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Tier 3 · vertical & regionalfull biography
William Bolcom
Person · male · United States · Seattle · born 1938 · recording since 1971
American composer (born 1938)
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Also known as William Balcom · William Eldin Bolcolm · 威廉·博尔科姆
Timeline
18 events▣ Album 15◦ Birth 1★ Debut release 1✦ Award 1
1930s
1970s
· Debut release
Debut release: New Music for Organ
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
Biography
English biography1,033 words · 7 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1372867837
Biography
William Elden Bolcom (born May 26, 1938) is an American composer and pianist. He has received the Pulitzer Prize, the National Medal of Arts, a Grammy Award, and the Detroit Music Award, and was named Composer of the Year by Musical America in 2007. He taught composition at the University of Michigan from 1973 to 2008 and was named the Ross Lee Finney Distinguished University Professor of Composition in 2006. He is married to mezzo-soprano Joan Morris.
Early life and education
Bolcom was born in Seattle, Washington. At age 11, he studied under faculty at University of Washington, including composition with professors George Frederick McKay and John Verrall and piano with Berthe Poncy Jacobson. He later studied with Darius Milhaud at Mills College, with Leland Smith at Stanford University, and with Olivier Messiaen at the Paris Conservatoire, where he received the 2ème Prix de Composition.
Career
Bolcom was awarded Guggenheim Fellowships in 1964 and 1968. He won the Pulitzer Prize for music in 1988 for 12 New Etudes for Piano. He joined the faculty at the University of Michigan School of Music in 1973. In 1994, he was named the Ross Lee Finney Distinguished University Professor of Composition. In 2006, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts. He retired in 2008 after 35 years at the university. Notable students include Derek Bermel, Gabriela Lena Frank, David T. Little, Carter Pann, Joel Puckett, and Elena Ruehr.
As a pianist, Bolcom has performed and recorded frequently in collaboration with Joan Morris, whom he married in 1975. They have recorded more than two dozen albums of music drawn from the American Popular Songbook, beginning with the Grammy-nominated After the Ball, a collection of popular songs from around 1900. Their specialties are show tunes and parlor, cabaret, and popular songs from the late 19th and early 20th century by Henry Russell, Henry Clay Work, and others.
As a soloist, Bolcom has recorded his own compositions, as well as music by George Gershwin, Darius Milhaud, and several ragtime composers. His compositions have been highlighted in Michigan State University's Michigan Writers Series.
Song cycles
Bolcom has written a number of song cycles. Many of these were cabarets with lyrics by Arnold Weinstein and meant to be sung by Joan Morris. These 24 cabarets were released in four volumes from the 1970s to the 1990s and finally published in one single volume. From the Diary of Sally Hemings, a song cycle for voice and piano, is a collaboration with playwright/librettist Sandra Seaton. Of Bolcom's other song cycles, the best-known is his setting of William Blake's Songs of Innocence and of Experience.
Songs of Innocence and of Experience
Bolcom's setting of William Blake's Songs of Innocence and of Experience, a three-hour work for soloists, choruses, and orchestra, was a culmination of 25 years of work.
Inspiration
At age 17, Bolcom wanted to set the complete Songs of Innocence and of Experience to music. As he comprehended the poems' diversity of artistic ideas and technical styles, he realized that he needed more musical vocabulary of different styles to do so. This realization also bolstered his idea that genres of music should not be placed in a hierarchy and that there is no distinction between "serious" and "popular" music.
Style and instrumentation
Bolcom incorporated a variety of different musical styles and genres in the music, including modern classical style using pentatonic scales, tonal classical style, bluegrass, country, soul, folk vaudeville, rock musical, and reggae. He used instruments not usually found in a traditional orchestra but used in the genres he chose: saxophones, guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, harmonica, electric violin, and "country, rock, and folk singers".
Premiere and performances
According to Naxos Records, the 1984 premiere of the Songs at the Stuttgart Opera was followed by performances in Ann Arbor, Grant Park in Chicago, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, St. Louis, Carnegie Hall, and London's Royal Festival Hall, the latter performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Leonard Slatkin.
Awards and reception
In 2004, Naxos Records produced a recording of the Songs on location at Hill Auditorium, featuring the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance Symphony Orchestra, the student choirs from the same university, University Musical Society Choral Union, Michigan State University Children's Choir, and a variety of solo instrumentalists and singers (including Joan Morris). In 2006, it won four Grammy Awards for Best Choral Performance, Best Classical Contemporary Composition, Best Classical Album, and Best Producer of the Year, Classical.
Composer and critic Robert Carl has said that Bolcom wrote in seemingly disparate styles with "sincerity", without irony, "as equal partners", and with "love for and mastery of popular music".
Festivals
VocalEssence celebrated Bolcom's music with a two-week festival in Minneapolis and St. Paul in April 2007. Nine different performances and a number of master classes were part of the festival. The spotlight performance was of Songs of Innocence and of Experience, performed in Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis by over 400 musicians under projections of Blake's accompanying artwork.
Eastern Michigan University celebrated its 16th Biennial Contemporary Music Festival by featuring Bolcom as a guest composer. The three-day festival showcased a range of his compositions as well as a discussion on "Musical Grass-Roots" led by Bolcom.
Le Piano Ouvert celebrated Bolcom's 75th birthday with a week of concerts and masterclasses in Paris in March 2014. Bolcom and Morris both performed, and were featured on France Musique in a series of live performances and interviews. The festival was directed by Guy Livingston, Anne de Fornel, and David Levi. Concerts were held at the Mona Bismarck American Center in Paris, and at the Hôtel Talleyrand on Place de la Concorde.
In April 2022, as part of the international Heidelberger Frühling Music Festival, Igor Levit and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra premiered Bolcom's second piano concerto, conducted by Elim Chan in the auditorium of the Neue Universität Heidelberg.
Ragtime/piano discography
See Joan Morris page for Bolcom and Morris discography.
Heliotrope Bouquet: Piano Rags 1900–1970, Nonesuch Records, 1971
Bolcom Plays His Own Rags, Jazzology, 1972
Piano Music By George Gershwin, Nonesuch Records, 1973
Pastimes and Piano Rags, Nonesuch Records, 1974
Ragtime Back To Back (with William Albright), U of M School of Music, 1976
Euphonic Sounds, Omega Classics, 1988 (Reissued in 2019 as Scott Joplin: Ragtime Piano Gems)
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 | 20 | 81.1th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 19 | 86.7th |
| Studio albums | 15 | 94.6th |
| Awards recorded | 4 | 96.3th |
| Timeline events | 18 | 93th |
| Recording span (years) | 52 | 92.5th |
| Genres | 2 | 74th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (19 release groups · 15 studio albums)
Albums · 15
1971 · studio album
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Tracklist · 4 tracks · 44:55
ABlack Host16:38B1Organbook II: I. Night Procession10:36B2Organbook II: II. Toccata Satanique8:52B3Organbook II: III. Last Rites8:491974 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 47:21
A1From the Shores of the Mighty Pacific: Rondo Caprice6:01A2Sounds From the Hudson: Valse Brillante5:25A3Willow Echoes3:55A4Fantaisie and Variations on "The Carnival of Venice"7:44B1At the Beach: Concert Waltz4:42B2The Debutante: Caprice Brillante5:24B3Slavische Fantasie8:23B4The Bride of the Waves: Polka Brillante5:47Violin Concerto / Fantasia Concertante / Fifth Symphony
1992 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 1:02:04
1Violin Concerto in D: I. Quasi una fantasia: Tempo giusto - Allegro elegiaco9:392Violin Concerto in D: II. Adagio non troppo ma sostenuto7:123Violin Concerto in D: III. Rondo - Finale6:484Fantasia Concertante15:145Fifth Symphony: I. Pensive / Active6:076Fifth Symphony: II. Scherzo mortale6:447Fifth Symphony: III. Hymne à l'Amour6:218Fifth Symphony: IV. Machine3:591992 · studio album
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Tracklist · 3 tracks · 47:24
1Session I9:582Symphony no. 4: I. Soundscape12:533Symphony no. 4: II. The Rose24:331995 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 1:19:43
1Piano Concerto: I. Andante spianato - Allegro10:552Piano Concerto: II. Regrets - III. Finale14:463Three Dance Portraits: I. The Dead Moth Tango5:074Three Dance Portraits: II. Knock Stuck4:285Three Dance Portraits: III. Abbacadabra4:186Concerto for Flute and Orchestra: I. Slowly and Lyrically9:237Concerto for Flute and Orchestra: II. Fast, Light and Humorous7:078Concerto for Flute and Orchestra: Cadenza - Introduction to the Third Movement2:599Concerto for Flute and Orchestra: III. Fast and Very Forceful5:5510Sonata for Unaccompanied Flute: I. Fast but Very Gently Flowing4:2311Sonata for Unaccompanied Flute: II. Slowly but With Great Intensity5:1212Sonata for Unaccompanied Flute: III. Variations on Brian Boru's March5:10Orchids in the Moonlight: Songs of Vincent Youmans
1996 · studio album
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Tracklist · 21 tracks · 53:43
1Orchids in the Moonlight2:482Be Good to Me3:283I Know That You Know1:444Time on My Hands3:125I Want to Be Happy2:586Like He Loves Me2:017Kissing2:308Hallelujah!1:559Kathleen Mine1:4710Flying Down to Rio2:1711An Armful of You3:1812Oh Me! Oh My!2:1413Without a Song2:4614Great Day!1:3815That Forgotten Melody2:5016My Lover2:2217Sometimes I'm Happy2:5118More Than You Know3:3819Through the Years1:5820Toodle-oo2:4821Tea for Two2:401996 · studio album
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Tracklist · 14 tracks · 1:11:34
1Piano Quartet: I. Barcarolle / Ketjak6:562Piano Quartet: II. Largo fantastico (Nachtstück)7:183Piano Quartet: III. Intermezzo5:094Piano Quartet: IV. Marcia risoluto4:245Second Sonata in C for Violoncello and Piano: I. Introduction: Adagio espressivo2:426Second Sonata in C for Violoncello and Piano: II. Allegro con brio5:097Second Sonata in C for Violoncello and Piano: III. Adagio arioso4:348Second Sonata in C for Violoncello and Piano: IV. Prestissimo2:409Second Sonata in C for Violoncello and Piano: V. Conclusion: Adagio espressivo1:1910Chromatic Fantasy in E for Violoncello Solo10:0711Piano Trio no. 2: I. Allegro cantando6:5012Piano Trio no. 2: II. Allegro giocondo3:1413Piano Trio no. 2: III. Adagio teneramenta ma con espressione4:0114Piano Trio no. 2: IV. Allegro marcando, tempo di marcia7:111998 · studio album
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Tracklist · 22 tracks · 1:39:41
Disc 11Eubie's Luckey Day (Rag Obsession)4:482Three Ghost Rags: Graceful Ghost Rag4:053Three Ghost Rags: The Poltergeist (Rag Fantasy)3:544Three Ghost Rags: Dream Shadows5:365Raggin' Rudi3:236The Gardenia (Slow Drag)5:377Tabby Cat Walk (from Three Popular Rags) (Slow Two-Step)5:228California Porcupine Rag3:539Rag-Tango7:5110Last Rag4:35Disc 21Knight Hubert3:452Three Classic Rags: Glad Rag3:483Three Classic Rags: Epitaph for Louis Chauvin (Slow Drag)5:454Three Classic Rags: Incineratorag3:155Seabiscuits (from Three Popular Rags)3:436Fields of Flowers3:457The Garden of Eden: Old Adam (Two Step)2:308The Garden of Eden: The Eternal Feminine (Slow Drag)4:389The Garden of Eden: The Serpent's Kiss (Rag Fantasy)5:1510The Garden of Eden: Through Eden's Gates (Cakewalk)4:2711Lost Lady Rag5:5212Epithalamium3:54Songs of Innocence and of Experience
2004 · studio album
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Tracklist · 55 tracks · 2:17:12
Disc 11Songs of Innocence, Part I: Introduction3:062Songs of Innocence, Part I: The Ecchoing Green2:323Songs of Innocence, Part I: The Lamb3:194Songs of Innocence, Part I: The Shepherd2:145Songs of Innocence, Part I: Infant Joy1:586Songs of Innocence, Part I: The Little Black Boy4:067Songs of Innocence, Part II: Laughing Song0:338Songs of Innocence, Part II: Spring1:469Songs of Innocence, Part II: A Cradle Song4:0410Songs of Innocence, Part II: Nurse's Song1:3511Songs of Innocence, Part II: Holy Thursday1:0812Songs of Innocence, Part II: The Blossom0:4113Songs of Innocence, Part II: Interlude0:2614Songs of Innocence, Part II: The Chimney Sweeper3:1415Songs of Innocence, Part II: The Divine Image3:4916Songs of Innocence, Part III: Nocturne2:0417Songs of Innocence, Part III: Night5:0118Songs of Innocence, Part III: A Dream1:4119Songs of Innocence, Part III: On Another's Sorrow1:5320Songs of Innocence, Part III: The Little Boy Lost2:4821Songs of Innocence, Part III: The Little Boy Found1:5622Songs of Innocence, Part III: Coda1:35Disc 21Songs of Experience, Part I: Introduction2:182Songs of Experience, Part I: Hear the Voice of the Bard2:553Songs of Experience, Part I: Interlude0:524Songs of Experience, Part I: Earth's Answer4:545Songs of Experience, Part II: Nurse's Song1:096Songs of Experience, Part II: The Fly1:447Songs of Experience, Part II: The Tyger1:508Songs of Experience, Part II: The Little Girl Lost1:109Songs of Experience, Part II: In the Southern Clime2:0910Songs of Experience, Part II: The Little Girl Found4:4611Songs of Experience, Part III: The Clod and the Pebble1:4712Songs of Experience, Part III: The Little Vagabond2:3113Songs of Experience, Part III: Holy Thursday2:4414Songs of Experience, Part III: A Poison Tree2:0915Songs of Experience, Part III: The Angel3:1516Songs of Experience, Part III: The Sick Rose3:1417Songs of Experience, Part III: To Tirzah3:35Disc 31Songs of Experience, Part IV: The Voice of the Ancient Bard2:242Songs of Experience, Part IV: My Pretty Rose Tree1:443Songs of Experience, Part IV: Ah! Sun-Flower2:314Songs of Experience, Part IV: The Lilly1:355Songs of Experience, Part V: Introduction to Part V0:506Songs of Experience, Part V: The Garden of Love2:037Songs of Experience, Part V: A Little Boy Lost2:278Songs of Experience, Part V: A Little Girl Lost4:449Songs of Experience, Part V: Infant Sorrow2:2410Songs of Experience, Part V: Vocalise2:5911Songs of Experience, Part VI: London3:5212Songs of Experience, Part VI: The School-Boy3:2213Songs of Experience, Part VI: The Chimney Sweeper1:2014Songs of Experience, Part VI: The Human Abstract3:2215Songs of Experience, Part VI: Interlude: Voces Clamandae1:3316Songs of Experience, Part VI: A Divine Image5:31The Bolcom Project: William Bolcom Music for Violin and Piano
2007 · studio album
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Tracklist · 32 tracks · 2:12:28
Disc 11Second Sonata: I. Summer Dreams5:482Second Sonata: II. Brutal, fast2:063Second Sonata: III. Adagio5:034Second Sonata: IV. In memory of Joe Venuti: Allegro comodo; lyrical3:555Sonatina: I. Moderato2:426Sonatina: II. Andante1:477Sonatina: III. Allegro2:548First Sonata: I. Legend7:519First Sonata: II. Nocturne3:4010First Sonata: III. Quasi-Variations: Scenes From A Young Life8:5911Third Sonata "Sonata stramba": I. A piacere, drammatico-Allegro con fuoco6:4212Third Sonata "Sonata stramba": II. Andante4:4913Third Sonata "Sonata stramba": III. Like a Shiver: Presto0:5914Third Sonata "Sonata stramba": IV. Moderato, risoluto, all' arabesca7:03Disc 21Duo Fantasy11:042Pastorale: I. Allegretto grazioso3:153Pastorale: II. Variations: Moderato, poco cantibile, non espressivo2:164Pastorale: III. Coda: Adagio espressivo1:475Fancy Tales: I. The Phantom-Sweetheart4:456Fancy Tales: II. The Centaurs in Flight1:487Fancy Tales: III. The Dwarf's Serenade: Variations5:468Fancy Tales: IV: The Abandoned Ferryboat5:179Suite for Solo Violin: I. Bold, passionate2:5010Suite for Solo Violin: II. Scherzando: Fast1:4911Suite for Solo Violin: III. Valse obsédée2:3412Suite for Solo Violin: IV. Not too slow3:5913Suite for Solo Violin: V. Presto possibile1:5714Graceful Ghost: Concert Variation: Slow March5:2115Fourth Sonata: I. Allegro brillante2:5116Fourth Sonata: II. White Night: Slow; Faster, nervous4:4917Fourth Sonata: III. Arabesque: Molto moderato2:3018Fourth Sonata: IV: Jota: Vivo, risoluto3:32The Graceful Ghost: American Collection, Vol. II
2015 · studio album
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Tracklist · 5 tracks · 20:40
1Three Ghost Rags: I. Graceful Ghost Rag4:392Three Ghost Rags: II. The Poltergeist3:503Three Ghost Rags: III. Dream Shadows6:214Reinhold Brinkmann. . . Warum?1:575Mano a Mano3:532017 · studio album
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Tracklist · 16 tracks · 1:11:33
1Ghost Rags: I. The Graceful Ghost Rag4:342Classic Rags: I. Glad Rag3:453Raggin' Rudi3:314Fields of Flowers3:425Epithalamium3:576Ghost Rags: II. Poltergeist3:547Classic Rags: II. Epitaph for Louis Chauvin5:128The Garden of Eden: I. Old Adam2:569The Garden of Eden: II. The Eternal Feminine5:1510The Garden of Eden: III. The Serpent's Kiss6:0211The Garden of Eden: IV. Through Eden's Gates4:4212Knockout: A Rag4:0213Ghost Rags: III. Dream Shadows6:2914Classic Rags: III. Incineratorag3:3315Estela: Rag Latino5:0816The Brooklyn Dodge (A James P. Johnson Stride)4:51Trio for Horn, Violin and Piano / Suite no. 2 for Solo Violin
2021 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 40:22
1Trio for Horn, Violin & Piano: I. Plodding, Implacably Controlled4:382Trio for Horn, Violin & Piano: II. Headlong, Brutal2:293Trio for Horn, Violin & Piano: III. As If from Far Away. Misterioso4:234Trio for Horn, Violin & Piano: IV. Quick March. Very Controlled and Resolute4:005Suite no. 2 for Solo Violin: I. Morning Music3:446Suite no. 2 for Solo Violin: II. Dancing in Place1:407Suite no. 2 for Solo Violin: III. Northern Nigun3:498Suite no. 2 for Solo Violin: IV. Lenny in Spats0:509Suite no. 2 for Solo Violin: V. Tempo di gavotte2:3110Suite no. 2 for Solo Violin: VI. Barcarolle4:3711Suite no. 2 for Solo Violin: VII. Fuga malinconica2:0512Suite no. 2 for Solo Violin: VIII. Tarantella2:0713Suite no. 2 for Solo Violin: IX. Finale. Evening Music3:292023 · studio album
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Tracklist · 15 tracks · 1:17:11
1Elevations9:482Concerto for Clarinet: Allegro9:403Concerto for Clarinet: Cantabile7:244Concerto for Clarinet: Scherzo - Finale6:505Latin Dance Movements: Prelude2:086Latin Dance Movements: Samba Despreocupada2:227Latin Dance Movements: Bolero2:148Latin Dance Movements: Beginner's Rhumba1:319Latin Dance Movements: Discoteca2:2110Re(new)al: Hydro9:4711Re(new)al: Wind6:2412Re (New) Al: Solar5:4213Manifestos: Aero-poem4:3914Manifestos: Futurist Flowers2:5115Manifestos: Star Dancer + Her School of Dance3:302023 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 18:23
1Suite of Preludes: I. Melancholy Waltz2:012Suite of Preludes: II. Arabesques2:563Suite of Preludes: III. Light Fantastic1:334Suite of Preludes: IV. Spring Has Come at Last3:175Suite of Preludes: V. Fools Errands1:156Suite of Preludes: VI. Cavatina3:017Suite of Preludes: VII. Will This Ever End?0:598Suite of Preludes: VIII. Litany2:039Suite of Preludes: IX. Jig1:18
Album · 4
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Piano Music & Songs by George and Ira GershwinSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 37 tracks · 1:08:551Swanee0:37 2Nobody but You0:52 3I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise0:37 4Do It Again1:15 5Fascinating Rhythm0:51 6Oh, Lady Be Good0:59 7Somebody Loves Me1:04 8Sweet and Low Down0:47 9That Certain Feeling1:14 10The Man I Love (I)2:15 11Clap Yo' Hands0:44 12Do Do Do0:51 13My One and Only0:46 14's Wonderful1:00 15Strike Up the Band0:48 16Liza1:57 17I Got Rhythm1:16 18Who Cares?0:59 19Rialto Ripples2:04 20Three Preludes: Allegro ben ritmato e deciso1:40 21Three Preludes: Andante con moto e poco rubato3:26 22Three Preludes: Allegro ben ritmato e deciso1:09 23Impromptu in Two Keys1:14 24Three-Quarter Blues0:43 25Merry Andrew1:10 26Piano Playin' Jazzbo Brown2:23 27Promenade3:07 28I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise2:08 29How Long Has This Been Going On?4:49 30By Strauss2:31 31Someone to Watch Over Me3:49 32Nice Work If You Can Get It3:18 33The Man I Love (II)3:21 34Just Another Rumba3:03 35Isn't It a Pity4:45 36They All Laughed2:19 37Love Is Here to Stay3:04 | Compilation | 1987 | |
| 2012 | Open House: Song Cycles by Robert Beaser and William BolcomSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 13 tracks · 57:271Songs from "The Occasions" of Eugenio Montale: Motet I "The Pledge"5:28 2Songs from "The Occasions" of Eugenio Montale: Motet IV "Lontano, ero con te"4:38 3Songs from "The Occasions" of Eugenio Montale: Motet V "Addii, fischi nel buio"2:39 4Songs from "The Occasions" of Eugenio Montale: Motet IX "Il ramarro, se scocca"3:29 5Songs from "The Occasions" of Eugenio Montale: Motet XVI "Il fiore che ripete"4:46 6Songs from "The Occasions" of Eugenio Montale: "Autumn Cellars"3:10 7Open House: Open House2:12 8Open House: Give Way, Ye Gates4:02 9Open House: The Waking6:55 10Open House: The Serpent2:43 11Open House: I Knew a Woman4:19 12Open House: First Meditation (from "Meditations of an Old Woman")8:07 13Open House: The Right Thing4:59 | Compilation | 26 June 2012 | |
| 2015 | Canciones de Lorca / PrometheusSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 10 tracks · 54:491Canciones de Lorca: I. Introduction: Balanza1:08 2Canciones de Lorca: II. Interlude I1:11 3Canciones de Lorca: III. La casada infiel7:15 4Canciones de Lorca: IV. Alba3:44 5Canciones de Lorca: V. Danza da lúa en Santiago3:14 6Canciones de Lorca: VI. Árboles2:59 7Canciones de Lorca: VII. Soneto de la dulce queja4:33 8Canciones de Lorca: VIII. Interlude II: A Poet in New York3:05 9Canciones de Lorca: IX. El poeta llega a La Habana4:46 10Prometheus22:54 | Live | November 2015 | |
| 2018 | Piano RecitalSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 14 tracks · 1:07:041Jeux d’eau5:46 212 New Etudes: Book 3: No. 8, Rag infernal2:27 312 New Etudes: Book 4: No.12, Hymne à l’amour6:32 4Szabadban (“Out of Doors”) BB 89, Sz. 81: I. With Drums and Pipes: Pesante1:49 5Szabadban (“Out of Doors”) BB 89, Sz. 81: II. Barcarolla: Andante2:22 6Szabadban (“Out of Doors”) BB 89, Sz. 81: III. Musettes: Moderato3:04 7Szabadban (“Out of Doors”) BB 89, Sz. 81: IV. The Night’s Music: Lento6:30 8Szabadban (“Out of Doors”) BB 89, Sz. 81: V. The Chase: Presto2:18 9Fantasía Jiennense: I. Scherzo: Presto energico6:43 10Fantasía Jiennense: II. Intermezzo1:48 11Fantasía Jiennense: III. Variaciones I-V6:03 12Piano Concerto in G major: I. Allegramente8:28 13Piano Concerto in G major: II. Adagio assai9:00 14Piano Concerto in G major: III. Presto4:14 | Live | 7 December 2018 |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put William Bolcom head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 20 | 81.1th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 19 | 86.7th |
| Studio albums | 15 | 94.6th |
| Awards recorded | 4 | 96.3th |
| Timeline events | 18 | 93th |
| Recording span (years) | 52 | 92.5th |
| Genres | 2 | 74th |
Awards & honours
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Pulitzer Prize for Music | won | |
| — | Guggenheim Fellowship | won | |
| — | National Medal of Arts | won | |
| — | Rome Prize | won |
Line-up
| Name | From | To | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Bolcom & Joan Morris(band) | — | present |
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:William_Bolcom_at_Town_Hall_%28cropped%29.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/a74a8341-2e42-4914-a0b5-26f63b9ee58bdiscography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/a74a8341-2e42-4914-a0b5-26f63b9ee58bcore—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q710714genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q710714seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Bolcombiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Bolcom
Why this artist is in the database
- List of composers by name
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: Bernard Gotfryd · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q710714 · MusicBrainz: a74a8341-2e42-4914-a0b5-26f63b9ee58b
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Johann Christian Bach
Electorate of Saxony · Person
symphony · opera
2 shared genre tags · debut 1968, 3 years apart
66 wikis
Elliott Carter
United States · Person
symphony · opera
2 shared genre tags · from United States
26 wikis
Adalbert Gyrowetz
Austrian Empire · Person
symphony · opera
2 shared genre tags · debut 1964
20 wikis
Bohuslav Martinů
United States · Person
symphony · opera
2 shared genre tags · from United States
46 wikis