Composers are nominated for contributions to world of music and join seven other new members.
The American Academy of Arts and Letters named MacDowell fellows David Lang and Alvin Singleton (above) to its membership for 2014. The two composers, who were inducted during a ceremony in mid-May, join seven other new members in the 250-person organization.
Lang and Singleton, named for their contributions to the realm of music, are accompanied by Robert Adams, Ann Hamilton, and Bill Jensen for art; and Wendell Berry, Ha Jin, Denis Johnson, and Tobias Wolff for contributions to literature.
Singleton, who is also a member of MacDowell’s Board of Directors, said the nod came as a complete surprise, explaining it’s the highest formal honor of artistic merit in the United States. He said being nominated by an academy member and then having the rest of the members in his discipline support the choice is an affirmation.
“One of the members told me it’s like being knighted, and I said I hope people don’t have to call me Sir Alvin,” he joked.
Singleton, who has been in residence 14 times since 1987, said he is currently working on a piece for concert band that he began during his last residency at The MacDowell Colony in October. “It’s all wind and brass and percussion, so you can be as loud as you want.”
Singleton said the nomination to the American Academy of Arts and Letters is special because in the course of composing he would often “wonder how my peers are going to think about my work. Then you realize that someone’s been listening all these years, and it’s just such a great feeling. It’s wonderfully gratifying.”
Fellow composer and nominee Lang echoed Singleton’s thoughts.
“I’m incredibly happy about it,” said Lang, explaining that he considers the nomination a motivator to push his curiosity about music even further than it's been in the past. “Now maybe it’s my obligation to ask harder questions.”
His recent works include death speaks, a song cycle based on Schubert, but performed by rock musicians; man made, a concerto for the quartet So Percussion and the BBC orchestra; and the whisper opera, for the International Contemporary Ensemble and soprano Tony Arnold.
Lang, who’s been to The MacDowell Colony five times, said he sees becoming a member of the Academy as a challenge to see what he can accomplish as a composer. The honor, he said, means more people are becoming interested in his music and “I feel that if it’s becoming easier to listen to my music, I should make it harder.”
“I’m really excited,” he added. “I’m definitely having fun.”
American Academy Secretary Billie Tsien inducted the new members into the 250-person organization while President Henry N. Cobb inducted honorary members Alice Waters, Thomas Adès, John Banville, Toyo Ito, Leon Kossoff, Magnus Lindberg, Haruki Murakami, and Colm Tóibín. Elaine Scarry delivered the Blashfield Foundation Address, "Beauty and the Pact of Aliveness."
