On this Independence Day, I learn of the passing of American-born composer Michael Colgrass. Colgrass, who began his career as a jazz musician, was the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1978 for his work, “Déjà vu.”

“Mr. Colgrass is something of a maverick,” wrote Harold Schonberg for the New York Times. “He will use serial textures, but will mix them with jazz, or outright romanticism, or dissonance à la Ives. He also has evolved a distinct sort of miniature style that is extremely personal and poetic.”

Colgrass made Toronto his home since 1974. He died on Tuesday at the age of 87.

Speaking of déjà vu, here’s a selection from a new release I received in the mail only a couple of weeks ago from the always reliable Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP).

Colgrass’ juxtaposition of old and new puts me in the mind of Schnittke – but without perhaps the lingering sense of queasiness!

An absorbing interview with Colgrass by Bruce Duffie:

http://www.bruceduffie.com/colgrass.html

Colgrass at his most accessible, “Bali:”