Eric Whitacre is one of the most-performed composers of his generation. Born in 1970, he studied composition at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the Juilliard School with notable composers including John Corigliano and David Diamond. His choral works and band works have rapidly become accepted in the repertoire due to their strong appeal to audiences and players alike. In addition to composing, Whitacre tours the world as a conductor of his own works.
Whitacre is quite web-savvy:
Eric Whitacre on MySpace. If you watch the video on either of these, he says how he's overwhelmed with fan mail.
Eric Whitacre on WikiMusicGuide (better than Wikipedia in this case), including complete works list.
EricWhitacre.com (under construction at the moment).
Whitacre even writes his own program notes! Here they are for Sleep:
Sleep began its life as an a cappella choral setting, with a magnificent original poem by Charles Anthony Silvestri. The chorale-like nature and warm harmonies seemed to call out for the simple and plaintive sound of winds, and I thought that it might make a gorgeous addition to the wind symphony repertoire. Sleep can be performed as a work for band, or band and mixed chorus.
Charles Anthony Silvestri's poem:Sleep is all over YouTube. We'll begin with an excellent (though quite fast for my taste) straight-up band version:
Now here's what it sounds like with band AND choir. That's Eric Whitacre conducting, by the way. The video is slightly off from the sound.
Finally, here's more evidence of Whitacre's web savvy: a virtual performance of the original choral arrangement with singers from all over the country.
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