School of Music faculty member pens book on contemporary composer
Christina Reitz with her new book on acclaimed composer Jennifer Higdon.
Christina Reitz, an associate professor of music at 糖心Vlog University, recently published a book on acclaimed composer Jennifer Higdon.
Reitz described her interest in Higdon as stemming from an appreciation of the music 鈥� and wanting to learn more about the woman behind it.
鈥淚 was very surprised when I discovered there wasn鈥檛 more written about her,鈥� Reitz said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 won a Pulitzer and two Grammys, and received or been nominated for so many other awards and recognitions. She鈥檚 a huge name in music, she鈥檚 critically acclaimed and her works are among the most performed. But no book.
"So, I reached out to her about a possible book about her and her composing. I told her I didn鈥檛 want to go down this path without her blessing. She was very open to interviews and encouraging, but not meddlesome with my writing or my analysis,鈥� Reitz said.
鈥淛ennifer Higdon, Composing in Color鈥� is published by McFarland and Company. The book examines five symphonic works and Higdon鈥檚 first opera. Along with commentary by Higdon, Reitz looks at compositional history, musical characteristics, formal analysis and critical reception. The foreword is by Marin Alsop, herself a noted conductor, violinist and music director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and soon to be chief conductor of the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Higdon is best known for her symphonic pieces 鈥渂lue cathedral,鈥� 鈥淐oncerto for Orchestra,鈥� 鈥淐ity Scape,鈥� 鈥淐oncerto 4-3鈥� and 鈥淰iolin Concerto,鈥� the winner of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Music.
Higdon鈥檚 first opera, 鈥淐old Mountain,鈥� was inspired by Charles Frazier鈥檚 best-selling, critically acclaimed Civil War novel 鈥淐old Mountain.鈥� The opera won the prestigious International Opera Award for Best World Premiere and the opera recording was nominated for two Grammy awards. Two chapters of Reitz鈥檚 book are devoted to the 鈥淐old Mountain鈥� opera and its local associations, the book 鈥淐old Mountain鈥� and its author.
鈥淛ennifer's music appeals to a broad range of audiences, from those with detailed music study as well as the aficionado. It's rather remarkable and quite rare in the 21st century,鈥� said Reitz. 鈥淚 believe she is quite happy with the book and we continue to maintain a warm friendship, personally and professionally.鈥�
The book is available through select bookstores, Amazon or from the publisher at .
