Michael H. Weinstein

Michael H. Weinstein (born June 26, 1960) is a Swiss composer active in America.

Weinstein has written music for all major genres of art music—with the exception of opera—though he is primarily known for his works for wind ensemble. His style melds the lightness of Mozart with the rhythmic complexity of Stravinsky, and, while his music is fundamentally tonal, he employ's twelve tone techniques to create tension and ambiguity.[1]

Weinstein's music has been performed throughout America, Europe and Russia.[2] His Concerto for Wind Ensemble (1989) was recorded by Eugene Corporon and the Cincinnati Wind Ensemble for the Klavier label.[3] He has received numerous commissions including the Chamber Symphony (commissioned by the American Composer's Forum, 2005) [4] the Serenade for Twelve Instruments (commissioned by New England Conservatory, 2000; published by Boosey & Hawkes),[5] The Roman Odes (commissioned by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2001.)and Two Elegies (commissioned by the USAF Band, Washington, DC, 1998) among others.

Reviewing the premiere of Weinstein’s Concerto for Horn, Anthony Tommasini described Weinsteins’s music: “The harmonic language is tonal; the style is neoclassical in the tradition of Copland, with a sometimes fractured phrase structure that suggests Stravinsky. The textures and interweavings of contrapuntal lines are clear and unmysterious. . .the score is capably crafted and the audience was taken with it.[6] Reviewing the premiere of the Concerto for Wind Ensemble, Richard Buell wrote in the Boston Globe, “. . .this big, massive piece showed poise, finish, clear-headedness, an attractive fascination with line. It had the radiance of potential realizing itself.[7]

He is currently the head of the music department of the Cambridge School of Weston [8] and serves on the faculties of the Berklee College of Music [9] the Walnut Hill School for the Arts, and the New England Conservatory Preparatory Division.