Eric Stokes's musical outlook was significantly influenced by American composers like Charles Ives, Henry Brant, and John Cage, who helped him embrace an American identity in composition.
Composer Biography
Eric Stokes was called to a life in music by Sunday radio broadcasts of concerts and opera that his mother and sister sang along with.
Compositional Technique
The Lyrical Pickpocket combines traditional American folk songs with Eric Stokes's own tunes, drawing inspiration from collections by Alan Lomax and Cecil Sharp.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Eric Stokes believed that music is for everyone, stating that 'The land of music is everyone's nation -- his tune, her beat, your drum -- one song, one vote.'
Compositional Technique
The Woodwind Quintet #2, completed in 1981, includes movements that call for audience participation, such as simulating sounds of wind, weeds, and insects.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Eric Stokes described composing as 'making it up' and found it to be the only thing that kept presenting interesting challenges, with every piece being new and different.
Composer Biography
Eric Stokes (1930-1999), a composer in the Twin Cities for almost forty years, taught at the University of Minnesota and was known for his gentle, witty, and lyrically accessible music.
You might also enjoy...
Clarinet Classics at Riversdale
Progressions
Rawsthorne & Other Rarities
Reimann, A.: Cantus / Ollea / Solo for Clarinet / … Ni Una Sombra / Arietta
Sivelov: Suite for Marimba / Manoury: Solo for Vibraphone / Fissinger: Suite for Marimba
