Lee Gannon

Biography

NY Times Obit:

Lee Gannon (1960-1996) was a prize-winning composer who wrote in an accessible, eclectic style. He died from injuries in a car accident on Sept. 2, 1996 in Nashville at the age of 36. Mr. Gannon composed prolifically for voice, solo instruments, chamber ensembles and orchestra, and had works performed in recent years by the American Composers Orchestra, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble and the Nashville Symphony.

Many of his works were about his struggle with H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS, and in some of his works he showed the virus being conquered by innocence or fortitude.

In "The Time Was Gold," for example, a harsh clarinet line representing the virus was vanquished by a toy piano. In "Derelict," the purity of a flute line was the victorious force. Another of his works, "Triad-O-Rama," a wind quintet in a Neo-Classical style, was included on "Memento Bittersweet," a collection of works by composers with AIDS released by Catalyst in 1994.

He was born in Nashville and studied piano, flute and composition at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. His composition teachers included Samuel Adler, Claude Baker, Robert Morris and Joseph Schwantner. He studied with Dan Welcher at the University of Texas, where he completed his master's degree in 1990. Mr. Gannon was awarded the Charles Ives Prize by the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1993. --Allan Kozinn, New York Times

*Many works by Lee Gannon are available and distributed by the American Composers Alliance, in coopoeration with the composer's estate. Please contact ACA for availability and prices.

  • solo keyboard
  • ACE Publications

    32 title(s)
    Composer Title SCORING/INSTRUMENTATION Year
    Lee Gannon Aurora Solo Cello
    Lee Gannon DERELICT Flute
    Lee Gannon ETUDES for Alto Recorder Alto Recorder
    Lee Gannon First Sonatine Flute, Oboe, and Clarinet
    Lee Gannon FIVE EXPERIENCES FOR PIANO piano
    Lee Gannon FREE FROM A SEASON'S PASSING orch: 2-2-2-2; 2-2-0-0; timp, 2perc; hp, str
    Lee Gannon March for Flute and Piano Flute and Piano
    Lee Gannon MEDITATION AND SCHERZO Oboe, piano
    Lee Gannon Music for Flute - collection Flute solo, flute with piano and or harp
    Lee Gannon MUSIC FOR NINE PLAYERS fl/pic, cl, bsn, tpt, hn, btbn, 2perc, cb
    Lee Gannon NAKED SCIMITAR
    cham orch: 1-1-1-1; 1-1-1-0; perc; pf, hp; str
    Lee Gannon NASHVILLE, LOWER BROAD clarinet, viola, piano
    Lee Gannon ON THE SURFACE orch: 2/pic-2-2-2; 4-2-2-1; timp, 2perc; pf/cel; str
    Lee Gannon PRICKLY HEAT
    cham orch: 1-1-1-1; 1-1-0-0; 2perc; str
    Lee Gannon SECOND SONATINE
    ob, cl, bsn
    Lee Gannon SIMPLE SUITE
    clarinet, pf
    Lee Gannon Six Etudes for Flute Flute
    Lee Gannon SONATA FOR OBOE & PIANO Oboe and Piano
    Lee Gannon Sonata for Piano Piano
    Lee Gannon SONATA for Violoncello & Piano
    Lee Gannon Sonatine for Three Alto Recorders Three Alto Recorders
    Lee Gannon SUNDAY COMICS Mixed nonet: fl, ob, cl, bsn, 2vln, vla, vc, cb (opt cb)
    Lee Gannon SYMPHONY NO. 1 for Wind Ensemble
    wind ens: pic, fl, 2ob, Ebcl, 3cl, bcl, 2bsn, 2asax, tsax, barsax, 3tpt, 4hn, euph, 2tbn, btbn, tba, cb, timp, 3perc
    Lee Gannon TANGENTS
    wind ens: pic, fl, ob, 2cl, bcl, 2bsn, 2asax, tsax, barsax, 2tptC, 4hn, 2tbn, bar, tba, timp, 3perc
    Lee Gannon THIRD SONATINE
    cl, bsn, hn

    Additional Works