Photo: The United States Army Band · CC BY 2.0 · credits
Tier 3 · vertical & regional
David Maslanka
Person · male · United States · New Bedford · born 1943 · died 2017 · recording since 1996
American composer (1943–2017)
official homepageofficial homepagestreamingdatabasedatabase
Listen on SpotifyYouTube Music
Also known as 大衛·馬蘭斯卡
Timeline
13 events▣ Album 10◦ Birth 1★ Debut release 1† Death 1
1940s
1990s
· Debut release
Debut release: A Child's Garden of Dreams / Symphony No. 2
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
2000s
2010s
Biography
English biography504 words · 3 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1355491947
Biography
David Maslanka (August 30, 1943 – August 7, 2017) was an American composer of Polish descent who wrote for a variety of genres, including works for choir, wind ensemble, chamber music, and symphony orchestra.
Best known for his wind ensemble compositions, Maslanka published over 150 pieces, including ten symphonies, eight of them for concert band, over 15 concerti, and a full Mass. His compositional style is rhythmically intense and complex, highly tonal and melodically oriented. His compositions have been performed throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, Canada, and Japan. His Tenth Symphony was orchestrated by his son, Matthew Maslanka, as it was incomplete at the composer's death.
Life
Maslanka received his Bachelor of Music from the Oberlin Conservatory (1961–1965) and went on to earn a Master of Music and Doctor of Philosophy from Michigan State University (1965–71). During his undergraduate work, Maslanka also spent one year studying abroad at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria (1963–64). While attending Michigan State University, Maslanka studied composition with H. Owen Reed.
He served on the faculty of the State University of New York at Geneseo from 1970 to 1974; of Sarah Lawrence College from 1975 to 1980; of New York University from 1980 to 1981; and of the Kingsborough Community College of the City University of New York from 1981 to 1990. Beginning in 1990, Maslanka was a freelance composer who worked solely on commissions.
He lived in Missoula, Montana. He had two brothers, John and Robert Maslanka.
David Maslanka married Alison Matthews in 1981. She died on July 3, 2017, and Maslanka himself died on August 7, 2017, following a brief battle with colon cancer. They are survived by three children: Steven, Matthew, and Kathryn.
Maslanka's Tenth Symphony (for concert band) was completed by his son Matthew, and received its premiere on 3 April 2018, by the University of Utah Wind Ensemble, Salt Lake City. It is an intensely personal piece for both David and Matthew. The first movement is named after Alison (David's wife) and was written during her fight with an immune disorder that eventually took her life. The movement is an expression of the rage and love that Maslanka felt through that process.
Awards and honors
Maslanka received five residency fellowships at the MacDowell Colony in Peterborough, New Hampshire (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, and 1982), as well as generous grants from the University of Connecticut Research Foundation, the American Music Center, the Martha Baird Rockefeller Fund for Music, the State University of New York Research Foundation, and the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP). He earned the National Endowment for the Arts Composer Award three times (1974, 1975, and 1989). In 1999, he was awarded the National Symphony Orchestra regional composer-in-residence award. In 2008, he was initiated as an honorary member of the men's music fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, by the Rho Tau chapter at Appalachian State University during the annual Contemporary Music Festival. From 1980 until his death in 2017, Maslanka served as a guest composer for over 100 universities, music festivals, and conferences.
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 14 | 70.2th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 11 | 82.8th |
| Studio albums | 10 | 91.1th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 13 | 89.7th |
| Recording span (years) | 21 | 47.7th |
| Genres | 0 | 0th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (11 release groups · 10 studio albums)
Albums · 10
A Child's Garden of Dreams / Symphony No. 2
1996 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 8 tracks · 1:05:20
1A Child's Garden of Dreams: I. There Is a Desert on the Moon Where the Dreamer Sinks So Deeply Into the Ground That She Reaches Hell4:202A Child's Garden of Dreams: II. A Drunken Woman Falls Into the Water and Comes Out Renewed and Sober4:153A Child's Garden of Dreams: III. A Horde of Small Animals Frightens the Dreamer. The Animals Increase to a Tremendous Size, and One of Them Devours the Little Girl3:074A Child's Garden of Dreams: IV. A Drop of Water Is Seen as It Appears When Looked at Through a Microscope. The Girl Sees That the Drop Is Full of Tree Branches. This Portrays the Origin of the World9:395A Child's Garden of Dreams: V. An Ascent Into Heaven, Where Pagan Dances Are Being Celebrated; And a Descent Into Hell, Where Angels Are Doing Good Deeds8:206Symphony No. 2: I. Moderato11:077Symphony No. 2: II. "Deep River"9:308Symphony No. 2: III. Allegro Molto15:02Percussion Music of David Maslanka
1996 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 7 tracks · 1:10:06
1Montana Music: Three Dances for Percussion: I. Quite Slow8:052Montana Music: Three Dances for Percussion: II. Slowly7:043Montana Music: Three Dances for Percussion: III. Moderate6:034Arcadia II: Concerto for Marimba & Percussion Ensemble: I. ♩ = ca 80-849:505Arcadia II: Concerto for Marimba & Percussion Ensemble: II. ♩ = ca 5210:106Arcadia II: Concerto for Marimba & Percussion Ensemble: III. ♩ = ca 8615:367Crown of Thorns13:182002 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 9 tracks · 1:11:43
1Quintet for Winds No. 3 - I. slow - moderate9:192Quintet for Winds No. 3 - II. moderate6:303Quintet for Winds No. 3 - III. very fast11:104Quintet for Winds No. 2 - I. (deliberate)8:165Quintet for Winds No. 2 - II.7:366Quintet for Winds No. 2 - III.7:247Quintet for Winds No. 1 - I.7:538Quintet for Winds No. 1 - II.6:139Quintet for Winds No. 1 - III.7:222002 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 7 tracks · 1:06:48
1Parable for Band, op. 12116:062Minton's Playhouse9:023Lagan Love5:144Symphony no. 5: Moderate7:015Symphony no. 5: Moderate9:006Symphony no. 5: Slow9:427Symphony no. 5: Moderate10:432004 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 8 tracks · 1:06:58
1Song Book for Flute and Wind Ensemble: A Song of Coming Awake9:362Song Book for Flute and Wind Ensemble: Song: Solvitur Ambulando6:253Song Book for Flute and Wind Ensemble: Song: In Loving Memory9:084Song Book for Flute and Wind Ensemble: Song: In the Crucible of Your Pain11:095Song Book for Flute and Wind Ensemble: A Song for the End of Time11:326Double Star for Solo Clarinet, Solo Piano, and Wind Ensemble: Bright Light7:087Double Star for Solo Clarinet, Solo Piano, and Wind Ensemble: Warm Light6:208Double Star for Solo Clarinet, Solo Piano, and Wind Ensemble: Heavenly Light5:402006 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 11 tracks · 1:17:24
1A Child's Garden of Dreams, Book 1: I. There Is a Desert on the Moon Where the Dreamer Sinks So Deeply into the Ground That She Reaches Hell5:012A Child's Garden of Dreams, Book 1: II. A Drunken Woman Falls into the Water and Comes Out Renewed and Sober5:473A Child's Garden of Dreams, Book 1: III. A Horde of Small Animals Frightens the Dreamer. The Animals Increase to a Tremendous Size, and One of Them Devours the Little Girl3:184A Child's Garden of Dreams, Book 1: IV. A Drop of Water Is Seen as It Appears When Looked at Through a Microscope. The Girl Sees That the Drop Is Full of Tree Branches. This Portrays the Origin of the World10:405A Child's Garden of Dreams, Book 1: V. An Ascent into Heaven Where Pagan Dances Are Being Celebrated, and a Descent into Hell Where Angels Are Doing Good Deeds9:256In Memoriam13:197Symphony no. 4: Measures 1-3327:048Symphony no. 4: Measures 333-4053:369Symphony no. 4: Measures 406-5696:3310Symphony no. 4: Measures 570-7114:3011Symphony no. 4: Measures 712-End8:112008 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 9 tracks · 1:09:34
1Desert Roads (Four Songs For Clarinet And Wind Ensemble) — Desert Roads7:212Desert Roads (Four Songs For Clarinet And Wind Ensemble) — Soliloquy - Not Knowing3:153Desert Roads (Four Songs For Clarinet And Wind Ensemble) — Coming Home11:354Desert Roads (Four Songs For Clarinet And Wind Ensemble) — Pray For Tender Voices In The Darkness8:085David's Book (For Solo Percussionist And Wind Ensemble) — Today Is The Great Day Of Suffering8:096David's Book (For Solo Percussionist And Wind Ensemble) — We Believe in One God14:517David's Book (For Solo Percussionist And Wind Ensemble) — Your Soul And Your Dreams Are Instantaneous...1:298David's Book (For Solo Percussionist And Wind Ensemble) — Unforgettable Wounds...4:469David's Book (For Solo Percussionist And Wind Ensemble) — It Is Enough10:002009 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 11 tracks · 1:01:30
1Morning Star8:082Unending Stream of Life (Variations on All Creatures of Our God and King): I. Overture: All Creatures of Our God and King1:373Unending Stream of Life (Variations on All Creatures of Our God and King): II. Seeking3:424Unending Stream of Life (Variations on All Creatures of Our God and King): III. Brooding March3:055Unending Stream of Life (Variations on All Creatures of Our God and King): IV. As you proceed to your certain end, what is the point of being alive?3:266Unending Stream of Life (Variations on All Creatures of Our God and King): V. A hard thought turns out alright4:377Unending Stream of Life (Variations on All Creatures of Our God and King): VI. A Sweet Tune5:298Unending Stream of Life (Variations on All Creatures of Our God and King): VII. All Creatures of Our God and King2:469Laudamus Te14:1610Give Us This Day (Short Symphony for Wind Ensemble): I. Moderately Slow7:3111Give Us This Day (Short Symphony for Wind Ensemble): II. Very Fast6:53Concerto for Trombone and Wind Ensemble / Symphony No. 8
2009 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 6 tracks · 1:19:31
1Concerto For Trombone & Wind Ensemble: Requiem11:472Concerto For Trombone & Wind Ensemble: Beloved14:513Concerto For Trombone & Wind Ensemble: Be Content, Be Calm10:234Symphony No. 8: Moderate—very fast14:315Symphony No. 8: Moderate15:086Symphony No. 8: Moderate—very fast—moderate—very fast12:512018 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 7 tracks · 57:02
1Book of the Dead: I. All The Evil Upon Me Has Been Removed6:162Book of the Dead: II. Guarding Against the Loss of Heart6:513Book of the Dead: III. Defending Against Being Devoured by Servants of Osiris4:424Book of the Dead: IV. The Weighing of the Heart9:005Concerto for Saxophone Quartet and Wind Ensemble: I. Slow11:326Concerto for Saxophone Quartet and Wind Ensemble: II. Moderate8:067Concerto for Saxophone Quartet and Wind Ensemble: III. Slow - Moderately Fast10:35
Album · 1
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Composer's Collection: David MaslankaSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 15 tracks1Traveler 2Give Us This Day: I. Moderately Slow 3Give Us This Day: II. Very Fast 4Requiem 5Symphony No. 7: I. Moderate 6Symphony No. 7: II. Slow 7Symphony No. 7: III. Very Fast 8Symphony No. 7: IV: Moderately Slow 9Rollo Takes a Walk 10A Child's Garden of Dreams: Introduction 11A Child's Garden of Dreams: I. There is a desert on the moon where the dreamer sinks so deeply into the ground that she reaches hell. 12A Child's Garden of Dreams: II. A drunken woman falls into the water and comes out renewed and sober. 13A Child's Garden of Dreams: III. A horde of small animals frightens the dreamer. The animals increase to a tremendous size, and one of them devours the little girl. 14A Child's Garden of Dreams: IV. A drop of water is seen as it appears when looked at through a microscope. The girl sees that the drop is full of tree branches. This portrays the origin of the world. 15A Child's Garden of Dreams: V. An ascent into heaven, where pagan dances are being celebrated; and a descent into hell, where angels are doing good deeds. | Compilation | 2025 |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put David Maslanka head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 14 | 70.2th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 11 | 82.8th |
| Studio albums | 10 | 91.1th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 13 | 89.7th |
| Recording span (years) | 21 | 47.7th |
| Genres | 0 | 0th |
Awards & honours
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CMB_1254_%2816149054249%29.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/2f6f1575-cb46-493b-a29b-1f9270b25f04discography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/2f6f1575-cb46-493b-a29b-1f9270b25f04core—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q976635seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Maslankabiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Maslanka
Why this artist is in the database
- List of composers by name
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: The United States Army Band · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q976635 · MusicBrainz: 2f6f1575-cb46-493b-a29b-1f9270b25f04
Similar artists
Browse every Tier 3 artist →Ranked from this record's own data: shared genre tags (rarer tags weigh more), era, home country and comparable fame. Every card lists the signals that placed it — no editorial picks.
Michael Jackson
United States · Person
from United States
87.5M listeners · 322 wikis
Madonna
United States · Person
from United States
55M listeners · 193 wikis
Lady Gaga
United States · Person
from United States
100.2M listeners · 197 wikis
Taylor Swift
United States · Person
debut 2003 · from United States
106.5M listeners · 178 wikis
Eminem
United States · Person
from United States
74M listeners · 175 wikis
Elvis Presley
United States · Person
from United States
23.7M listeners · 216 wikis
Beyoncé
United States · Person
debut 2002 · from United States
63.9M listeners · 175 wikis
Bob Dylan
United States · Person
from United States
14.7M listeners · 184 wikis