Michael Abels
(b. 1962)

More Seasons
Composed 1999

Michael Abels, 2023 Pulitzer Prize winner and Emmy and Grammy-nominated composer, is celebrated for his innovative scores for Jordan Peele's films Get Out, Us, and Nope. Both Us and Nope were shortlisted for the Oscar for Best Original Score. In 2022, his work was honored by the Vancouver International Film Festival, the Middleburg Film Festival, and the Museum of the Moving Image. Additionally, Nope won Best Score for a Studio Film from the Society of Composers & Lyricists.

Abels is often praised for his unique ability to blend diverse elements, creating vibrant orchestral colors. His work is noted for its "keen ear and deft ability to adapt structural elements from popular music into the symphonic idiom" (Houston Chronicle). As a composer primarily focused on large forms, Abels has crafted over 20 orchestral pieces, performed by prestigious ensembles such as the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony, and the Los Angeles Master Chorale.

Among his works is More Seasons, which he describes as his "own spin" on early Baroque music. In this piece, Abels subjects Vivaldi's themes from Spring and Summer to "maniacal, minimalist abuses," dubbing it "Vivaldi in a Mixmaster."

Born in Phoenix, AZ, and raised in rural South Dakota, Abels began piano lessons at a young age. He pursued his musical education at the University of Southern California, studying under James Hopkins and Robert Linn. He further expanded his musical horizons by studying West African music with Alfred Ladzekpo at the California Institute for the Arts in 1985-86. Currently, Abels serves as the director of music for New Roads School in Santa Monica, where he oversees a program that integrates hands-on instruction with contemporary music technologies. Besides his composing and teaching, Abels is also an amateur triathlete, demonstrating his diverse interests and dedication to excellence in various fields.

Instrumentation – two flutes and piccolo, two oboes, two bassoons, two horns, two trumpets, timpani, and strings

Duration – 12 minutes

Photo of Michael Abels  by Eric Schwabel; Costacommunicationsinc - CC BY-SA 4.0

~ Kenneth Bean
Georg and Joyce Albers-Schonberg Assistant Conductor
Princeton Symphony Orchestra