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