Jefferson Friedman

An American composer from Massachusetts (b. 1974). He received a B.A. degree from [l=Columbia University] and M.M. degree in music composition from the [l=Juilliard School]. Some of Friedman's pedagogues over the years include [a=David Rakowski], [a=Jonathan D. Kramer], [a=John Corigliano], [a=George Tsontakis] and [a=Christopher Rouse (2)]. His works has been performed throughout the United States and abroad, most notably at the [l=John F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts], Lincoln Center's [l=Alice Tully Hall] and [l=Avery Fisher Hall], [l=Carnegie Hall], the [l=Hollywood Bowl], the [l=Brooklyn Academy Of Music], Columbia University's [url=https://www.discogs.com/label/443778]Miller Theatre[/url], [l=The Bowery Ballroom], and [l=Le Poisson Rouge].

Friedman has been commissioned by [a=Leonard Slatkin] and the [a=National Symphony Orchestra] and composed three pieces for NSO, including second and third sections of a proposed orchestral trilogy [i]In the Realms of the Unreal[/i], each movement of which is based on the life and work of a different American 'outsider' artist. [i]The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations Millennium General Assembly[/i]is a musical depiction of an incredible sculpture of the same name by the Washington artist James Hampton (1909—1964). This piece was subsequently performed by other orchestras, such as [a=The New York Philharmonic Orchestra] at Avery Fischer Hall, and [a=Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra] at the Hollywood Bowl. In 2007, National Symphony Orchestra commissioned and premiered a revised version of [i]Sacred Heart: Explosion[/i] – composition dedicated to a Chicagoan visionary artist and writer [a=Henry Darger] (1892—1972). Jefferson wrote an original version of [i]Sacred Heart[/i] while still a student at Juilliard. The composer also dedicated three string quartets for [a=Chiara String Quartet]. Friedman's [i]String Quartet No. 2[/i] was recorded by the Corigliano Quartet for their [l=Naxos] debut album. A third quartet was nominated as the Best Contemporary Classical Composition of the Year for Grammy.

In addition to his work as a composer, Jefferson Friedman has performed with rock bands, including [a=Shudder To Think], and created string arrangements for [m=1899] album by electronic duo [a=Matmos]. In 2012, he moved to Los Angeles. Since then Friedman has been working on several film, TV and theatrical projects, collaborating with [a=Craig Wedren], [a=Deborah Lurie] and [a=Danny Elfman].