Elizabeth Alexander is an American composer. Her works include orchestral, chamber, piano, and vocal works. She is best known for her more-than 80 choral pieces, which have been performed internationally by thousands of choirs. Alexander is also known for her liturgical works, and themes centering on social justice. Her style combines the regional influences from her childhood with classical form. These melodic sensibilities include spirituals, jazz and blues from the American South, and Celtic-American folk music of Northern Appalachia, styles prevalent in her most-performed works, When the Song of the Angels Is Stilled, Where There Is Light in the Soul, Faith Is the Bird That Feels the Light, and If You Can Walk You Can Dance.
Discipline:
Music Composition
Elizabeth Alexander
Discipline:
Music Composition
Region: Ithaca, NY
MacDowell Fellowships: 1991
Studios
Sprague-Smith
Elizabeth Alexander worked in the Sprague-Smith studio.
In January of 1976, the original Sprague-Smith Studio — built in 1915–1916 and funded by music students of Mrs. Charles Sprague-Smith of the Veltin School — was destroyed by fire. Redesigned by William Gnade, Sr., a Peterborough builder, the fieldstone structure was rebuilt the same year from the foundation up, reusing the original fieldstone. A few…