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News & Notes: Babbitt, renowned music professor, dies at 94

Babbitt referred to himself as a “musical maximalist”, often composing pieces with complex structures that distanced his works from those of his contemporaries.

Babbitt also composed many pieces for electrical instruments, which he said provided “the kind of full satisfaction for the composer.”

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A native of Philadelphia, Pa., and Jackson, Miss., Babbitt began playing music at age 4, beginning with violin and later moving to clarinet and saxophone.

He began making arrangements of popular music at age 7 and won a songwriting contest when he was 13.

In addition to his professorship at the University, Babbitt was also on the faculty at the Julliard School.  Babbitt’s notable former students include musical theater composer Stephen Sondheim.

In 1982, Babbitt received a special Pulitzer citation for his work as a “distinguished and seminal American composer”.

Babbitt, who received his bachelor’s degree in music from New York University, joined the University’s music department as a faculty member in 1948.

More coverage to come later this week.

 

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