Episode 25 - 1967: Leon Kirchner, Third String Quartet

We're back with Season 2 of "Hearing The Pulitzers!"  In this episode, Dave and Andrew explore the first music winner to incorporate electronics, Leon Kirchner. Kirchner wanted to expand human capabilities by combining live performance with recorded electronic sounds. Although he did not focus his music on electronics after the 3rd Quartet, Kirchner's award ultimately set a trend for the Pulitzer the next few years, as the jury became more and more accepting of new sounds and timbres.   If you'd like more information about Leon Kirchner, we recommend: Robert Rigg's biography Leon Kirchner: Composer, Performer, and Teacher (University of Rochester Press, 2010) Bruce Duffie's 1990 interview with Leon Kirchner