American composers. Modern composers.

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Composers that were born in the USA, or gained the American nationality.

It is sometimes hard to tell when to call a composer modern, as opposed to Romantic. In general you can say that the Moder Eara in music started around the year 1900. However, many composers continued to write pieces in a romantic fashion long after that.

Group members

• Abels, Michael (1962–)
• Adams, John (1947–)
• Adams, John Luther (1953–)
• Adams, Leslie (1932–)
• Ahrendt, Karl (1904–1993)
• Albert, Stephen (1941–1992)
• Albright, William (1944–1998)
• Alburger, Mark (–)
• Aldridge, Robert Livingston (1954–)
• Alexander, Joe L. (1958–)
• Alon, Aaron (1981–)
• Alrich, Alexis (–)
• Amram, David (1930–)
• Amrod, Paul (1951–)
• Anderson, Beth (1950–)
• Anderson, Leroy (1908–1975)
• Antheil, George (1900–1959)
• Arnest, Richard (1950–)
• Arrigo-Nelson, John (1975–)
• Augustus, Janice G. (1945–)
• Avalon, Robert (1955–2004)
• Babbitt, Milton (1916–)
• Baca, Daniel Anthony (1977–)
• Bach, Jan (1937–)
• Bacon, Ernst (1898–1990)
• Bakalian, Craig (1961–)
• Baksa, Robert (1938–)
• Barber, Samuel (1910–1981)
• Barker, Warren (1923–2006)
• Bass, Randol Alan (1953–)
• Beach, Amy Marcy (1867–1944)
• Beeman, John (–)
• Beglarian, Eve (1958–)
• Belden, George R. (1939–)
• Benner, Al (1955–)
• Bennett, Robert Russell (1894–1981)
• Berger, Jonathan (1954–)
• Bernofsky, Lauren (1967–)
• Bernstein, Elmer (1922–2004)
• Bernstein, Harry (–)
• Bernstein, Leonard (1918–1990)
• Berry, Charles Roland (1957–)
• Berv, Mahlon (1991–)
• Bethea, Robert (1986–)
• Biales, Albert (1929–)
• Biggs, John (1932–)
• Bingham, Seth (1882–1972)
• Blitzstein, Marc (1905–1964)
• Bloomer Deussen, Nancy (1931–)
• Bolcom, William (1938–)
• Borroff, Edith (1925–)
• Bourland, Roger (1952–)
• Boustead, Seth (1971–)
• Branchfield, Seann (1984–)
• Brandon, Sy (1945–)
• Branning, Brett (1980–)
• Bresnick, Martin (1946–)
• Bricht, Walter (1904–1970)
• Bridges, Emily Anna (1977–)
• Brindel, Bernard (1912–1997)
• Brockman, Jane (1949–)
• Brown, Bill (1969–)
• Brown, Earle (1926–2002)
• Brubeck, Dave (1920–)
• Burge, David (1930–)
• Burt, Robert Hampton (1940–)
• Burton, Eldin (1913–1979)
• Buss, Howard (1951–)
• Cage, John (1912–1992)
• Caltabiano, Ronald (1959–)
• Canfield, David DeBoor (1950–)
• Carbon, John (1951–)
• Carlile, Dana (1956–)
• Carnes, Michael (1950–)
• Carpenter, John Alden (1876–1951)
• Carter, Elliott (1908–)
• Cheetham, John (1939–)
• Childs, Barney (1926–2000)
• Ciernia, James (1933–)
• Coates, Gloria (1938–)
• Cobuccio, Kerry (1980–)
• Coleman, Charles (1968–)
• Coleman, Dan (1972–)
• Coll, David (1980–)
• Combs, James (1970–)
• Conrad, Laurie (1946–)
• Cooke, Michael (1970–)
• Cooman, Carson P. (–)
• Copland, Aaron (1900–1990)
• Copper, William (1953–)
• Cordero, Ernesto (1946–)
• Corigliano, John (1938–)
• Cornelius, Kevin A. (1977–)
• Cotton, Jeffery (1957–)
• Coukis, Peter (1955–)
• Cowell, Henry Dixon (1897–1965)
• Cowherd, Harold Colin (1960–)
• Crawford|Seeger, Ruth (1901–1953)
• Creston, Paul (1906–1985)
• Crossman, Allan (1942–)
• Crumb, George (Henry) (1929–)
• Cucinotta, Robert E. (1949–)
• da Silva, David (1950–)
• Dahl, Ingolf (1912–1970)
• Daigle, Hugh (1981–)
• Danielpour, Richard (1956–)
• Dashow, James (1944–)
• Daugherty, Michael (1954–)
• Davidson, Roger (1952–)
• Davis, Carl (1936–)
• Davis Zlatkovsky, Saul (1958–)
• Day, Darrell (1957–)
• de Crescenzo, Vincenzo (1875–1964)
• Del Forno, Anton (1950–)
• DeLaurenti, Christopher (1967–)
• Dello Joio, Norman (1913–)
• Dempster, Thomas (1980–)
• DeSantis, Dennis (1973–)
• Diamond, David (1915–2005)
• Diamond, Stuart (1950–)
• Diemer, Emma Lou (1927–)
• Diercks, John (1927–)
• Dorff, Daniel (1956–)
• Dosaj, Dev (1959–)
• Dougherty, Terrence Patrick (1937–)
• Drew, James (1929–)
• Drexler, David (1967–)
• Driscoll, Brian (1979–)
• Druckman, Jacob (1928–1996)
• Duble, Charles Edward "C.E." (1884–1960)
• Duckworth, William (1943–)
• Dzubay, David (1964–)
• Eckardt, Jason (1971–)
• Edgerton, Mike (1961–)
• Edwards, Gary (1941–)
• Eicker, Edward (1975–)
• Elfman, Danny (1953–)
• Elkana, Amos (1967–)
• Ellen, Jane (1956–)
• Ellington, Edward K. "Duke" (1899–1974)
• Elliott, Jonathan (1962–)
• Englefield, Richard (1937–)
• Farwell, Arthur (1872–1952)
• Faverman, John (1957–)
• Feldman, Morton (1926–1987)
• Ferko, Frank (1950–)
• Fetherolf, David (1956–)
• Fields, Matthew (1961–)
• Finch, Steven (1959–)
• Fine, Irving (1914–1962)
• Fine, Vivian (1913–2000)
• Finney, Ross Lee (1906–1997)
• Flagello, Nicolas (1928–1994)
• Fontana, Bill (1947–)
• Frackenpohl, Arthur (1924–)
• Frazelle, Kenneth (1955–)
• Fredrics, Howard (1962–)
• Fried, Philip (1955–)
• Friedman, Gary (1934–)
• Frigon, Chris (1949–)
• Froom, David (1951–)
• Funk, Eric (1949–)
• Gallagher, Jack (1947–)
• Gannon, Lee (1960–1996)
• Garber, Ryan (1973–)
• Garland, Peter (1952–)
• Garner, David (1956–)
• Gates, Keith (1948–2007)
• Gelt, Andrew (1951–)
• Gershwin|Gershovitz, George (Jacob) (1898–1937)
• Giannini, Vittorio (1903–1966)
• Giblin, Irene M. (1888–1974)
• Gilbert, Peter (1975–)
• Gillett, Brian P. (1972–)
• Gillis, Don (1912–1978)
• Gilmore, Bernard (1937–)
• Glass, Philip (1937–)
• Glesser, Frederic (1956–)
• Glise, Anthony (1956–)
• Gold, Edward (1936–)
• Goldkind, Elliott (1964–)
• Goldsmith, Jerry (1929–2004)
• Goodman, Todd (1977–)
• Gordon, Geoffrey (1968–)
• Gordon, Michael (1956–)
• Gosfield, Annie (1960–)
• Gould, Morton (1913–1996)
• Graves, David A. (–)
• Greenberg, Jay (1991–)
• Greenberg, Robert (1954–)
• Griffes, Charles Tomlinson (1884–1920)
• Griffin, Charles (1968–)
• Grofé, Ferde (1892–1972)
• Gustavson, Mark (1959–)
• Guthrie, James (1953–)
• Hadley, Henry Kimball (1871–1937)
• Hagen, Daron (1961–)
• Hahn, David (1956–)
• Hailstork, Adolphus (1941–)
• Handel, Darrell (1933–)
• Hanson, Howard (1896–1981)
• Harbison, John (1938–)
• Harris, Kevin Franz Josef (1965–)
• Harris, Roy (1898–1979)
• Harrison, Lou (1917–2003)
• Hartke, Stephen (1952–)
• Hartley, Walter (1927–)
• Hasse, Jean (1958–)
• Hay, Daniel J. (1957–)
• Hedgecock, Ken (1953–)
• Heisinger, Brent (1937–)
• Helps, Robert (1928–2001)
• Herrington, Brian P. (1976–)
• Herrmann, Bernard (1911–1975)
• Hickey, Sean (1970–)
• Hiller, Lejaran (1924–1994)
• Hoffman, Stan (1951–)
• Hoiby, Lee (1926–)
• Holland, Jonathan Bailey (1974–)
• Holmes, Brian (1946–)
• Hoover, Katherine (1937–)
• Horner, James (1953–)
• Hovhaness, Alan (1911–2000)
• Hunt, Jerry (1943–1993)
• Hunter, Ben (1978–)
• Husa, Karel (1921–)
• Iannaccone, Anthony (1943–)
• Imbrie, Andrew (1921–2007)
• Ives, Charles (1874–1954)
• Jacob, Jeffrey (1948–)
• Jacobi, Frederick (1891–1952)
• January, Bob (–)
• Jewell, Fred (1875–1936)
• Job, Lynn (1959–)
• Joel, William (1954–)
• Johnson, Hall (Francis) (1888–1970)
• Johnson, M. Scott (1984–)
• Johnson, Scott (1952–)
• Johnson, Tom (1939–)
• Jones, Loren (–)
• Kaefer, John F. (1976–)
• Kamen, Michael (1948–)
• Kastning, Kevin (1960–)
• Kelley, Anthony (1965–)
• Kennan, Kent (1913–2003)
• Kernis, Aaron Jay (1960–)
• Kibbe, Michael (1945–)
• Kievman, Carson (1949–)
• Kilstofte, Mark (1958–)
• Kimbell, Michael A. (–)
• Kirchner, Leon (1919–)
• Knight, Edward (1961–)
• Kobra, Louis (1967–)
• Kolb, Barbara (1939–)
• Korngold, Erich Wolfgang (1897–1957)
• Koussevitzky|Сергей Александрович Кусевицкий, Serge (1874–1951)
• Kraft, William (1923–)
• Kramer, Robert (1954–)
• Kucij, Timothy (1954–)
• Kuehn, Mikel (1967–)
• Kupferman, Meyer (1926–2003)
• La Berge, Anne (1955–)
• La Montaine, John (1920–)
• Lackey, William J. (1976–)
• LaFave, Kenneth (1951–)
• Laitman, Lori (1955–)
• Lane, Eastwood (1879–1951)
• Lang, David (1957–)
• Lanman, Anthony (1973–)
• Lann, Vanessa (1968–)
• Lansky, Paul (1944–)
• LaRocca, Frank (1951–)
• Larsen, Libby (1950–)
• Lauridsen, Morten (1943–)
• Lees, Benjamin (1924–)
• Lehrman, Leonard (1949–)
• Leisner, David (1953–)
• Levering, Arthur (1953–)
• Lewis, David "Uncle Dave" (1961–)
• Lewis, Peter Scott (1953–)
• Liderman, Jorge (1957–2008)
• Liebermann, Lowell (1961–)
• Lieberson, Peter (1946–)
• List, Andrew (1956–)
• Lloyd, Rebecca (1978–)
• Loeb, David (1939–)
• Logan, Matthew (1980–)
• Lopez, Tom (1965–)
• Lyons, Gilda (1975–)
• Mackey, Steven (1956–)
• Manley, Jeremy (1975–)
• Margoshes, Steve (–)
• Markowitz, Steve (1963–)
• Martino, Donald (1931–)
• Martz, Jasun (1953–)
• Mascari, Edward P. (1949–)
• Matchett, Steve (1957–)
• Mauldin, Michael (1947–)
• Maxwell, William (1960–)
• McBeth, William Francis (1933–)
• McClelland, William (1950–)
• McKay, George Frederick (1899–1970)
• McKenzie, Wallace (–)
• McKinley, William Thomas (1938–)
• McLoskey, Lansing (1964–)
• Mechem, Kirke (1925–)
• Mennin, Peter (1923–1983)
• Menotti, Gian Carlo (1911–2007)
• Milmerstadt, Christopher (1967–)
• Minotto, Paul (1960–)
• Mitchell, John (1941–)
• Mitternight, Andrea (1972–)
• Moevs, Robert (1920–2007)
• Mongoven, Casey (1979–)
• Monzo, Joe (1962–)
• Mooney, Liam (1979–)
• Moore, Douglas (1893–1969)
• Moran, Robert (1937–)
• Moross, Jerome (1913–1983)
• Moyse, Louis (1912–2007)
• Muczynski, Robert (1929–)
• Mumma, Gordon (1935–)
• Myers, Theldon (1927–)
• Nagel, Jody (1960–)
• Nancarrow, Conlon (1912–1997)
• Nanes, Richard (–)
• Nash, Gary (1964–)
• Neher, Patrick (1959–)
• Nelson, Brian (1967–)
• Nelson, Ron (1929–)
• Newell, John (1949–)
• Nixon, Roger (1921–)
• Noble, Lee (1938–)
• Norvell, Woody (1948–)
• Obadike, Keith (1973–)
• Ocker, Marshall (1926–2004)
• Oldham, Kevin (1960–1993)
• Oliveros, Pauline (1932–)
• Owen, Harold (1931–)
• Palkowski, Daniel (1955–)
• Parkin, Luke (1978–)
• Partch, Harry (1901–1974)
• Pasatieri, Thomas (1945–)
• Patterson, Shawn (1965–)
• Paulus, Stephen (1949–)
• Peppercorn, Wayne (1949–)
• Perillo, Steve (1955–)
• Perle, George (1915–)
• Persichetti, Vincent (1915–1987)
• Picker, Tobias (1954–)
• Pinkham, Daniel (1923–2006)
• Piston, Walter (1894–1976)
• Plylar, David (1978–)
• Pogue, Kevin (1976–)
• Popoff, Ross (1981–)
• Porter, Quincy (1897–1966)
• Poshek-Gladbach, Randall (1959–)
• Powell, Mel (1923–1998)
• Presser, William (1916–2004)
• Price, Florence Beatrice (1887–1953)
• Price, William (1971–)
• Purvis, Richard (1913–1994)
• Rabushka, Aaron (1958–)
• Raksin, David (1912–2004)
• Ramond, Archimedes (1952–)
• Read, Gardner (1913–2005)
• Reager, John (1963–)
• Reale, Paul (1943–)
• Rechtman, Don "Orfeo" (1950–)
• Reed, Herbert Owen (1910–)
• Reich, Steve (1936–)
• Reynolds, Roger (1934–)
• Rich, Gladys (1892–1972)
• Riegger, Wallingford (1885–1961)
• Riley, Terry (1935–)
• Roads, Curtis (1951–)
• Robbin, Greg (1975–)
• Rochberg, George (1918–2005)
• Rogers, Wayland (1941–)
• Romig, James (1971–)
• Rorem, Ned (1923–)
• Roscigno, John (1964–)
• Rosenthal, Dean (1974–)
• Rosner, Arnold (1945–)
• Ross, Walter (1936–)
• Rothman, Philip (1976–)
• Rouse, Christopher (1949–)
• Rouse, Mikel (1957–)
• Rudin, Andrew (1939–)
• Rudolf, Jason (1986–)
• Ruggles, Carl (1876–1971)
• Rush, Tracey (1955–)
• Ryden, William (1939–)
• Rzewski, Frederic (1938–)
• Sager, Brian (1964–)
• Sáles, Monica (1979–)
• Salvatori, Tom (1958–)
• Samuel, Gerhard (1924–2008)
• Sande, Jim (1953–)
• Sandroff, Howard (1949–)
• Saperstein, David (1948–)
• Scartabello, Peter (1972–)
• Schickele, Peter (1935–)
• Schmidt, Julius (1975–)
• Schmidt, William (1926–)
• Schoenfield, Paul (1947–)
• Schorr, Ian (1970–)
• Schuller, Gunther (1925–)
• Schuman, William (1910–1992)
• Schwantner, Joseph (1943–)
• Scola Prosek, Lisa (–)
• Scott, Stephen (1944–)
• Sellars, James (1940–)
• Sessions, Roger Huntington (1896–1985)
• Shapiro, Alex (1962–)
• Shapiro, Michael (1951–)
• Sharp, Elliott (1951–)
• Sharpe, Carlyle (1965–)
• Shaver, Christopher (1987–)
• Shepherd, Adaline (1883–1950)
• Sherwood, Gordon (1929–)
• Shields, Alice (1943–)
• Shifrin, Seymour (1926–1979)
• Siegmeister, Elie (1909–1991)
• Sierra, Arlene Elizabeth (1970–)
• Signorile, James V. (1952–)
• Siloti|Ziloti, Alexander (1863–1945)
• Silver, Sheila (1946–)
• Simpson, Daniel Leo (1950–)
• Smit (American), Leo (1921–1999)
• Smith, Robert W. (1958–)
• Snyder, Randall (1944–)
• So, Mark (1978–)
• Sollberger, Harvey (1938–)
• Sowash, Rick (1950–)
• Sowerby, Leo (1895–1968)
• Sprague, Frank Lee (1969–)
• Srinivasan, Asha (1980–)
• St Germaine, Arthur (1919–)
• Stack, Colin (1979–)
• Stark, Marilynn (1950–)
• Stearns, Peter Pindar (1931–)
• Steiger, Rand (1957–)
• Stephan, Naomi (1938–)
• Stevens, Peter V. (1974–)
• Still, William Grant (1895–1978)
• Stojowski, Zygmunt Denis Antoni Jordan de (1869–1946)
• Stover, Franklin (1953–)
• Stravinsky, Soulima Igorevich (1910–1994)
• Strunk, Richard (1957–)
• Subotnick, Morton (1933–)
• Susa, Conrad (1935–)
• Susman, William (1960–)
• Talman, Jeff (1954–)
• Taylor, Rowan (1927–2005)
• Teague, Allen James (1970–)
• Tenney, James (1934–2006)
• Thomas, Andrew (1939–)
• Thomas, Augusta Read (1964–)
• Thomas, Jason (1978–)
• Thomas, John David (1951–)
• Thompson, Randall (1899–1984)
• Thompson, Robert Scott (1959–)
• Thomson, Virgil (1896–1989)
• Thow, John (1949–2007)
• Tingley, George Peter (1950–)
• Tollefson, Tim (1969–)
• Torke, Michael (1961–)
• Tower, Joan (1938–)
• Towns, Nathan (1987–)
• Trapanese, Joseph (1984–)
• Truelove, Stephen (1946–)
• Tsontakis, George (1951–)
• Tudor, David (1926–1996)
• Tull, Fisher (1934–1994)
• Turrin, Joseph (1947–)
• Uechi, Jason (1968–)
• Üner, Kubilay (1965–)
• Ure, Kevin (1978–)
• Van de Vate, Nancy (1930–)
• Vercoe, Elizabeth (1941–)
• Vinson, Robert (1949–)
• Vosk, Jay (1948–)
• Waddle, P. Kellach (1967–)
• Wager, Gregg (1958–)
• Walker, Don (1941–)
• Walker, Gwyneth V. (1947–)
• Wallace, Frank (1952–)
• Waller, S.K. (1951–)
• Warren, Elinor Remick (1900–1991)
• Washburn, Robert (1928–)
• Waters, Joseph (1952–)
• Webb, Orianna (1974–)
• Weber, Ben (1916–1979)
• Weigel, Jay (1959–)
• Weinberger, Jaromir (1896–1967)
• Weisgarber, Elliot (1919–2001)
• Welcher, Dan (1948–)
• Wiedemann, Joe (1958–)
• Wilberg, Mack (1955–)
• Wilder, Alec (1907–1980)
• Williams, John (Towner) (1932–)
• Williams, Michael Glenn (1957–)
• Willis, Michelle (1974–)
• Wilson, Richard (1941–)
• Wilson, Thomas Brendan (1927–2001)
• Wishart, Betty (1947–)
• Witherspoon, Jordan Charles (1986–)
• Wonacott, Glenn (1955–)
• Wreede, Katrina (1960–)
• Wright, Mary C. (1960–)
• Wuorinen, Charles (1938–)
• Young, La Monte (1935–)
• Zaimont, Judith Lang (1945–)
• Zappa, Frank (1940–1993)
• Zaras, Rudolf (1961–)
• Ziffrin, Marilyn (1926–)
• Zorn, John (1953–)
• Zucker, Laurel (1955–)
• Zwilich, Ellen Taaffe (1939–)

Sheet music

Below is selection of scores available at SheetMusicPlus.com
Find more scores by American composers. Modern composers.

Grandmother Song (CD-ROM Only)
BandQuest Series Grade 3. American Composers Forum Concert Band. CD-ROM only. Size 5x5.5 inches. Published by BandQuest.

City Rain
Bandquest Series Grade 3. By Judith Zaimont. Score and full set of parts. American Composers Forum Concert Band. Size 9x12 inches. Published by American Composers Forum.

New Wade ’n Water
BandQuest Series Grade 3. By Adolphus Hailstork. For Concert Band. Score and full set of parts. American Composers Forum Concert Band. Set of parts. Size 9x12 inches. Published by American Composers Forum.

Old Churches
BandQuest Series, Grade 3. By Michael Colgrass. Score and full set of parts. American Composers Forum Concert Band. Size 9x12 inches. Published by Bandquest.

Cyclone!
By Melody Bober. For Piano. Composers In Focus. From the arrival of ominous clouds to the whirling winds of a deadly cyclone, Melody Bober effectively captures the power of nature with these exciting pieces. Contents include: Cloudy Skies; Rainy Day; Thunder Roll; Whirling Winds; Cyclone; The Rainbow’s Promise. American Gallery. Level: Intermediate. Book. Published by The FJH Music Company, Inc.

Arts Songs and Spirituals
By African-American Women Composers. By Various. Arranged by Vivian Taylor. For voice, keyboard. Published by Hildegard.