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David Burge was born in Evanston, Illinois, in 1930. A pianist and composer, he was educated at Northwestern University (B.Mus., M.Mus.), the Eastman School of Music D.Mus.Arts), and the Cherubini Conservatory in Florence, Italy (as a Fulbright student.) His long career in academia began with an appointment to the Northwestern University faculty in 1949 and finished at the Eastman School where he was Chair of the Piano Department for many years. In addition he has accepted visiting professorships not only at many universities and conservatories in the United States but also in Denmark, Turkey, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, Sweden, and Korea.
In more than a half century of concerts around the globe and in his several dozen recordings, David Burge has been heard in performances of music not only by traditional masters but also an imposing array of contemporary composers, many of whom wrote music especially for him. A close friend of Luciano Berio, George Crumb, William Albright, Ernst Krenek, and Donald Martino as well as many less known twentieth-century composers, he has done much to bring this music to a worldwide audience. His book, Twentieth-Century Piano Music (now available in paperback from Scarecrow Press; write to custserv
rowman.com) is considered the defining work on the subject.
David Burge is also the composer of nearly one hundred works covering a wide range of resources and styles. His familiarity with the arts of many cultures and styles is apparent in such diverse works as Go-Hyang (Ancestral Home), a tribute to a much-loved Korean singer; Moku (Island), a ballet accompanied by three percussionists, reflects his regard for many Hawaiian friends; Dibujos (Sketches) for violin and piano and the song-cycle La Noche Del Huerto (The Night of the Meadow) exemplify his love and knowledge of the language and literature of Mexico and South America; and Twone In Sunshine, a very large mixed media work involving musical and literary styles of past centuries as well as modern jazz, serialism, and numerous other styles. A selection of his work is published by C.F. Peters in New York; write to salescfpeters-ny.com.
Now living in Rhode Island, David Burge may be reached at davidburge-pianistcomposercox.net. A complete list of his compositions, both published and unpublished, is available.
(Contribution by <evonbanningcox.net>.)