David
Maslanka was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1943. He attended
the Oberlin College Conservatory where he studied composition with
Joseph Wood. He spent a year at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, and
did graduate work in composition at Michigan State University with H.
Owen Reed.
Maslanka's
works for winds and percussion have become especially well known. They
include among others, "A Child's Garden of Dreams" for Symphonic Wind
Ensemble, "Concerto for Piano, Winds and Percussion," the 2nd, 3rd, and
4th symphonies, "Mass" for soloists, chorus, boys chorus, wind
orchestra and organ, and the two Wind Quintets. Percussion works
include, "Variations of 'Lost Love'" and "My Lady White: for solo
marimba, and three ensemble works: "Arcadia II: Concerto for Marimba
and Percussion Ensemble," "Crown of Thorns," and "Montana Music: Three
Dances for Percussion." In addition, he has written a wide variety of
chamber, orchestral, and choral pieces.
David Maslanka's compositions are published by Carl Fischer, Inc., Kjos Music Company, Marimba Productions, Inc., the North American Saxophone Alliance, and OU Percussion Press, and have been recorded on Albany, Cambria, CRI, Mark, Novisse, and Klavier labels. He has served on the faculties of the State University of New York at Geneseo, Sarah Lawrence College, New York University, and Kingsborough College of the City University of New York. He now lives in Missoula, Montana. David Maslanka is a member of ASCAP.
Mr. Maslanka's work for wind ensemble "Give Us This Day" will be performed by the Tri-County Symphonic Band on March 21, 2010.