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.

ACE Publications

32 title(s)
Composer Title SCORING/INSTRUMENTATION Year
Lee Gannon WHEN MY HEAD SPINS
pf
Lee Gannon WET ON WET solo clarinet
Lee Gannon TWO ETUDE-CAPRICES FOR FLUTE Flute
Lee Gannon TRIAD-O-RAMA Wind Octet
2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets, 2 Bassoons, 2 Horns
Lee Gannon TIME WAS GOLD Flute (Doubling Piccolo), Clarinet, Violin, 2 Percussion, Toy Piano, and Piano
Lee Gannon Three Pieces in Crystal (for Flute and Piano) Flute and Piano
Flute Optionally Doubles Alto Flute and Piccolo
Lee Gannon Three Pieces in Crystal (for Flute and Harp) Flute and Harp
Flute Optionally Doubles Alto Flute and Piccolo
Lee Gannon THIRD SONATINE
cl, bsn, hn
Lee Gannon TANGENTS
wind ens: pic, fl, ob, 2cl, bcl, 2bsn, 2asax, tsax, barsax, 2tptC, 4hn, 2tbn, bar, tba, timp, 3perc
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 SUNDAY COMICS Mixed nonet: fl, ob, cl, bsn, 2vln, vla, vc, cb (opt cb)
Lee Gannon Sonatine for Three Alto Recorders Three Alto Recorders
Lee Gannon SONATA for Violoncello & Piano
Lee Gannon Sonata for Piano Piano
Lee Gannon SONATA FOR OBOE & PIANO Oboe and Piano
Lee Gannon Six Etudes for Flute Flute
Lee Gannon SIMPLE SUITE
clarinet, pf
Lee Gannon SECOND SONATINE
ob, cl, bsn
Lee Gannon PRICKLY HEAT
cham orch: 1-1-1-1; 1-1-0-0; 2perc; str
Lee Gannon ON THE SURFACE orch: 2/pic-2-2-2; 4-2-2-1; timp, 2perc; pf/cel; str
Lee Gannon NASHVILLE, LOWER BROAD clarinet, viola, piano
Lee Gannon NAKED SCIMITAR
cham orch: 1-1-1-1; 1-1-1-0; perc; pf, hp; str
Lee Gannon MUSIC FOR NINE PLAYERS fl/pic, cl, bsn, tpt, hn, btbn, 2perc, cb
Lee Gannon Music for Flute - collection Flute solo, flute with piano and or harp
Lee Gannon MEDITATION AND SCHERZO Oboe, piano

Additional Works