George Walker, Trailblazing American Composer, Dies At 96
The composer, whose music fused many styles with a singular voice, constantly broke new ground. He was the first African-American to win the Pulitzer Prize for music.
by Tom Huizenga
Aug 24, 2018
3 minutes
Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, pianist and educator George Walker has died at the age of 96. Walker's death was announced to NPR by one of his family members, Karen Schaefer, who said he died Thursday at Mountainside Hospital in Montclair, N.J. after a fall.
Walker's music was firmly rooted in the modern classical tradition, but also drew from African-American spirituals and jazz. His nearly 100 compositions range broadly, from intricately orchestrated symphonic works and concertos to intimate songs and solo piano pieces.
"His music is always characterized by a great sense of dignity,
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