Elegy

Born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1928 but residing in the United States since 1970, Thea Musgrave is one of the most respected living composers. A fairly prolific composer, particularly in the realms of chamber music and opera, Musgrave has had performances throughout the world at most major festivals, and her works have been performed—often under her baton—on the world’s greatest musical stages. As a student she earned the distinct privilege of studying with Nadia Boulanger at the famed Paris Conservatory. And in later life she received numerous honorary degrees and artistic prizes. She retired from her position at Queen’s College, CUNY in 2002 as one of America’s most distinguished composers.
Musgrave composed the Elegy during a visiting professorship at the University of California, Santa Barbara in April 1970, and the world premiere took place one month later. According to the composer, the work emerges from a single, defining chord heard at the very beginning. The mood shifts to one of greater activity and dramatic intensity. At the same time Musgrave withdraws the familiar cues of conventional notation and pursues instead a much freer notational system in which performers are encouraged to invent, explore, and give free rein to soloistic display.

(c) Jason Stell