Elliott Carter

Musician

Forlisteners of contemporary classical music, students and researchers of 20th-century composition, adventurous concertgoers.
1 Reviews 1 Definitions 2 Charts

The Profile

Elliott Carter (1908–2012) was an American composer, a leading figure in 20th-century contemporary classical music, noted for complex rhythmic language and metric modulation.

Prolific composer of orchestral, chamber, piano, and vocal music; catalogue exceeds 120 works (as noted in the review). Known for complex rhythmic structures and the technique of metric modulation.

The provided review (giovanniA) praises Elliott Carter as a major 20th-century American composer. It discusses his Piano Concerto (1964–65) and Variations for Orchestra (1954–55), noting rigorous writing and a mixture of turbulence and hope. The review references Carter's Italian connections and his wide catalogue (over 120 works). Musically: compact forms, complex textures, and rhythmic intensity.

Notable Quotes

❝ Elliott Carter, the American composer among the most significant of the last century, had a long life: and from the many encounters he had, he often derived music.