Harry Bulow

Music Theory, Composition

Biography

Harry Bulow has had a distinguished career as a composer, director, saxophonist and music administrator. He began his career as Director of Bands at Santa Barbara City College, served as Chair of the Department of Music at the University of Hawaii, Director of the Center for Music Technology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Chaired the Mary Morgan School of Music, Theatre and Dance at Lamar University. From 2009 till 2019 he served as Head of the Patti and Rusty Rueff School of Visual and Performing Arts at Purdue University now known as the School of Design, Art, and Performance. During that period of time, the school’s national rankings improved significantly and its offerings in Music, Theatre, Dance and Art and Design all saw new directions in degree offerings, on-line opportunities and national and regional engagement.

Bulow received his bachelor’s degree in music education from San Diego State University, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in music theory and composition from UCLA (1978, 1983). He studied composition and orchestration with Aaron Copland, Peter Mennin, Henri Lazarof, Roy Travis, David Ward-Steinman and Henry Mancini. His works have received numerous awards including 1st Prize at the International Composers Competition in Trieste, Italy, the “Oscar Espla” Prize from the city of Alicante, Spain, a NEA Composer Fellowship and 37 consecutive awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers. His works have been performed by numerous bands, orchestras and choirs throughout the United States, Europe and Asia including the Omaha Symphony, Honolulu Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, the Eastman Wind Ensemble, Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble the Moscow National Symphonic Band and the Dallas Wind Symphony. His style is eclectic in approach and broad in its appeal. He is at home in jazz, concert, film and sacred music. The major influences in his work include the music of Witold Lutoslawski, Karel Husa, Peter Mennin, Aaron Copland and Henry Mancini.

Specialization

Music Theory, Composition, Electronic Music

Published Compositions

Interactions, GIA Publications, Chicago, IL,

Kakkazan for Band, Robert Martin Editions, France,

Textures for Wind Ensemble, Alfred Publications, Van Nuys, CA

Fanfare for Freedom, Songbird Publications, Dallas, TX

Mutations for Flute, Alfred Music, Los Angeles

Introduction and Allegro, Roncorp/Northeastern Music Publishers, Glenmoore, PA

Elegy for Saxophone, Roncorp/Northeastern Music Publishers, PA

Syntax II for Saxophone, Roncorp/Northeastern Music Publishers, PA

Contours for Clarinet, Roncorp/Northeastern Music Publishers, PA

Contours for Flute, Silver Mace Publications, Los Angeles, CA

Syntax I for Flute, Roncorp/Northeastern Music Publishers, PA

Adieu for Flute, Roncorp/Northeastern Music Publishers, PA

Adieu for Clarinet, Roncorp/Northeastern Music Publishers, PA

Sarabande and Bourree by J.S. Bach, edited by Harry Bulow, Roncorp/Northeastern Music

Canzona a4 by Giovanni Gabrieli, transcribed for saxophone quartet, Roncorp, PA

Six Fanfares for Two Trumpets, Silver Mace Publications, CA

Professional Recordings

Mixed Motives, Martin Jones, piano, PnOVA Records, 2019

Textures for Wind Ensemble, Silver Mace Publications, 2016

Kakkazan for Band, SMP, 2016

Spectrum for Brass Quintet, SMP, 2016

Esprit de Corps, SMP, 2016

Fanfare for Freedom, SMP, 2016

Syntax for Flute, North/South Recordings, 2012

Suite for Piano, North/South Records, 2012

Lines, Curves and Voluminous Variations, North/South Recordings, 2005

Contours for Clarinet, Capstone Records, New York, NY, 2004

Kakkazan, for Traditional Japanese Instrument and Western Wind Instruments, Capstone Records, 2004

Sonata for Piano, Capstone Records, 2004

Dance of the Insect Insomniac, Capstone Records, 2004

Syntax II for Saxophone, Capstone Records, 2004

Silent Holocaust, Capstone Records, 2004

Adieu for Clarinet, Capstone Records, 2004

Symphony for Band, Crest Records, 1978

Film, Video and Commercial Music Scores

March Madness 2005-19, EA Sports Games

College Hoops, ESPN 2K5-19

SEGA Games

The Burglar (film), Fazio Productions, Los Angeles, Winner of an American Film Institute Award for Excellence

Agatha (film), Leon Productions, Los Angeles

Book Chapters, Articles and Other Literary Publications

Composing Outside the Box: Learning Graphic Notation, Extended Techniques and Directed Improvisation in Teaching Music Through Performance in Band, GIA Publications, Chicago, IL, 2013

Problems and Issues Facing a Young Composer in Symposium: The Journal of the College Music Society, Vol. 24, N. 2, Fall 1984

Awards

38 Consecutive Awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, 1980-2018

3rd Prize, Hillcrest Wind Ensemble Composition Contest, 2012

Dallas Wind Symphony Fanfare Composition Award, 2006

First Citizens Bank Scholars Medal, Music Theory, 2004

Billboard National Song Writing Competition, Honorable Mention, 1999

Tampa Bay Composers Forum Awards, 1st Prize, 1998

Speculum Musicae Composition Awards, Tulane University, 1994, Honorable Mention

“Oscar Espla” International Composers Prize, Alicante, Spain, 1986

Harvey Gaul Composition Prize, Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, 1986

Illinois State University Fine Arts Awards in Composition, 1986

Eastman Wind Ensemble Awards in Composition, 1986

Minnesota Orchestra’s 75th Anniversary, Award in Composition, Honorable Mention, 1985

New Music Award, Omaha Symphony, 1982

ASCAP Awards to Young Composers, 1980

National Band Association’s Award in Composition, 1980

Atwater-Kent Award in Composition, UCLA, 1980

Gus Kahn Award in Composition, UCLA, 1980

Axel Stordahl Award in Composition, UCLA, 1980

1st Prize, Symposium for New Band Music, Univ. of Richmond, 1979

Jacksonville University Composition Prizes, Honorable Mention, 1979

Henry Mancini Award for Music in Motion Pictures and Television Films, 1979

Sigvald Thompson Award for Symphonic Composition, 1979

Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra Award in Composition, 1978

National Flute Association Award in Composition, 1977

American Bandmasters Association Award in Composition, 1977

1st Prize, International Composers Competition, Trieste, Italy, 1977

Tucson Flute Club’s Award in Musical Composition, Tucson, AZ, 1977

Grants and Commissions

ASPIRE Grants, Purdue University, 2017, 2018, 2019

CREATE Grants, Purdue University, 2017, 2018, 2019

Quelque Chose Trio, 2011

Imagine Music Publications, New York, NY, 2005

First Presbyterian Church, Concord, NC, 2005

North Carolina Arts Council Composer Fellowships, 1996, 2002

North Carolina Regional Artist Project Grant, 2001

Mercer University, Macon, GA, 2000

Numerous Meet-the-Composer Grants, 1986, 1987, 1995

University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Research Grant, 1994

University of Hawaii, 1989-90

National Flute Association, 1989

National Endowment for the Arts Composer Fellowship, 1986

Music Association of the California Community Colleges, 1986

North Carolina Music Teachers Association, 1997

Significant National and International Performances

Martin Jones, British Pianist, National Concert Tour, 2019

Indianapolis Wind Symphony, 2019

Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, 2013

International Trumpet Guild, 2009

Moscow National Symphonic Band, Moscow, Russian, 2005

Conservatory of Music, Salerno, Italy, 2005

National Symposium on Wind Band Repertoire, New England Conservatory of Music, 2004

International Composers Competition, Coups de Vents, Lille, France, 2004

North/South Consonance, NYC, 1992, 95, 97, 2004, 2012

National Flute Association Conventions, 1998, 2000

Honolulu Symphony, 1991

MENC National Convention, 1987

San Antonio Symphony, 1986

Omaha Symphony, 1983

Eastman Wind Ensemble, 1986, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2009, 2015

Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, 1986

Numerous CBDNA Regional and National Conferences, 1980-2013

International Composers Competition, Alicante Spain, 1986

International Composers Competition, Trieste, Italy, 1977

Recent Major Performances

Indianapolis Wind Symphony, Textures for Wind Ensemble, Charles Conrad, conductor, Indianapolis Palladium, November 10, 2019

College Music Society, Great Lakes Chapter Regional Conference, Minimal Modal Mixtures for Eb Alto Saxophone and Piano, Aaron Durst, saxophone and Oxana Khramova, piano, University of Wisconsin, Stout, Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts, Menomonie, WI, April 5, 2019

College Music Society, Great lakes Regional Conference, Inventions for Alto Saxophone and Piano, Harry Bulow, alto saxophone, Ellen Bulow, piano, Otterbein University, Westerville, OH, April 6, 2018

Society of Composers National Conference, Inventions for Alto Saxophone and Piano, Harry Bulow, alto saxophone, Ellen Bulow, piano, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA, March 2, 2018

North American Saxophone Alliance, Region 5 Conference, Syntax II for Alto Saxophone, Harry Bulow, alto saxophone, Purdue University-Fort Wayne, March 4, 2017

College Music Society Great Lakes Regional Conference, Spectrum for Brass Quintet, North Dakota State University Brass Quintet, Fargo, North Dakota, March 29, 2014

Society of Composers, Inc., Region VI Conference, Fanfare for Freedom, Kansas State University Wind Ensemble, Frank Tracz, conductor, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, March 26, 2010

International Trumpet Guild, 34th National Conference, Esprit de Corps, Lamar University Trumpet Ensemble, Brian Shook, conductor, Sunoco Theatre, Harrisburg, PA, May 29, 2009

Society of Composers, Inc., Region VI Conference, Spectrum for Brass Quintet, Oklahoma City University Brass Quintet, Large Rehearsal Hall, Oklahoma City University, OK, February 27, 2009

Dallas Wind Symphony, Fanfare for Freedom, David Kehler, conductor, Winner of the Dallas Wind Symphony Fanfare Competition, 2007, Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas, TX, April 17, 2007