ON THIS DAY

ON THIS DAY | American Composer Elliott Carter Died, Aged 103

November 5, 2021

2 MIN READ

A two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, Elliott Carter is recognized internationally as one of the most influential American voices in classical music

The American composer passed away on November 5, 2012.

Born in New York City, Carter was heavily influenced by friend and composer Charles Ives, who had encouraged him to pursue a career in classical music. He studied under composers Walter Piston and Gustav Holst during his studies at Harvard University and later with Nadia Boulanger in Paris.

After returning back to New York, he also held teaching positions at St. John’s College, the Peabody Conservatory, Yale University, Cornell University, and The Juilliard School.

Hailed as “America’s great musical poet” by Andrew Porter and “one of America’s most distinguished creative artists in any field” by Aaron Copland, Carter’s contributions spanned over 75 years. From chamber music to orchestral works to operas, he composed more than 150 works.

As a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, Carter was the first composer to receive the United States National Medal of Arts and was inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame. He was also recognized twice by the Government of France, named as the Commander of the “Ordre des Arts diet des Lettres” and received the insignia of Commander of the Legion of Honor.

Mr. Carter's contributions to the string repertoire include a violin concerto, cello concerto, cello sonata, and five string quartets. An influential figure of modernism in the 20th and 21st centuries, Carter’s last completed orchestral work, Instances (2012), was premiered by the Seattle Symphony in February 2013 and his final work, Epigrams (2012) for piano trio, was premiered at the Aldeburgh Festival in June 2013.