guerre, opera, 1956
  • A Carol on Twelfth Night
  • Chameleon Variations
  • In Celebration
  • Toccata for the Sixth Day
  • Paul Bunyan, Ballet Suite
Washington (state) Integrated Authority File
821890
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