From Stravinsky’s famous In Memoriam: Dylan Thomas to Hindemith’s Trauermusik, composers have long written their most personal and moving music as a tribute to a friend or great figure they admired. We’ll remember several great personalities with musical tributes by modern day composers.
In Memoriam

David Lang (Photo: Peter Serling)
Playlist
Brass Quintet, II, by William Mayar
Iowa Brass Quintet
Symphony No.4 “To the Memory of Mahinarangi Tocker” (excerpt), by Ross Harris
Aukland Philharmonia; Brett Dean, conductor
Concerto for Trombone and Wind Ensemble. III. Be Content, Be Calm, by David Maslanka
Illinois State University Wind Symphony; Stephen K. Steele, conductor
First String Quartet (excerpt), by Fred Lerdahl
Julliard String Quartet
Memory Pieces for Solo Instruments: Cage, by David Lang
Andrew Zolinsky, piano
Elegy (for Two Bassoons and Piano), by Robert Patterson
Charles McCracken and Gilbert Dejean, bassoons; Elizabeth DiFelice, piano
Perpetual Spark, by Alex Shapiro
Fifth House Ensemble