Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Classical Composition

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Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Classical Composition
Awarded forQuality contemporary classical music compositions
CountryUnited States
Presented byNational Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
First awarded1961
Currently held byKevin Puts for Contact (2023)
Websitegrammy.com

The Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Classical Composition is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards,[1] to composers for quality works of contemporary classical music. Honors in several categories are presented at the ceremony annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position".[2]

The award was first presented in 1961 to Aaron Copland for his Orchestral Suite from The Tender Land Suite. It was not presented from 1967 to 1984. The Grammy is awarded to the composer(s) and the librettist (if applicable) of a classical piece composed in the last 25 years, and released for the first time during the eligibility year. The performing artist, orchestra, ensemble, etc., do not receive a Grammy (except if the performer is also the composer). Since its inception, the award has had several minor name changes.[a]

Composers John Adams, Samuel Barber, John Corigliano and Jennifer Higdon are tied for the most wins in this category, with three each. Multiple composers have won twice: Michael Daugherty, Krzysztof Penderecki, Christopher Rouse and Igor Stravinsky. In one year, 1962, the award was given to two composers, Laurindo Almeida and Stravinsky.

Recipients[edit]

Aaron Copland was the first recipient of the award.
The composer Igor Stravinsky won in 1962 and 1963.
Three-time winner Samuel Barber (photograph by Carl Van Vechten).
The composer Krzysztof Penderecki, the winner in 1988 and 1999.
Three-time winner John Adams.
2004 winner Dominick Argento.
2014 winner Maria Schneider.
The composer Michael Daugherty who won in 2011 and 2017.
2022 winner, Caroline Shaw
Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Classical Composition[3]
Year Composer Work Nominees
1961 Aaron Copland Orchestral Suite from The Tender Land Suite
1962 Laurindo Almeida Discantus
Igor Stravinsky Movements for Piano and Orchestra
1963 Igor Stravinsky The Flood: A Musical Play
1964 Benjamin Britten War Requiem
1965 Samuel Barber Piano Concerto
1966 Charles Ives Symphony No. 4
Award not presented from 1967 to 1984
1985 Samuel Barber Antony and Cleopatra
1986 Andrew Lloyd Webber Requiem
1987 Witold Lutosławski Symphony No. 3
1988 Krzysztof Penderecki Cello Concerto No. 2
1989 John Adams Nixon in China
1990 Steve Reich Different Trains
1991 Leonard Bernstein Arias and Barcarolles
1992 John Corigliano Symphony No. 1
1993 Samuel Barber The Lovers
1994 Elliott Carter Violin Concerto
1995 Stephen Albert Cello Concerto
1996 Olivier Messiaen Concert à quatre
1997 John Corigliano String Quartet No. 1
1998 John Adams El Dorado
1999 Krzysztof Penderecki Violin Concerto No. 2 "Metamorphosen"
2000 Pierre Boulez Répons
2001 George Crumb Star-Child
2002 Christopher Rouse Concert de Gaudí
2003 John Tavener Lamentations & Praises
2004 Dominick Argento Casa Guidi
2005 John Adams On the Transmigration of Souls
2006 William Bolcom Songs Of Innocence And Of Experience
2007 Osvaldo Golijov Ainadamar
2008 Joan Tower Made In America
2009 John Corigliano Mr. Tambourine Man: Seven Poems Of Bob Dylan
2010 Jennifer Higdon Percussion Concerto
2011 Michael Daugherty Deus ex Machina
2012 Robert Aldridge Elmer Gantry
2013 Stephen Hartke Meanwhile - Incidental Music To Imaginary Puppet Plays
2014 Maria Schneider Winter Morning Walks
2015 John Luther Adams Become Ocean
2016 Stephen Paulus Prayers and Remembrances
2017 Michael Daugherty Tales of Hemingway
2018 Jennifer Higdon Viola Concerto
2019 Aaron Jay Kernis Violin Concerto
2020 Jennifer Higdon Harp Concerto
2021 Christopher Rouse Symphony No. 5
2022 Caroline Shaw Narrow Sea
2023 Kevin Puts Contact[4]
2024 Jessie Montgomery Rounds

Notes[edit]

  1. ^
    • From 1961 to 1962 the award was known as Best Contemporary Classical Composition
    • In 1963 it was awarded as Best Contemporary Composition
    • In 1965 it was awarded as Best Composition by a Contemporary Composer
    • In 1966 and 1964 it was awarded as Best Composition by a Contemporary Classical Composer
    • In 1985 it was awarded as Best New Classical Composition
    • From 1986 to 1994 it was again awarded as Best Contemporary Composition
    • From 1995 to 2011 it was again awarded as Best Classical Contemporary Composition
    • In 2012 the category was renamed into Best Contemporary Classical Composition

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Grammy Awards at a Glance". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 9, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
  2. ^ "Overview". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on January 3, 2011. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
  3. ^ "Grammy Awards Winners & Nominees for Best Classical Contemporary Composition". The Recording Academy. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  4. ^ Grammys 2023 Winners: See the Full List Here|Pitchfork