French Suite - William Kraft

French Suite for Percussion Solo (1961) by William Kraft (b. 1923) performed by Brett Dietz, Associate Professor of Percussion, Louisiana State University. As a performer, teacher, conductor, award-winning composer, and Hollywood session player, William Kraft has probably had as remarkable career as any musician in the twentieth century. A prominent member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic for over a quarter of a century, he has also played for films such as North by Northwest, and conducted and/or composed several film scores including Ralph Bakshi's Fire and Ice and the Golden Globe-winning television movie Bill (starring Mickey Rooney). Throughout his long career this distinguished composer and performer has known or worked with nearly every major name in twentieth-century music, premiering works by the likes of Stravinsky and Boulez. - Music Academy Online http://musicacademyonline.com/composer/biographies.php?bid=123