Lawrence K. Moss papers

Dr. Lawrence Kenneth Moss (b. Los Angeles, 1927 - d. June 24, 2022) was an American composer and teacher. He received a B.A. from University of California, Los Angeles, a M.A. from the Eastman School of Music, and a Ph.D. at University of Southern California in 1957 where he studied with Leon Kirchner (1919-2009). The recipient of several commissions and grants (including two Guggenheim awards and a Fulbright), Dr. Moss' work has been performed around the world. He served as a composition professor at Mills College (1956-1958), Yale University (1960-1968), and the University of Maryland (1969-2014).

Dr. Moss' compositional style was influenced first by the German art music tradition and then by the work of Debussy. Much like Kirchner, Dr. Moss avoided strict adherence to contemporary schools of composition; his output focused on more holistic concepts, such as organic growth, nature, and music as sound. Later in life, he developed an interest in Eastern Asian music and composed several works that synthesize Eastern and Western traditions.

His compositional output is diverse and includes works for solo, chamber, and large ensembles, as well as many works for voice. Several pieces feature electronic elements, such as tape accompaniment and video. Dr. Moss composed two operas: The Brute, a comic opera in one act based on Chekhov, and The Queen and the Rebels, based on Ugo Betti's 1949 play.

Dr. Moss continued to compose from his home in Silver Spring, Maryland until his death in June 2022. His works are published through Alfred, Carl Fischer, Dorn, McGinnis & Marx, Roncorp, Seesaw Music, and Theodore Presser.