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David Leisner (born December 22, 1953) is an American classical guitarist, composer and teacher whose activities include recording, arranging and writing about music. He has performed as a concert guitarist and as soloist with orchestras at international music festivals and venues including Carnegie Hall and the 92nd St. Y in New York, Jordan Hall in Boston, Royce Hall in Los Angeles and the Guitar Foundation of America International Festival. His performances, compositions, recordings and research are credited with expanding the guitar repertoire through advocacy for neglected composers and music, newly commissioned works and original arrangements. American Record Guide critic Kenneth Keaton wrote, "Leisner is among the finest guitarists performing … He has a probing intellect, finding insights in music that most others miss, and delivering them with a virtuoso technique."

Leisner lives in New York City with Ralph Jackson, his husband and partner since 1981. He is a professor at the Manhattan School of Music.

Early life and career

Leisner was born on December 22, 1953 in Los Angeles, California. After beginning with the violin, he turned to the guitar and folk music, studied flamenco and took up classical music in his teens. He is largely self-taught as both a guitarist and composer, having majored in music at Wesleyan University but with an equal focus on liberal arts subjects. At various points he briefly studied guitar with John W. Duarte, David Starobin and Angelo Gilardino, composition with Richard Winslow (at Wesleyan), Virgil Thomson and Charles Turner, and orchestration with David Del Tredici.

From 1976 to 1979, Leisner taught guitar at Amherst College. He moved to New York in 1979, building his reputation as a performer through competitions, recitals and local performances in restaurants. He tied for second place in the 1975 Toronto International Guitar Competition and won the Silver Medal at the 1981 Geneva International Guitar Competition—the first American finalist in the latter's history. He made his New York debut at Merkin Hall in 1979. A The New York Times review of the debut called him a "triple threat performer" for his guitar playing, composing and singing, while noting his adroit handling of "the contrapuntal intricacies" of Bach and the required "coloristic touches" for Britten and Albéniz on the guitar.

Over the next five years, wrote critic Allan Kozinn, Leisner "established a reputation not only as an exceptionally talented classical performer but also as a kind of musical investigator" unearthing obscure works for the guitar repertoire. Other writers placed him as "among the most innovative" of a new crop of "young American guitar virtuosos."

Focal dystonia and Playing with Ease

In 1984 Leisner developed focal dystonia in his right (plucking) hand. Widely regarded as incurable, it kept him from performing professionally for roughly a decade. After an exhaustive and unsuccessful five-year search for a cure, he retooled his playing by primarily using his thumb and index finger and began performing again publicly in 1991. Boston Globe critic Richard Dyer called his first full-evening performance in Jordan Hall "accomplished and moving" with vigor, dexterity and "virtuosity aplenty."

Continuing to rethink his technique, Leisner experimented with involving the larger muscle groups in the upper arm and shoulder and regained normal use of his fingers one by one, returning to 100% capability by 1996. During the 1996-97 season, he performed a challenging series of three concerts at Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall—an all-Bach program, a contemporary music survey, and music of the 19th-century. Guitar Review's Rose Augustine deemed the Bach concert a convincing and "triumphant reappearance" with rare depth of feeling.

Leisner has since helped cure a range of instrumentalists suffering from focal dystonia and other repetitive-stress injuries with the approach covered in his book on ergonomic technique, Playing With Ease. It discusses basic anatomy of movement, posture, alignment, the relief of tension, and practice and concert preparation tips, as well as his ideas about large-muscle engagement that cured him of focal dystonia.

Music and critical reception

Leisner is as recognized for his artistic breadth as for the virtuosity of his playing. As a composer, his wide-ranging influences include Britten, Stravinsky, Bartok, Heitor Villa-Lobos and Philip Glass, among others, and more broadly, pop, folk and jazz music. Richard Dyer characterized Leisner as a "serious, exploratory and imaginative musician and composer who happened to play the guitar as well." Ian Gallagher of Guitar Review noted his propensity "to eschew the intellect for the soul" in compositions that made "a strong argument for the viability of contemporary tonal music and for the fusion of performer and composer in an age of specialization."

Critics have identified a "pedagogic but unpompous" approach to repertoire in Leisner's career, distinguished by discoveries of overlooked composers, creative takes on classics, and commissions and introductions of important new works. His efforts led a revival of two 19th-century composer-guitarists, Johann Kaspar Mertz and Wenzeslaus Matiegka. In addition to arrangements of Bach, Schubert and Glass, he has premiered works by Richard Rodney Bennett, Chester Biscardi, David Del Tredici, Osvaldo Golijov, Pierre Jalbert, Laura Kaminsky, Bun-Ching Lam, João Luiz, Ned Rorem, Peter Sculthorpe, Virgil Thomson and Randall Woolf.

Performing

Critics characterize Leisner's playing for its blending of control and dexterity with deep expressivity, color, intimacy and spontaneity. Composer and musicologist Angelo Gilardino stated, "what sets Leisner apart is the refinement of his phrasing, which he imbues with clear, convincing and original intentions. He does so in an elegant manner … His playing is authoritative, without trying to appear so." Reviews of Leisner's solo recitals have highlighted, among others, his performances of Ginastera's "Guitar Sonata," Villa-Lobos's "Twelve Etudes," Bach's Chaconne and Lute suites, and his own "Nel Mezzo: Sonata." His Ginastera rendering has been described as "controlled abandon," "majestic and playful, with effortless rhythmic drive," and "an exhilarating display of artistic intelligence and control."

Leisner has performed with cellist Zuill Bailey, flutists Tara O'Connor and Eugenia Zukerman, violinists Ida Kavafian and Mark Peskanov, vocalists Michael Kelly, Rufus Müller, Kurt Ollmann, Lucy Shelton and Sanford Sylvan, and the St. Lawrence, Ensō and Vermeer string quartets, among others.

Recording list

Selected performance recordings

• The Viennese Guitar, Titanic (1980)
• JS Bach (Works for Solo Guitar), Azica (2000)
• Heitor Villa-Lobos: The Complete Solo Guitar Works, Azica (2000)
• Music of Hovhaness ("Spirit of Trees"), with Yolanda Kondonassis, harp, Telarc (2000)
• Music of the Human Spirit, Azica (2002)
• Le Romantique: Music of Mertz and Schubert, Azica (2003)
• Alan Hovhaness ("Guitar Concerto”, op. 325), Naxos (2006)
• Matiegka, the Beethoven of the Guitar, Azica (2009)
• David Leisner: Classics & Discoveries, MelBay DVD (2010)
• Favorites, Azica (2012)
• Facts of Life, Azica (2015)
• Arpeggione, with Zuill Bailey, cello, Azica (2016)
• Die Schöne Müllerin, with Michael Kelly, baritone, Bright Shiny Things (2022)

References

1. ^ Cooper, Colin. "Journey of Discovery: David Leisner Talks to Colin Cooper," Classical Guitar, June 1997, cover, p. 11–17.
2. ^ Cmiel, Scott. "Guitarist David Leisner Shines in Imaginative, Wide-Ranging Recital," San Francisco Classical Voice, October 4, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
3. ^ Traviss, Guy. "David Leisner discusses his most recent disc, Favorites," Classical Guitar, February 2014, cover, p. 11–16. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
4. ^ Kozinn, Allan. "A Guitarist's Return, Contd.," The New York Times, May 14, 1997. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
5. ^ Dyer, Richard. "Leisner returns with vigor and virtuosity," The Boston Globe, October 24, 1991.
6. Powls, Simon. "David Leisner," Classical Guitar Review, January 2, 2010. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
7. ^ Ericson, Raymond. "Debuts in Review: David Leisner, Guitarist, Also Composes and Sings," The New York Times, December 9, 1979. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
8. ^ Kozinn, Allan. "David Leisner: Expanding the Classical Repertoire," Guitar Player, October 1984, p. 61–64.
9. ^ Bavaro, Joshua. "Interview with David Leisner and David Del Tredici," Soundboard, Vol. 40, No. 4, 2015, p. 28–33.
10. ^ Keaton, Kenneth. Favorites," American Record Guide, January/February 2012.
11. Beaudoin, Stephen Marc. "My rock, my soulmate," Bay Windows, October 31, 2002, p. 26.
12. ^ Jackson, Blair. "David Leisner: A Rare Victory Over Focal Dystonia," Classical Guitar, April 13, 2017. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
13. ^ Manhattan School of Music. David Leisner, Faculty. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
14. ^ Grove Dictionary of American Music. "David Leisner," 2001.
15. Anstead, Alicia. "Guitarist has recovered use of hand after illness," Bangor Daily News, November 12, 1996.
16. ^ Rockwell, Cynthia. "Musician heal thyself," Wesleyan, Summer 2001.
17. ^ Hall, Macer. "David Leisner," Classical Guitar, February 2004, cover, p. 11–16. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
18. ^ Verdery, Ben. "David Leisner Interviewed by Ben Verdery," Soundboard, Vol. 33, No. 1–2, 2007, p. 84–91.
19. Leisner, David. "Memoirs of a Café Guitarist," Soundboard, Spring 1982.
20. Kassner, Eli. "The Guitar Society of Toronto," Guitar Canada, Spring 1989. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
21. Star-Tribune (Casper, WY). "Guitarist to perform tonight," April 14, 1984, p. A-3.
22. ^ Buell, Richard. "Leisner shows taste and skill," The Boston Globe, February 5, 1981.
23. Starr, Mark. "Mertz/Giuliani: David Leisner"," American Record Guide, November 1981, p. 36–37.
24. ^ McInerney, John. "David Leisner, guitar," Musical America, September 1982, p. 22.
25. Henry, Derrick. "Guitarist David Leisner understands," The Boston Globe, October 27, 1983.
26. ^ Oestreich James R. "In Music as Well as Sports, Injuries Can End a Career," The New York Times, August 27, 1996. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
27. ^ Lehman, Carol. "An interview with David Leisner," Guitar Review, Summer 1994.
28. Rosenberg, Donald. "Guitarist beats hand problem to return to stage," The Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 23, 1993.
29. ^ Rosenberg, Donald. "Classical guitarist captures passion," The Cleveland Plain Dealer, April 8, 1997.
30. Augustine, Rose L. "David Leisner, Weill Recital Hall," Guitar Review, Fall 1996.
31. Oestreich James R. "A Disorder That Stops the Music," The New York Times, March 13, 2012. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
32. Leisner, David. "Playing with Large Muscles," Soundboard, Vol. 40, No. 2, p. 8–12.
33. ^ Leisner, David. Playing with Ease, New York: Oxford University Press, 2018. ISBN: 9780190693312. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
34. Oxford University Press. David Leisner, Author Information. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
35. Dyer, Richard. "A musical personality finds his voice in guitar," The Boston Globe, October 25, 1994.
36. Gallagher, Ian. "David Leisner, Self-Portrait," Guitar Review, 2008.
37. ^ Garcia, Gerald. "David Leisner, Royal Academy of London," Classical Guitar, September 2003.
38. Ricat, Kristoffer. "David Leisner, Review," Guitar Review, No. 122, 2001.
39. ^ Rosenberg, Donald. "Guitarist's artistry deepens through perseverance," The Cleveland Plain Dealer, April 16, 2002.
40. ^ Kunze, Al. "David Leisner with Michael Kelly, baritone: Die Schöne Müllerin," Soundboard, Summer 2023, p. 63.
41. Ruhe, Pierre. "ASO shows subtle depths of Argentine compositions," The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, February 21, 2004.
42. Manhattan School of Music. "Catching up with MSM guitar faculty member David Leisner,", News, March 8, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
43. Long, Richard. "A Report on the 1992 Guitar New Orleans," Soundboard, 1992.
44. ^ Tosone, Jim. "Three Anniversaries," Classical Guitar, Fall 2016, p. 89.
45. Gilardino, Angelo. "Review of Matiegka, the Beethoven of the Guitar," Suonare, November 2009.
46. Woodward, Josef. "Guitarist Leisner Offers Varied Program," The New York Times, March 9, 1995. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
47. Marks, John. "David Leisner & Zuill Bailey: Arpeggione," The Tannhauser Gate, April 4, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
48. New York City Classical Guitar Society. "Serenades and Premieres with David Leisner and Friends," 2017. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
49. Schweitzer, Vivien. "An Exploration of the Curious Case of Benjamin Britten," The New York Times, October 22, 2013. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
50. Smith, Craig. "Leisner and Golijov: impressive musical journeys," The New Mexican, May 15, 2001, p. B-3.

External links

• David Leisner official website
• David Leisner, Theodore Presser Co.
• David Leisner, Manhattan School of Music
• Playing with Ease: A Healthy Approach to Guitar Technique, David Leisner

• American male guitarists
• American classical guitarists
• 21st-century composers
• 20th-century composers
• American composers
• Composers for the classical guitar
• Musicians from New York City
• Composers from New York City
• Manhattan School of Music faculty
• Musicians with dystonia
• Living people
• 1953 births
• American musicians with disabilities