Jacob Druckman studied at Juilliard School with Bernard Wagenaar, Vincent Persichetti and Peter Mennin and with Aaron Copland at Tanglewood * Devoted himself to the exploration of sound and colour, both instrumental and electronic * Noted for his ingenious and cogent formal designs, as in the interwoven structures of String Quartet No.3* His orchestral works included commissions from the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Baltimore Symphony and Radio France * As the New York Philharmonic's composer-in-residence (1982-85) he explored the emerging New Romanticism in the programming of three controversial and influential Horizons festivals * Noted teacher at Juilliard, Bard College, Tanglewood and Yale University * Windows, a 1972 work for orchestra, earned him the Pulitzer Prize
Works by Jacob Druckman include: Lamia (1974/75) for soprano and orchestra Prism (1980) for orchestra Come Round (1992) for chamber ensemble Counterpoise (1994) for soprano and orchestra or chamber ensemble
American Composers Orchestra performs Nor Spell, Nor Charm at Zankel Hall on October 15.
"He was best known for his vividly scored and viscerally dramatic orchestral works... a skillful exponent of electronic music...incorporating elements of theatre into his concert works, including narrative and ritualistic scenarios." — New York Times