born in Los Angeles, CA

David Lang
studied with Martin
Bresnick
at Stanford University
b. 1957
studied with Martin
Jenni
at University of Iowa

post-minimalist

composition faculty
member
at Yale School of Music
The Little Match Girl Passion (2007)
for four voices

commissioned by Carnegie Hall

based on the short story by

Hans Christian Andersen

influenced by the St. Matthew

Passion

2008 Pulitzer Prize for Music

 Death Speaks (2012)
for soprano, violin, electric guitar, and
piano

commissioned by Carnegie Hall

as a companion piece to
The Little Match Girl Passion

uses translations of song

texts from Franz Schubert

personification of Death

song cycle
you will
return
I hear you
pain
changes
mist is
rising
I am
walking
return to dust
you will turn
you will
return to dust
return
turn toyou
the sun
I hear
like me, turn to the
sun
turn to the light
turn to the light
if there’s an eye
still open
grieving
sweet sleep
close it for me
I hear you
I hear you
call
I pity you
I am your
friend
I am not cruel
give me your
hand
you will sleep
so softly in
my arms
you will return
return to dust
you will turn
I hear you
return to dust
I hear you
turn to the sun call
like me, turn to the I pity you
sun I am your
turn to the light friend
turn to the light I am not cruel
if there’s an eye give me your
still open hand
grieving you will sleep
sweet sleep so softly in
close it for me my arms