{{Short description|American composer (1920–2018)}} '''Paul Fetler''' (February 17, 1920 – July 7, 2018; born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)<ref>{{cite web |title=Remembering Professor Emeritus Paul Fetler |url=https://cla.umn.edu/music/news-events/news/remembering-professor-emeritus-paul-fetler |website=College of Liberal Arts {{!}} University of Minnesota |accessdate=5 September 2018 |language=en |date=3 September 2018}}</ref> was an American composer. He received his bachelor's degree from Northwestern University and was taught composition by David Van Vactor. Following his bachelor's, Fetler earned a master's degrees from Yale, and then accepted a position at the University of Minnesota where he obtained his doctorate.<ref name="naxos">Naxos Online, “Paul Fetler,” Accessed October 28, 2012, http://www.naxos.com/person/Paul_Felter/86299.htm.</ref> In addition to Vactor, Fetler also studied with Paul Hindemith, Quincy Porter, and Boris Blacher, and taught many composers at Minnesota including Eric Stokes, Donald Keats, Marjorie Rusche, Michael Schelle, Stephen Paulus, Libby Larsen, and Carol Barnett. {{See LMST|Paul|Fetler}}
== Compositional style ==
Fetler's style is atypical of the well-known composers of the 20th century. Fetler's music, as he has described it, is “the merger of listener and music.”<ref name="naxos" /> Few recordings of Fetler's music exist, though in 2009, the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra released an album of Fetler pieces. Works include Fetler's Three Poems by Walt Whitman, Capriccio, and Violin Concerto no. 2.
''Three Poems by Walt Whitman'', scored for orchestra and narrator, is described as “delicate and sometimes languid but essentially reflective and thoughtful.”<ref name="BretJohnson">Bret Johnson, “CD and DVD Reviews,” Tempo 64, (2010): 65-81.</ref> The 2nd movement is an exception and is described as “lear in the storm hysteria” by reviewer Bret Johnson.<ref name="BretJohnson" />
Fetler's 2nd violin concerto focuses on the interaction of the soloist with the orchestra rather than technical virtuosity, allowing for rich harmonies and thoroughly developed ideas. The challenge to the soloist and ensemble is to set an ethereal and mysterious scene. There is a slight similarity to the Samuel Barber Violin Concerto.
In addition, Fetler wrote many sacred and secular choral works.
Much of Fetler's music focuses on subtlety, richness, and intimacy. Fetler demonstrates a great deal of comfort with orchestration on both small and large scales. The 2nd violin concerto is a demonstration of this as there are many sections featuring few or solo instruments contrasted by sections with full orchestra. Fetler describes his compositional style as “progressive lyricism”.<ref name="naxos" /> There is little about his style that is avant-garde, especially when compared to composers like John Cage. Fetler's music attempts to engage the listener so they become intertwined with the music, as if there is perfect unity between the piece, performers, and the audience. In this way Fetler's music is very intellectual, though overall conservative, and carefully constructed.
== Selected works ==
=== Choral ===
Sing Alleluia (SATB)
December Stillness (SATB)<ref>Kevin, J Lambert, Choral Reviews: "December Stillness," Choral Journal 39, no. 2 (September 1998): 71.</ref> The following choral works are listed here: http://www.lieder.net/lieder/f/fetler.html{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}.<ref>Recmusic.org, “Composer: Paul Fetler,” Accessed October 28, 2012, http://www.lieder.net/lieder/f/fetler.html{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}.</ref> Drum (SATB), Text: Langston Hughes
Madman's Song (SATB), Text: Elinor Wylie
November Night (SATB), Text: Adelaide Crapsey
Now This is The Story (SSA), Text: Dorothy Parker
Wild Swans (SATB), Text: Edna St. Vincent Millay
All Day I Hear (SATB), Text: James Joyce
April (SATB), Text: Sir William Watson
=== Orchestra ===
Celebration
Three Poems by Walt Whitman<ref name="naxos_a">Naxos Online, “Naxos Releases its First Recording Devoted Entirely to the Works of Composer Paul Fetler,” Accessed October 28, 2012, http://www.naxos.com/person/Paul_Felter/86299.htm.</ref>
Capriccio<ref name="naxos_a" />
Violin Concertos<ref name="naxos_a" />
Contrasts for Orchestra, Mercury Living Presence LP MG50282 (OOP), Minneapolis Symphony, Antal Dorati, Conductor..
Pastoral Suite: Mvt 1 Moods of the River; Mvt 2 Ancient Mountain Chant; Mvt 3 Song of the Wind. Golden Crest LP CRS 4153 (OOP). Macalester Trio (Dedicated to Joseph Roche, Violinist of the Macalester Trio)
=== Chamber ===
Three Impressions (Guitar and Piano) - https://www.amazon.com/Schott-Three-Impressions-Guitar-Piano/dp/B003AGRCT8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353893033&sr=8-1&keywords=paul+fetler+three+impressions
=== Solo ===
Guitar: Folia Lyrica (for Thomas Koch)<ref>Matanya Ophee, ed. Editions Orphée, Columbus, OH. {{ISBN|1-882612-37-X}} (2002)</ref>
Monologue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKx7cKs5eU0
Organ: "I Bind unto Myself Today" (tune: ST. PATRICK'S BREASTPLATE) <ref>found in ''The Parish Organist'' series, Concordia Publishing</ref>
== Major awards ==
* Guggenheim Award recipient - 1953, 1960<ref name="TheComplete">The Complete Marquis Who's Who (R) Biographies, "Paul Fetler," LexisNexis Academic. Web. Date Accessed: 2012/11/26.</ref> * Society for American Music - 1953<ref name="TheComplete" /> * Ford Found Grantee<ref name="TheComplete" /> * Certificate of Merit from Yale University Alumni Association - 1975<ref name="TheComplete" /> * NEA Award - 1975, 1977, 1987<ref name="TheComplete" />
== External links ==
*Paul Fetler Violin Concerto, Capriccio, Three Poems by Walt Whitman - https://www.amazon.com/Fetler-Violin-Concerto-Capriccio-Whitman/dp/B002TMLRPE *Paul Fetler Biography (Naxos) - http://www.naxos.com/person/Paul_Felter/86299.htm *[http://www.bruceduffie.com/fetler.html Interview with Paul Fetler], June 6, 1987
== References ==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fetler, Paul}} Category:1920 births Category:2018 deaths Category:American classical composers Category:Northwestern University alumni Category:University of Minnesota Duluth alumni Category:Yale University alumni Category:20th-century American male composers