Alex Burtzos Explained

Alex Burtzos (born 1985 in Denver, Colorado, United States) is an American composer based in New York City and Orlando, Florida.

Alex Burtzos
Birth Date:	11 November 1985
Birth Place:	Denver, Colorado
Nationality:	American
Alma Mater:	Loyola University New Orleans Manhattan School of Music
Occupation:	Composer
Website:	https://alexburtzosmusic.com/

Life and career

Alex Burtzos was born in Denver, Colorado, and grew up in nearby Colorado Springs.^[1] He studied music at Loyola University New Orleans before moving to New York City in 2010, where he earned his doctorate in composition from Manhattan School of Music in 2016.^[2] His primary teachers include James Paton Walsh, J. Mark Stambaugh, and Reiko Fueting.^[3] Burtzos' music has been performed across four continents, and has received awards from numerous organizations within the United States.^{[4] [5]} He has received particular attention for his compositions for authentic baroque-era instruments.^[6] Other of Burtzos' compositions utilize rappers, metal guitar, and other sounds drawn from popular music.^[7]

Burtzos is the founder of ICEBERG New Music, a composers collective based in New York City.^[8] In 2018, he was named the Endowed Chair of Composition Studies at The University of Central Florida.^[7]

Compositions

Solo

• pWr (2021) for Cello Solo
• Perforation (2018) for Piano Solo
• Should the Wide World Roll Away (2018) for Piano Solo
• Wilfred Owen at the Gates (2015) for Piano Solo
• He Never Heard That Fleshless Chant (2011) for Oboe Solo
• Football in Marja (2011) for Piano Solo
• Baroque Fantasy on 'Go Down, Moses (2008) for Organ Solo

Chamber

• Sin City (2023) for big band
• What We Wish to Remember of Ourselves (2021) for woodwind quartet and piano
• Relativity (2020) for three bassoons
• SEA (2020) for two vibraphonists
• Atoms (2020) for electric guitar and drum kit
• PIPES (2020) for 10 flutes
• King | Cawdor (2019) for violin, bass clarinet, cello, and piano
• Māyā (2019) for woodwind quintet
• R A G E (2018) for ensemble
• pOwer trIo (2018) for saxophone, piano, percussion
• The Birth of Dangun (2018) for piano trio
• we ain't got no $$$ honey but DAMN we got _____ (2017) for percussion quartet
• Megalopolis (2017) for saxophone ensemble
• The Hourglass Equation (2017) for flute, violin, bassoon, and harpsichord
• The F Word (2016) for amplified ensemble with MC
• SONATA/SONARE (2016) for trio sonata
• The Rembrandt of Avenue A (2015) for amplified ensemble with MC
• X Codes (2015) for violin, clarinet, and piano
• Alice and Zoltan 4ever (2014) for saxophone, bass trombone, and piano
• One Final Gyre (2014) for two saxophones
• OMAHA (all the things you could be you are you were) (2014) for string quartet
• The Impossible Object (2014) for violin and piano
• SXTG >;-) (2013) for clarinet, cello, and guitar
• Teach the Torches to Burn Bright (2013) for violin, clarinet, and piano
• 12.14.12 (2013) for ensembles
• Prince Prospero (2013) for soprano, flute, oboe, saxophone, guitar, piano, and percussion
• A Country of Vast Designs (2012) for string quartet
• The Revivalist (2012) for saxophone quartet
• March the Twenty-Fifth (2011) for woodwind quartet
• The Outlaw in the Gilded Age (2010) for violin, clarinet, saxophone, horn and piano

Choral and Vocal

• Sky (2022) for soprano, baritone, and piano
• Five Arias from 'HE Who Gets Slapped (2022) for five vocal soloists with piano
• Wooden Woman (2020) for singing cellist with chamber orchestra
• MIRABILIS (2018) for SSAATTBB chorus with string sextet
• Many Worlds I (2016) for baritone, trumpet, bass clarinet, and trombone
• The Explosion, and Other Tales (2016) for mezzo-soprano and piano
• Gursky Songs (2015) for baritone and piano trio
• Love and Loss and Loathing and Lizards (2015) for soprano, MC, and amplified ensemble
• Come Away Death (2012) for Countertenor and Harp with SATB chorus
• The Hill Wife (2012) for mezzo-soprano with ensemble
• Days Into Days (2011) for soprano with large ensemble

Electronic and Mixed Media

• The Turing Test (2019) for two guitars and fixed media
• LEGION (2017) for flute, piano, and fixed media
• When He First Appears (2017) for soprano, viola, harp, and fixed media
• MASKS (2016) for baritone, guitar, piano, and tape
• In a Cool, Green Hall (2010) for mixed media

Orchestra and Wind Ensemble

• d[RAM]edy (2023), concerto for piano and wind ensemble
• Arias and Interludes from 'HE Who Gets Slapped (2022) for five vocal soloists and orchestra
• Echo Chamber (2019) for wind ensemble
• Pulse (2019) for orchestra
• The Black Riders (2013) for orchestra
• Sky Above Clouds (2011) for orchestra
• In Search of a Bird (2011) for chamber orchestra
• The Conqueror (2009) for wind ensemble
• Psyche (2009) for wind ensemble
• Colorado (2008) arranged for wind ensemble
• Colorado (2007) for orchestra

Opera

• HE Who Gets Slapped (2022), opera in two acts

Notes and References

1. Web site: New Music USA - "Alex Burtzos". Newmusicusa.org. 18 December 2018.
2. Web site: Manhattan School of Music Alumni Achievements. Msmnyc.edu. 18 December 2018.
3. Web site: Reiko Fueting - List of Students. Reikofueting.com. 18 December 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181224170613/https://www.reikofueting.com/teaching/. 24 December 2018. dead.
4. Web site: Brian Israel Award - List of Winners. Societyfornewmusic.org. 18 December 2018.
5. Web site: Memphis Flyer: "Belvedere Chamber Music Festival brings classical performers and composers from around the globe". Memphisflyer.org. 18 December 2018.
6. Web site: Boston Globe - "New music, old instruments with Aston Magna". Bostonglobe.com. 18 December 2018.
7. Web site: UCF Today - "New UCF Music Professor Composes Classical Music With a Twist". Today.ucf.edu. 18 December 2018.
8. Web site: Memphis Flyer - "Blueshift Ensemble partners with New York's ICEBERG at Crosstown". Memphisflyer.com. 18 December 2018.