Carter, Elliott

Carter, Elliott (Cook, Jr.)

(born Dec. 11, 1908, New York, N.Y., U.S.) U.S. composer. Born to a wealthy family, he studied English and music at Harvard University and later studied in Paris with Nadia Boulanger. He taught at many institutions, after 1972 primarily at the Juilliard School. He absorbed a range of influences, including Igor Stravinsky and Charles Ives. His style evolved into a densely contrapuntal and rhythmically complex texture in which the various instrumental parts frequently suggest conversation and combat. His principal works include Sonata for Flute, Oboe, Cello, and Harpsichord (1952), Variations for Orchestra (1955), Double Concerto for piano and harpsichord (1961), Concerto for Orchestra (1969), A Symphony of Three Orchestras (1977), Oboe Concerto (1987), Cello Concerto (2001), and five string quartets (1951, 1959, 1971, 1986, 1995), two of which received the Pulitzer Prize. He is often called the greatest American composer of the late 20th century.

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Carter, Elliott (Cook, Jr.) (1908–  ) composer; born in New York City. Encouraged by Charles Ives to pursue composition, he graduated from Harvard and for three years studied with famed pedagogue Nadia Boulanger in Paris. He spent the 1940s teaching, writing on music, and composing relatively conservative music with modest success. Then his 1951 First String Quartet, a bold departure, brought him into the international avant-garde. He explored increasingly complex rhythmic ideas with a series of works including three more string quartets and the 1961 Double Concerto.