James Syler
James Syler | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | James Scott Syler |
| Born | April 7, 1961 Hyde Park, New York |
| Genres | Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, Choral, Chamber |
| Occupation | Composer |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Website | official website |
James Scott Syler (born April 7, 1961, from Hyde Park, New York) is an American composer fluent in many genres of music including Wind Ensemble, Choral, Orchestral, and Chamber Music.
A student of Alfred Reed, Karl Korte, and Michael Colgrass, Syler's music is known for its lyricism and drama. His compositional style his highly eclectic, melding techniques ranging from the Baroque and Renaissance to Minimalism. He was the winner of the 1993 National Band Association Composition Award, the 1993 Arnald Gabriel Composition Award, the 2002 American Composers Forum Commission, and received two grants from the American Music Center. He established his own publishing company, Ballerbach Music in 1998, that published the works of more than 20 composers for 15 years.
Syler is currently on faculty at the University of Texas at San Antonio where he teaches composition, orchestration, contrapuntal techniques, and music history courses.
Life
Syler was born in Hyde Park, New York and spent time growing up in both New York and Florida. His musical training began at age nine when he joined his elementary school band as a percussionist and continued at age sixteen with piano lessons[1]. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Northern Illinois University in 1983[2]. His Master of Music Degree is in Studio Writing and Media Production from the University in Miami(FL), conferred in 1988[3]. During his time in Miami he met and studied with composer Alfred Reed, an important figure in the wind ensemble world. Though he met and studied with Reed, Syler was mostly interested in film score composing during his time at the University of Miami. In 1991 he continued graduate work at the University of Texas-Austin towards the DMA in Composition[4]. Karl Korte was his mentor during his time at the University of Texas. Korte is known for his work with contemporary compositional techniques. Syler grew disenchanted with school and struck out on his own to freelance as a composer. He reached out to Michael Colgrass and Colgrass subsequently mentored him for two consecutive summers in 1992 and 1993. In 1995 he earned a collegiate position at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida which he left in 1998. He then was on faculty at Florida Atlantic University from 1998-2001. In 2001 he earned his current position at the University of Texas-San Antonio[5].
Works
James Syler is mostly known for his works for wind ensemble and for chorus. His piece Hound of Heaven (1988) for wind ensemble won the 1993 Arnald Gabriel Composition Award and the 1993 National Band Association Award. Syler describes it as a "program symphony in six movements" based upon the poem of the same name by British poet Francis Thompson. The story the poem depicts is of God as the loving hound in pursuit of the lost hare; the individual soul. It was recorded in 2008 by the Rutgers Wind Ensemble, William Berz Conductor, and can often be found on programs of the finest collegiate and university wind ensembles every year. Minton's Playhouse (1994) is an eclectic piece that has enjoyed popularity from its conception. Conceived for solo saxophone quartet and wind ensemble, it is also in a third stream style. It has been recorded by the Illinois State University Wind Symphony, Stephen Steele, Conductor in 2002. Symphony No. 1 'Blue' (1999) is Syler's largest composition. Composed for Soprano, Chorus, and Wind Ensemble, it is a work of considerable substance. The text is original to Syler and is based upon the rebirth of oneself once the pit of despair is reached. Change is inevitable because of this threshold therefore the previous self can no longer exist. Syler weaves the narrative using the soloist, chorus and ensemble to create unique textures and a powerful composition. The piece was recorded in 2002 by the University of Miami Wind Ensemble, Gary Green, Conductor. Dear Sarah (1998) is for SATB Chorus and piano. This piece is a setting of a letter from the Civil War by Major Sullivan Ballou to his wife who died just days later in battle. The piece has gained significant popularity and is published by Santa Barbara Publishing company as a part of the Jo-Michael Scheibe Choral Series. It was recorded by the University of Miami Chorale in 2002, Jo-Michael Scheibe, Conductor.
References
Gausline, Gregg. Wind Ensemble Compositions of James Syler Doctoral Dissertation[6]
McCutchen, Matthew. An examination of the history and winning pieces of the National Band Association's composition contest: 1977--2008 Doctoral Dissertation[7]
Montgomery, David. The growth of third stream music in the wind band repertory: A study of jazz influences in three selected compositions Doctoral Dissertation[8]
External Links
- Composer's Website
- James Syler Page on Santa Barbara Publishing Website
- James Syler Page on FJH Publishing Website
- ^ McCutchen, Matthew. An examination of the history and winning pieces of the National Band Association's composition contest: 1977--2008. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
- ^ Composer's Website
- ^ Composer's Website
- ^ Composer's Website
- ^ Composer's Website
- ^ Gausline, Gregg. Wind Ensemble Compositions of James Syler. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
- ^ McCutchen, Matthew. An examination of the history and winning pieces of the National Band Association's composition contest: 1977--2008. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
- ^ Montgomery, David. The growth of third stream music in the wind band repertory: A study of jazz influences in three selected compositions. Retrieved 17 July 2015.