Elliott Carter

Date of Birth: December 11, 1908

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: November 5, 2012

Biography

Elliott Carter was an American composer born on December 11, 1908, in New York City. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential American composers of the 20th and early 21st centuries. Carter’s music is known for its complexity, rhythmic innovation, and unique blend of modernist and traditional elements. He studied at Harvard University where he was influenced by the likes of Walter Piston and Gustav Holst. Carter furthered his education in Paris under the tutelage of Nadia Boulanger, which significantly shaped his compositional style. Throughout his career, Carter composed across multiple genres, including orchestral, chamber, instrumental, and vocal music. Notable works include his “Double Concerto for Harpsichord and Piano with Two Chamber Orchestras,” and “String Quartets,” which have been celebrated for their intricate interplay between instruments. He received numerous awards, including two Pulitzer Prizes for Music, and continued to compose actively into his late 90s. Carter passed away on November 5, 2012, in New York City, leaving behind a rich legacy of complex and evocative music.

5 Interesting Facts about Elliott Carter

1. Elliott Carter was initially interested in literature and only turned to music seriously in his late teens.

2. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Music twice, first in 1960 for his “String Quartet No. 2” and again in 1973 for his “String Quartet No. 3.”

3. Carter’s compositional style evolved significantly over his career, moving from neoclassicism to a more complex, dissonant modernism.

4. He was a student of the renowned pedagogue Nadia Boulanger in Paris, who also taught other notable composers such as Aaron Copland.

5. Carter was highly productive even in his later years, composing works well into his 90s, including “Interventions” for piano and orchestra, which premiered in 2008.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Elliott Carter

1. “I have tried to find a way of creating my own world of sound.”

2. “Music is a way of making life more bearable.”

3. “Each piece I compose becomes a part of my musical language.”

4. “I don’t believe in inspiration that arrives like a bolt out of the blue.”

5. “I am trying to find out what I can do that other people haven’t done.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Elliott Carter’s highest net worth is not publicly documented; however, his significant contributions to music and numerous awards suggest a prosperous career.