A Master of Styles: The Choral Music of William Bolcom

The upcoming May issue of Choral Journal features an article titled “A Master of Styles: The Choral Music of William Bolcom.” William Bolcom is a living composer who was born in Seattle, Washington, in 1938. He has composed in all genres: nine symphonies, four concertos, twelve string quartets, four violin sonatas, four operas, three pieces of musical theatre, two film scores, and over 150 other works.

As the article states: “Bolcom only writes choral music for commission, and on the average, he publishes a new choral composition approximately every two years: counting numerically, choral works comprise 10 percent of his oeuvre. Bolcom’s choral works can be divided into two categories: works for men’s chorus and works for mixed chorus (no works for women’s chorus appear extant). There are four works for men’s chorus, which leaves eighteen choral works for mixed voices, which can be further subdivided almost evenly into three categories: longer works (defined as compositions with a duration of eight minutes or more: there are 6); unaccompanied works (5); and works with keyboard accompaniment (5). Additionally, he has two choral-orchestral works.”

This Choral Journal article focuses on providing readers an overview of Bolcom’s choral works, with selected examples provided as illustrations. Below is a table showing all of Bolcom’s choral works. This issue of Choral Journal will be available online April 1 and mailed out to our members in three weeks. Non members can review the benefits and membership categories here to start receiving the Choral Journal. (There is an associate membership option for only $45 a year!)