Clifford Taylor

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.

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