Allen Shawn
Allen Evan Shawn (born August 27, 1948)[2] is an American composer, pianist, educator, and author who lives in Vermont.
Allen Shawn | |
|---|---|
| Born | Allen Evan Shawn August 27, 1948 New York City, U.S.[1] |
| Education | Harvard University (BA) Columbia University (MA) |
| Occupation(s) | Composer, pianist, educator, author |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 3 |
| Parents |
|
| Relatives | Wallace Shawn (brother) |
His music
Shawn began composing at the age of ten, but dates his mature work from 1977. He has written a dozen orchestral works, including a symphony, two piano concertos, a cello concerto, and a violin concerto; three chamber operas; five piano sonatas and many additional works for piano; and a large catalogue of chamber music, songs and choral music. Among Shawn's available recordings are several of chamber music, four CDs of piano music, including a CD devoted to his piano work by German pianist Julia Bartha, a Piano Concerto performed by Ursula Oppens with the Albany Symphony Orchestra under the direction of David Alan Miller, and the chamber opera The Music Teacher, with a libretto by his brother, Wallace Shawn.
As author
Shawn is the author of a book about Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg, Arnold Schoenberg's Journey, and a book about Leonard Bernstein, Leonard Bernstein: An American Musician.
He is also the author of Wish I Could Be There: Notes from a Phobic Life, which examines his experiences with anxiety and panic disorder, as well as his relationship with his autistic twin sister Mary,[3] and Twin: A Memoir, also about Mary and his relationship with her.[4] He discussed Twin with Terry Gross on WHYY's Fresh Air on January 3, 2011.[5]
Personal life
Shawn is a son of The New Yorker editor William Shawn, and the brother of the actor and playwright Wallace Shawn. His family is of Jewish background. He received a bachelor's degree from Harvard University, a master's degree from Columbia University, and studied in France with Nadia Boulanger.[6]
He teaches composition and music history at Bennington College and was formerly married to novelist Jamaica Kincaid, with whom he has a son, Harold, and a daughter, Annie.
He is married to pianist Yoshiko Sato, with whom he has a son, Noa.[2]
Books
- Arnold Schoenberg's Journey (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2002, ISBN 0374105901)
- Wish I Could Be There: Notes from a Phobic Life (New York: Viking, 2007, ISBN 9780670038428)
- Twin: A Memoir (New York: Viking, 2011, ISBN 9780670022373)
- Leonard Bernstein: An American Musician (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2014, ISBN 9780300144284)
References
- New York, New York, Birth Index, 1910-1965
- Vermont, Marriage Records, 1909-2008
- Shawn, Allen. Wish I Could Be There: Notes from a Phobic Life (New York: Viking, 2007)
- Shawn, Allen. Twin: A Memoir (New York: Viking, 2011)
- "Parallel Lives: Having A Twin With Mental Illness". NPR.org. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
- "Allen Shawn, Nonpop New Music Composer". kalvos.org. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
External links
- Allen Shawn biography
- Terry Gross Fresh Air interview with Allen Shawn, NPR.org, February 20, 2007.
- Allen Shawn at the Internet Off Broadway Database
- Allen Shawn Biography at Chaspen Foundation for the Arts
- Resume at Bennington College