Alvin Etler

Alvin Derald Etler (February 19, 1913 – June 13, 1973) was an American composer and oboist.

Career A student of Paul Hindemith, Etler is noted for his highly rhythmic, harmonically and texturally complex compositional style, taking inspiration from the works of Bartók and Copland as well as the dissonant and accented styles of jazz.

Though he played with the Indianapolis Symphony in 1938, he abandoned his orchestral life shortly thereafter to focus on his increasingly successful compositional career (which earned him two Guggenheim Fellowships during this period). In 1942 he joined the faculty at Yale University as conductor of the university band and instructor of wind instruments, where he began his studies with Hindemith. He also taught at Cornell University and University of Illinois before accepting a position at Smith College, which he held until his death.

Notable works include his two woodwind quintets (from 1955 and 1957), a bassoon sonata, the 1963 "Quintet for Brass Instruments", and "Fragments" for woodwind quartet.

Etler is also the author of Making Music: An Introduction to Theory, an introductory-level theory text published posthumously in 1974.

Works list

Orchestral Passacaglia and Fugue, 1947 Concerto for string quartet and string orchestra, 1948 Symphony, 1951 Dramatic Overture, 1956 Concerto in 1 movement, 1957 Elegy, 1959 Concerto for wind quintet and orchestra, 1960 Triptych, 1961 Concerto for brass quintet, string orchestra, and percussion, 1967 Convivialities, 1967 Concerto for string quartet and orchestra, 1968

Chamber music Sonata for oboe, clarinet and viola, 1945 Quartet for oboe, clarinet, viola and bassoon, 1949 Prelude and Toccata, for organ, 1950 Bassoon Sonata, 1951 Clarinet Sonata no.1, 1952 Introduction and Allegro, for oboe and piano, 1952 Duo, for oboe and viola, 1954 Sonatina, for piano 1955 Wind Quintet, 1955 Wind Quintet No. 2, 1957 Concerto for violin and wind quintet, 1958 Sonata for viola and harpsichord, 1959 Sextet for oboe, clarinet, bassoon, violin, viola and cello, 1959 Suite, for flute, oboe and clarinet, 1960 Concerto, for clarinet and chamber ensemble, 1962 String Quartet No. 1, 1963 Brass Quintet, 1963 String Quartet No. 2, 1965 Sonic Sequence, for brass quintet, 1967 Clarinet Sonata No. 2, 1969 XL plus 1, for solo percussion, 1970 Concerto for cello and seven instruments, 1970

Choral Peace be unto You (St Augustine, Bible: Matthew), SATB, 1958 Under the Cottonwood Tree (Etler), SA, 1960 Under Stars (Etler), SSAA, 1960 Ode to Pothos (Etler), SSAATTBB, 1960 Onomatopoesis (Etler), Male singer, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, bassoon, 2 trumpets, horn, trombone, and percussion, 1965