Jefferson Friedman

Contemporary American Classical Composer

Jefferson Friedman (b. 1974) is an American composer from Massachusetts. He received a B.A. degree from Columbia University and M.M. degree in music composition from the Juilliard School. Some of Friedman's pedagogues over the years include David Rakowski, Jonathan D. Kramer, John Corigliano, George Tsontakis and Christopher Rouse (2). His works has been performed throughout the United States and abroad, most notably at the John F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts, Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall and Avery Fisher Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, the Brooklyn Academy Of Music, Columbia University's Miller Theatre, The Bowery Ballroom, and Le Poisson Rouge. Friedman has been commissioned by Leonard Slatkin and the National Symphony Orchestra and composed three pieces for NSO, including second and third sections of a proposed orchestral trilogy In the Realms of the Unreal, each movement of which is based on the life and work of a different American 'outsider' artist. The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations Millennium General Assemblyis a musical depiction of an incredible sculpture of the same name by the Washington artist James Hampton (1909—1964). This piece was subsequently performed by other orchestras, such as The New York Philharmonic Orchestra at Avery Fischer Hall, and Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl. In 2007, National Symphony Orchestra commissioned and premiered a revised version of Sacred Heart: Explosion – composition dedicated to a Chicagoan visionary artist and writer Henry Darger (1892—1972). Jefferson wrote an original version of Sacred Heart while still a student at Juilliard. The composer also dedicated three string quartets for Chiara String Quartet. Friedman's String Quartet No. 2 was recorded by the Corigliano Quartet for their Naxos debut album. A third quartet was nominated as the Best Contemporary Classical Composition of the Year for Grammy. In addition to his work as a composer, Jefferson Friedman has performed with rock bands, including Shudder To Think, and created string arrangements for The Rose Has Teeth In The Mouth Of A Beast album by electronic duo Matmos. In 2012, he moved to Los Angeles. Since then Friedman has been working on several film, TV and theatrical projects, collaborating with Craig Wedren, Deborah Lurie and Danny Elfman.