Martin Kennedy (composer)

For the U.S. politician (1892-1955), see Martin J. Kennedy. For the New Zealand politician, see Martin Kennedy (New Zealand politician).

Martin Kennedy (born March 24, 1978) is a composer of contemporary classical music.

Biography

Martin Kennedy was born in Wakefield, England. He holds a Doctorate in Music Composition from the Juilliard School where he studied as a C.V. Starr fellow with Milton Babbitt and Samuel Adler. He completed his Master’s degree in composition at the Jacobs School of Music, where he also received his Bachelors Degrees in composition and piano performance.

Kennedy has written extensively for orchestra, chamber ensembles, and solo instruments. Awards include first prize in the '2 Agosto' International Composing Competition, the 2010 ASCAP Rudolf Nissim Prize for Best Orchestral Work, five ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Awards, a BMI Young Composer Award, the Suzanne and Lee Ettleson Prize, an Aaron Copland Award, and residencies at the MacDowell and Yaddo artist colonies. His music is published by Theodore Presser Company and G. Schirmer Inc.

Kennedy serves on the faculty at Central Washington University, where he is the Director of Composition and Theory.

Compositions

Orchestral Works

• Oranges: 12 Pastorals (2005)
• Juvenilia (2001)
• Three Pieces for Orchestra (1999)

Wind Ensemble Works

• Front Toward Enemy (2014)

Concerti

• Desplazamiento for piccolo and orchestra (2013)
• Trivial Pursuits for violin and orchestra (2009)
• Piano Concerto (2008)
• Flute Concerto (1999)
• Souvenir for flute, harp, and string orchestra (1999)

Piano Music

• A Departure (2013)
• Ballistics for two pianos (2011)
• All Hands on Dec for ten pianos (1997)
• Piano Sonata (2004)
• Basso Ostinato (2002)
• Barcarolle (2002)
• Toccata (2001)

Chamber Music

• Distant Channels for bass trombone and percussion (2014)
• Czardashian Rhapsody (arr.) for violin and piano (2013)
• Song of the Moon (Serbian, arr.) for violin and piano (2013)
• Desplazamiento for piccolo and piano (2013)
• Variations on Being Alone for solo violin (2010)
• Persistence for trombone quartet (2010)
• Trivial Pursuits for violin and piano (2009)
• Suite for string quartet (2006)
• Theme and Variations for trombone and piano (2003)
• Distraction for guitar, violin, and viola (2002)
• Hammer/Bell for two guitars or Chapman Stick (2001)
• Four Welsh Forms for chamber ensemble (2001)
• Trio for flute, violoncello, and piano (1998)
• Four Songs for flute and piano (1998)
• The Proof of Darkness for six violas (1997)
• Five Complaints for woodwind quartet (1997)
• These Parting Gifts for two violins and piano (1997)
• Stanislas for piano trio (1996)
• Souvenir for flute and piano (1995)

Vocal

• An Affirmation for chamber choir (2015)
• Tomb Sonnets for countertenor and viol consort (2014)
• all one they were for soprano, piano, and percussion (2012)
• My Beloved is Mine for soprano and guitar (2007)
• my eyes / your eyes for choir, marimba, and vibraphone (2006)
• The Touch of Dreams for tenor, clarinet, and piano (2000)
• Shall I Come Sweet Love for soprano and harp (1999)
• The Lamb for boychoir and string trio (1998)

Electronic

• Four Canons for Four Organs Posing as a Set of Russian Nesting Dolls (2012)
• "I am Doctor Brahms! Johannes Brahms!" (2012)

Arrangements

• Sonata for violin and orchestra (John Corigliano, arr. Kennedy) (2012)
• J.S. BACHelor Party for Polkastra (arr. with Matthew Van Brink) (2011)
• Totentanz for violin and orchestra (Franz Liszt, arr. Kennedy and Lara St. John) (2007)

External links

• Martin Kennedy Website
• Martin Kennedy's page at Theodore Presser Company