Ellen Taaffe Zwillich (1939-Present)

Introduction
Taaffe Zwilich was born in Miami in 1939. She is an American composer who was the first female composer to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music. Her early works are evident by her use of atonality while her later works center around a post-modernist, net-romantic style. ==Work Analysis == I chose to analyze Symphony No. 3 by Ellen Taaffe Zwillich. The symphony kicks off with strings at the forefront holding diamonds and eventually develop into a melody. It is divded into three separate movements and is written for a full orchestra. The recording is the New York Philharmonic playing the piece. Taaffe Zwillich combines strict classical elements with the use of atonality.

Comparisons
This piece reminds me of a combination of what I'd imagine Beethoven and Stravinsky would write together. It's almost as if they were creating someone who can do both and Ellen Taaffe Zwillich is the product of them. Her works remind me of Stravinsky in the sense that they are extremely dynamic in how the movements progress, but they remind me of Beethoven in the sense that she can stay within the realms of tonality as well to create a cool piece.

Observations
This is one of the better pieces I have analyzed. I like this piece because it reminds me of Beethoven and Stravinsky (two composers who I really respect). I enjoyed listening to it. I have never heard of her before, but I am glad I did research on her.