David Lipten…is a composer with a strong sense of direction, a fluid syntax and an inventive linear-abstract melodic gift.” Gapplegate Classical-Modern Music, Feb. 2015.
The New York New Music Ensemble, Harvey Sollberger, conductor, the Chester Quartet, and the Bienen Contemporary Ensemble, Donald Nally, conductor, among others, have premiered his compositions. Recent performances of his music include the world-premiere of “Double Down” at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall by Cosmos New Music and the west-coast premiere of “Tongue & Groove” for oboe and strings by the Elevate Ensemble. His string quartet, Ictus, received first prize at the Portland Chamber Music Festival. The chorus Volti performed Time’s Dream for chorus (E.E. Cummings, poems) on three occasions. That piece was also a finalist for the 2013 American Prize following its release on David’s first solo CD, Best Served Cold, on Ablaze Records in 2012. Another CD, Requiem for the Innocent, was also released in 2016. It features “A Widow’s Song” and “How To” from the song-cycle of the same name with texts written by Minnesota-based poet William Reichard, recorded by the New York Virtuoso Singers, Harold Rosenbaum, conductor. “How To” was also awarded second place in the 2018 American Prize competition.
The Fromm Foundation/Harvard University, the Verdehr Trio, Cosmos New Music, and Axiom Brass, among others, have commissioned David’s work. He has received awards from the American Prize, the Elevate Ensemble, St. Paul’s Chamber Music, Music+Culture, ASCAP, and the ISCM, etc. He has also been a fellow at the Yaddo and MacDowell artist colonies on multiple occasions, and in residence at the Aspen, CSU and Oregon-Bach festivals, and the June in Buffalo Composers Conference. David holds a Ph.D. from Duke University where he worked with Scott Lindroth and an M.A. from Queens College/CUNY, having worked with Thea Musgrave.
