1. Home
  2. Composers
  3. Clifford Taylor

Clifford Taylor

composer-default-image
Biography

Clifford O. Taylor (20 October 1923 Avalon, PA-19 September 1987 Abington, PA) was an American composer and music educator. He studied with Walter Piston and Paul Hindemith and served as chairman of the department of music composition at Temple University for 23 years. Among his compositions are three symphonies, The Freak Show (a 1975 one-act opera), several string quartets and numerous piano sonatas. In December 1971 the Philadelphia Orchestra played the world premiere of his Symphony No. 2. He was married for many years to Louise Kemp, living with her until his death at Abington Memorial Hospital in 1987. They had three sons, Christopher, Andrew and Jonathan Taylor.

His major works seemed to belonged to a school of thought among 20th century American composers, such as Aaron Copland and Leonard Bernstein, that was intent on writing music exhibiting strictly American styles, properties, and innovations.

  • solo keyboard

    • ACE Publications

    54 title(s)
    Composer Title SCORING/INSTRUMENTATION Year
    Clifford Taylor NINE STUDY PIECES pf
    Clifford Taylor PROCESSIONAL
    Clifford Taylor PROCESSIONAL FOR A WEDDING
    Organ (or piano)
    Clifford Taylor QUATTRO LIRICHE
    Medium voice, alto saxophone, piano
    Clifford Taylor QUINTET NO.3
    Oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, viola
    Clifford Taylor QUINTET,Op.7
    Woodwind quintet: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn
    Clifford Taylor SACRED VERSES
    SATB, flute (2)/piccolo, oboe (2)/english horn, clarinet (2), bass clarinet, bassoon (2), contrabassoon, horn (2), trumpet (2), trombone (2), tuba (1), timpani, percussion (3), harp, strings (OR organ, OR piano)
    Clifford Taylor SERENADE
    7perc+1aux
    Clifford Taylor SINFONIA SERIA fl, bar(euph)soli; band: pic-3-2-eh-Ebcl-3cl-bcl-2-cbsn-6sax; 4-3-2flgh-3-btbn-bar-tba, timp, perc, cb
    Clifford Taylor SOLO LANDSCAPES
    Clarinet (Bb or A)
    Clifford Taylor SONATA NO.1,op.10
    Piano
    Clifford Taylor SONATA NO.2 pf
    Clifford Taylor SONATA,op.11
    Violin, piano
    Clifford Taylor SONG FOR NUPTIALS
    Baritone, piano (or organ)
    Clifford Taylor STRING QUARTET(1959)
    String quartet
    Clifford Taylor STRING QUARTET NO.1
    String quartet
    Clifford Taylor STRING QUARTET NO.2
    String quartet
    Clifford Taylor SUITE NO.1
    Piano
    Clifford Taylor SWELL PEOPLE
    Clifford Taylor SYMPHONY for organ, op.6
    Organ (or piano)
    Clifford Taylor SYMPHONY NO.1,op.17
    Flute (2), oboe (2), clarinet (2), bassoon (2), horn (4), trumpet (2), trombone (3), timpani, percussion (2), strings
    Clifford Taylor SYMPHONY NO.2
    Piccolo, flute (2), oboe (2), english horn, Eb clarinet, clarinet (2), bassoon (2), contrabassoon, horn (4), trumpet (3), trombone (2), bass trombone, tuba (1), timpani, percussion (5), celesta, harp (2), strings
    Clifford Taylor SYMPHONY NO.3
    Piccolo, flute (2), oboe (2), english horn, clarinet (3), bass clarinet, bassoon (2), horn (4), trumpet (2), trombone (3), tuba, harp, celesta, percussion, strings
    Clifford Taylor THEME & VARIATIONS,Op.8
    Piccolo, flute (2), oboe (2), english horn, clarinet (2), bass clarinet, bassoon (2), contrabassoon, horn (4), trumpet (3), trombone (3), tuba, timpani, percussion (2), piano, strings
    Clifford Taylor THIRTY IMPROVISATIONAL SKETCHES
    Piano

    Additional Works