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William Kraft (September 6, 1923 – February 12, 2022) was an American composer, conductor, teacher, timpanist, and percussionist.

Biography

Early life and education (1923–1954)

Kraft was born in Chicago, Illinois. He was awarded two Anton Seidl Fellowships at Columbia University, graduating with a bachelor's degree cum laude in 1951 and a master's degree in 1954. He studied composition with Jack Beeson and Henry Cowell, orchestration with Henry Brant, percussion with Morris Goldenberg, timpani from Saul Goodman, and conducting with Rudolph Thomas and Fritz Zweig.

While in New York City, Kraft worked as a freelance musician and was an extra percussionist at the Metropolitan Opera. In 1954, Kraft joined the Dallas Symphony. After one season, he accepted a position as percussionist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.[1]

At the Los Angeles Philharmonic (1955–1985)

Kraft began as a member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's percussion section, before being promoted to the orchestra's principal timpanist. From 1968–1972, he also served as the orchestra's assistant conductor, under then music director Zubin Mehta.[2] From 1981–1985, Kraft was Composer-in-Residence for the orchestra; during that period he founded and directed its New Music Group.[3] Altogether he spent 26 years with the Philharmonic.[4]

In 1958, Kraft founded the Los Angeles Percussion Ensemble, a group which made its debut on March 10 with the Monday Evening Concerts.[5] The group performed the world and local premieres of works by Alberto Ginastera, Lou Harrison, Ernst Krenek, Igor Stravinsky, Edgard Varèse, and other composers. He performed in the local premiere of Pierre Boulez's Le marteau sans maître under the composer's direction[6] and played the American premiere of Karlheinz Stockhausen's Zyklus. The latter led to a journalistic debate between Los Angeles Times music critic Albert Goldberg and Kraft, who took exception to the critic's use of the term "noisemakers" in reference to percussion instruments.[7]

He has also composed film soundtracks, including the scores to Psychic Killer (1975),[8] Avalanche (1978), Bill (1981), and Fire and Ice (1983).

Later years

Kraft served as chairman of the composition department and holder of the Corwin Chair at the University of California, Santa Barbara until he retired in June 2002.

Kraft died on February 12, 2022, at the age of 98.[9][10]

Commissions and awards

This section does not cite any sources. (February 2022)

• Kennedy Center Friedheim Awards Second Prize (1984) : Concerto for Timpani and Orchestra
• Kennedy Center Friedheim Awards First Prize (1990) : Veils and Variations for Horns and Orchestra[11]
• Hall of Fame of the Percussive Arts Society[12] (1990)
• American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Award

Compositions

In the 1960s and 1970s, most of Kraft's compositions were serial, while in the 1980s he incorporated jazz rhythms and impressionist harmonies. Although percussion works feature prominently in his catalog, in 1996–1998 he concentrated on composing his first opera, Red Azalea.[13] His works have been performed by many major American orchestras as well as those in Europe, Japan, Korea, China, Australia, Israel, and the USSR. Kraft's Contextures: Riots – Decade '60 (1967) has been choreographed and performed by both the Scottish National Ballet and the Minnesota Dance Company. In 1986, United Airlines commissioned a work expressly to accompany a lumetric sculpture by Michael Hayden titled Sky's the Limit, for their pedestrian passageway at Chicago-O'Hare International Airport.[14]

Encounters[15]

Name	Instrumentations		Details
	General List	Percussion
Soliloquy	Multi-percussion with tape	Vibraphone Bongos Snare drum Tenor drum Bass drum (with pedal) Tam-tam	Dedicated to Karen Ervin Commission by Karen Ervin World premiere by Karen Ervin in 1975 Published by New Music West Tape Recording by Protone CSPR163 Cassette
Encounter II	Tuba	None	World premiere by Roger Bobo in 1967 Published by Editions BIM
Encounter III	Multi-percussion and trumpet	Glockenspiel Vibraphone Crotales Song bells Tuned gongs Temple blocks 5 Cowbells 3 Triangles 5 Suspended cymbals Bongos Snare drum Field drum Tenor drum Bass drum	Dedicated to Thomas Stevens and Mitchell Peters Commission by Thomas Stevens World premiere by Malcom McNab (trumpet) and Karen Ervin (percussion) in 1972 Published by New Music West Tape Recording by Protone CSPR163 Cassette
Encounter IV	Multi-percussion and trombone with tape	Crotales Vibraphone 4 Timpani 9 Tuned gongs Timbales Bongos Tenor drums 11 Steel bowls 4 Tam-tams Galvanized trash can cover	Commission by Thomas Ervin and Karen Ervin World premiere by Thomas Ervin (trombone), Karen Ervin (percussion) and tape collage by William Malloch on 1973 Published by New Music West
In the Morning of the Winter Sea	Multi-percussion and cello	Crotales Bongos Snare drum Field drum Tenor drum 4 Tam-tams Spring coil	Commissioned by the Ford Foundation World premiere by Nathaniel Rosen (cello) and William Kraft (percussion) in 1976 Published by New Music West
Concertino for Roto Toms and Percussion Quartet	Multi-percussion with percussion quartet	Solo 7 Rototoms (6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 inches) Triangle 4 Cymbals 6 Crotales (G, C♯, F, D♯, E and F♯) Player 1 Vibraphone 4 Tam-tams Bass drum Wind chimes (metal) Spring coil Player 2 Vibraphone Tubular bells Player 3 Glockenspiel Vibraphone Player 4 Vibraphone	Commissioned by Remo Dedicated to Jennifer Kraft (William Kraft's daughter) World premiere by Temple University Percussion Ensemble on 10 March 1976 Published by New Music West
Blessed Are the Peacemakers	Multi-percussion duet	Player 1 Vibraphone Marimba Crotales 5 Timpani 4 Suspended cymbals Bongos Player 2 Vibraphone Crotales Tubular bells Timpano 2 Brake drums 4 Tom toms Bongos Snare drum Field drum Tenor drum Bass drum	Commission by Steve Grimo and Pat Hollenbeck Dedicated to Liz, David, Marc, Pat, Marsha, Rick, Nancy, Don, Sylvia and Carl World premiere by Steve Grimo and Pat Hollenbeck in 1978 Published by New Music West
The Latimer Encounter	Multi-percussion solo	Glockenspiel Vibraphone Marimba Chimes 3 Temple blocks 2 Woodblocks 2 Tam-tams	Commissioned by members and alumni of Wisconsin Youth Symphony World premiere by Jim Latimer in 1978 Published by New Music West
Encounters IX	Alto saxophone and multi-percussion	Vibraphone Bongos 2 Snare drums Field drum Tenor drum Bass drum Tam-tam 3 Suspended cymbals Japanese prayer bowls (optional)	Commissioned by Baylor University World premiere by David Hastings (saxophone) and Larry Vanlandingham (percussion) in 1982 Published by New Music West
Duologue for Violin and Marimba	Violin and marimba	None	Commission by Marimolin World premiere by Sharan Leventhal (violin) and Nancy Zeltsman (marimba) in 1992 Published by New Music West
The Demise of Suriyodhaya	Multi-percussion and English horn	Vibraphone Marimba Crotales Bongos 2 Snare drums Field drum Tenor drum Bass drum Mark tree Wind chimes	Commission by Carolyn Hove and Raynor Carroll Dedicated to Lou Harrison and Toru Takemitsu World premiered by Carolyn Hove (English horn) and Raynor Carroll (percussion) on 1 March 1999 Published by Theodore Pressor Company
The Gabrielic Foray	Multi-percussion and harp	Glockenspiel Vibraphone Almglocken Bongos 2 Snare drums Field drum Tenor drum Bass drum Tam-tam Sizzle cymbal	World premiered by David Herbert (percussion) and Alison Bjurkedal (harp) on 12 August 2003 Published by Theodore Pressor Company
Concertino for Percussion and Woodwind Quintet	Multi-percussion and woodwind quintet	Vibraphone Crotales Bongos 2 Snare drums Field drum Tenor drum Bass drum Tam-tam 4 Suspended cymbals Hi-hat Vibraslap Maracas	World premiere by Kenneth McGrath (percussion) and Southwest Chamber Music on 17 March 2008 Published by Theodore Pressor Company
Concerto a Tre	Violin, piano, and percussion	Vibraphone Bongos Snare drum Field drum Tenor drum Bass drum Tam-tam Suspended cymbal	World premiered by Martha's Vineyard Chamber Music Society on 8 August 2005 Published by Theodore Pressor Company
Encounter XV	Multi-percussion and amplified guitar	Vibraphone Marimba Crotales Bongos Snare drum Field drum Tenor drum Bass drum 7 Tuned Asian gongs 12 Small tuned Asian gongs Tam-tams Suspended cymbals Cowbells 2 Temple bowls	Commissioned by the Fromm Foundation for Southwest Chamber Music World premiered by Lynn Vartan (percussion) and John Schneider (guitar) on 6 October 2008 Published by Theodore Pressor Company

Large Ensemble Works

Title	Instrumentation			Details
	Solo	Ensemble	Percussion
Concerto for Four Percussionists and Symphonic Wind Ensemble[16]	Multi-percussion	4 Flutes (3rd doubling piccolo; 4th doubling piccolo and alto flute) 4 Oboes (4th doubling English horn) 4 Clarinet in B♭ (4th doubling bass clarinet in B♭) 4 Bassoon (4th doubling contrabassoon) 4 Horns in F 4 Trumpets in C 4 Trombones Tuba Piano (doubling celesta) Harp	Player 1 Timpani Wood drums Tambourine Player 2 5 Drums Crotales Glockenspiel Tubular bells Player 3 Vibraphone Xylophone Metals Bass drum Player 4 Glockenspiel Xylophone Snare drum Triangle Song bells	Dedicated to Edgard Varèse World premiere: Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra on 10 March 1966
Configurations Concerto for Four Percussion Soloists and Jazz Orchestra	Multi-percussion	Flute Clarinet Alto saxophone 2 Horns 3 Trumpets 3 Trombones Tuba Piano Guitar Double bass	Player 1 Timpani Marimba Xylophone Crotales Tam-tam Player 2 Crotales Glockenspiel Tubular bells Bass drum 3 Wood blocks 2 Temple blocks Player 3 Vibraphone Bongos Snare drum Tenor drum Field drum Bass drum Player 4 Tubular bells Crotales Bass drum Drumset	Commission by Ludwig Drum Company World premiere by University of Southern California Wind Ensemble on 13 November 1966
Concerto for Timpani and Orchestra	Timpani	2 Flutes (both doubling piccolo) 2 Oboes (both doubling English horn) 2 Clarinets in B♭ 2 Bassoons 4 Horns in F 3 Trumpets in C 3 Trombone 3 Percussion Piano (doubling celesta) Harp Violins Violas Cellos Double bass	Player 1 6 Graduated drums 2 Suspended cymbals (high and medium) Glockenspiel Crotales (E, A) Player 2 Crotales (2 octaves) 6 Temple blocks Crash cymbals Suspended cymbal (medium) Snare drum Field drum Xylophone Triangle Tam-tam (shared) Player 3 Chimes Crotales (B, E) Bass drum Tam-tam (shared) Suspended cymbal (low) Vibraphone Lath on leather pad	Commissioned by Indiana Percussion Project[17] Dedicated to Thomas Akins World premiere by Thomas Akins (soloist) and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
Concerto for Percussion and Chamber Ensemble[18]	Multi-Percussion	Flute (doubling piccolo) Clarinet in A (doubling bass clarinet in B♭) Violin Cello	Bongos Cowbells Suspended cymbal (low) Tam-tam 2 Snare drums Field drum Tenor drum Bass drum (pedal) 2 Automobile spring coils Vibraphone Marimba	World premiere by Dean Anderson (soloist) and Boston Musica Viva on 17 September 1993
Concerto No. 2 for Timpani and Orchestra The Grand Encounter[19]	Timpani (15 Timpani are required)	3 Flutes (3rd doubling piccolo and alto flute) 3 Oboes (3rd doubling English horn) 3 Clarinet in B♭ (3rd doubling bass clarinet in B♭) 3 Bassoon (3rd doubling contrabassoon) 3 Horns in F 3 Trumpets in C 3 Trombones Tuba 4 Percussion Piano (doubling celesta) Harp Violins Violas Cellos Double bass	Player 1 Vibraphone Crotales Flexatone Tam-tam Brake Drum Player 2 Glockenspiel 7 Almglocken Bongos 2 Snare drums Field drum Tenor drum Bass drum Crash cymbals Suspended cymbal Tam-tam Lath on Leather Player 3 Glockenspiel Marimba 3 Suspended cymbals Triangle Sleigh bells (high) Vibraslap Lath on Leather Player 4 Chimes Tuned gongs 7 Nipple gongs Sleigh bells (low) Tam-tam Suspended cymbal (low)	Commissioned by Michael Tilson Thomas (music director of San Francisco Symphony Orchestra) World premiere by David Herbert (soloist) and San Francisco Symphony Orchestra on 9 June 2005

Recordings

Compact discs completely devoted to Kraft's music can be found on Harmonia Mundi, CRI, Cambria, Crystal, Albany, and Nonesuch labels. Other works can be found on GM, Crystal, London Decca, Townhall, EMI, and Neuma. Recent works include Brazen, commissioned by the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra; Quintessence Revisited and Concerto for Four Percussion Soloists and Symphonic Wind Ensemble, premiered and recorded by the New England Conservatory Wind Ensemble, Frank Battisti conducting. His Encounter solo series has been recorded multiple times on all appropriate instruments. On Encounters, he worked with guitarist John Schneider. Encounters II showcases unique techniques for tuba such as multi-phonics double pedal range. In 2010, the Los Angeles Philharmonic released a recording on DG Concerts of the Timpani Concerto No. 1 featuring Joseph Pereira as soloist with John Adams conducting.

Discography

• Encounters, (Cambria, 2009)^{[full citation needed]}, Latin Grammy nomination for Best Classical Album
• Encounters II, (Cambria)^{[full citation needed]}

References

Works cited

• Shulman, Laurie. 2001. "Kraft, William". The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, second edition, edited by Stanley Sadie and John Tyrrell. London: Macmillan Publishers.

External links

• William Kraft's page at Theodore Presser Company
• William Kraft at IMDb
• William Kraft discography at Discogs
• Detailed biography on Music Academy Online
• Art of the States: William Kraft Archived 2005-02-14 at the Wayback Machine
• Interview with William Kraft, May, 1988
• NAMM Oral History Interview November 9, 2006

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