Joseph Hallman

Joseph Hallman (born Nov. 20, 1979) is a classical music composer. Based in Philadelphia, United States, Hallman's works have been performed internationally. His music has been described as eclectic, merging classical, Renaissance, and contemporary popular styles. He has won numerous accolades, including selection as one of the 100 leading composers under 40 by classical radio station WQXR^[1] and a Grammy nomination in 2013. Hallman also teaches composition at Drexel University.

Hallman began composing at the age of 13. He graduated the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with Margaret Brouwer. He continued his studies with masterclasses by George Crumb. Christopher Rouse, John Corigliano, John Harbison and others. His compositions have won numerous awards, including the Marcel Dik prize, the Donald Erb prize, and the Darius Milhaud award^[2]

Hallman is composer-in-residence at the Rosenbach Museum & Library of Philadelphia and the Pikes Falls Chamber Music Festival. He has collaborated with leading performers and ensembles. Cellist Alisa Weilerstein performed his concerto for cello and chamber ensemble with the St. Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic in Russia. A series of concerti grossi, inspired by Johann Sebastian Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, was performed by members of the Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony, and Cleveland Orchestra. The Cavani Quartet has premiered his compositions. His ballet Alice was performed in April 2010 by the Colette Harding Dance Company in San Diego.^[3] He has worked closely with poet Jessica Hornik, and his settings of three of her poems is included in the album "Sprung Rhythm" by the Washington DC ensemble Inscape, which was nominated for the 2014 Grammy award.^[4]

Critics have praised Hallman's work. "[Hallman's music] is for acoustic instruments -- no computers, no electronic processing -- and it is music that is long on harmonic and melodic interest and blessedly short on intellectual or mathematical gimmicks, without sounding overly neo-Romantic or derivative", wrote music critic Charles Downey of the Washington Post^[5] "Two pieces by Joseph Hallman singled him out as the one to watch, especially 'Imagined Landscapes,' six atmospheric miniatures inspired by the nightmares of H. P. Lovecraft. Even the use of whispers, shouts and other noises did not seem like a cheap effect but part of a musical whole, a complement to the composer’s skillful handling of each instrument," wrote Downey in a separate review.^[6] Ronni Reich of the Washington post wrote that Hallman's compositions are "reminiscent of Dominick Argento, contemporary soundscapes and Renaissance music."^[7]

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