Julius Eastman

1940 - 1990

American

Biography

With the continued, international discovery and resurgence of Julius Eastman, the legacy of American music becomes more just and complete. The canon of American contemporary music cannot be considered complete without inclusion of Julius Eastman’s compositions, which until recently have gone largely neglected and unpublished. Now that his work has found a home at G. Schirmer, we are eager to facilitate the continued international discovery of this American master.
 
If available, scores can be viewed on his work pages and on our OnDemand page. Materials will become available once readied for performance — please continue to check our site for updates. In the event performance material is unavailable, a license to prepare an arrangement may be obtained by contacting the Copyright Department of our US office. To create a transcription or arrangement, please complete this form to request a license. For inquiries related to other licensing requests, please see our licensing page. For general inquires, contact schirmer@schirmer.com

Julius Eastman (1940-1990) was a composer, conductor, singer, pianist, and choreographer. A singular figure in New York City's downtown scene of the 1970s and 80s, he also performed at Lincoln Center with Pierre Boulez and the New York Philharmonic, and recorded music by Arthur Russell, Morton Feldman, Peter Maxwell Davies, and Meredith Monk. “What I am trying to achieve is to be what I am to the fullest," he said in 1976. "Black to the fullest, a musician to the fullest, a homosexual to the fullest.”
 
Despite his prominence in the artistic and musical community in New York, Eastman died in obscurity in a Buffalo, NY hospital. His death went unreported for eight months, until an obituary by Kyle Gann appeared in the Village Voice. Eastman left behind few scores and recordings, and his music lay dormant for decades until a three-CD set of his compositions titled Unjust Malaise was issued in 2005 by New World Records. In the years since, there has been a steady increase in attention paid to his music and life, punctuated by newly found recordings and manuscripts, worldwide performances and new arrangements of his surviving works, and newfound interest from choreographers, scholars, educators, and journalists. 'The brazen and brilliant music of Julius Eastman…commands attention: wild, grand, delirious, demonic, an uncontainable personality surging into sound', writes Alex Ross for The New Yorker.

Village Voice
Read 'Hammered Into Clouds: Nine Beginnings for Julius Eastman' by Sasha Frere-Jones on villagevoice.com

News

Performances

26th September 2025

PERFORMERS
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
LOCATION
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

27th September 2025

PERFORMERS
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
LOCATION
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

28th September 2025

PERFORMERS
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
LOCATION
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

22nd May 2026

PERFORMERS
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
LOCATION
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

23rd May 2026

PERFORMERS
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
LOCATION
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Features

  • Best Wise Music Recordings of 2024
    • Best Wise Music Recordings of 2024
    • In 2024, major and independent record labels from North America and Europe have released wonderful recordings of new works, beloved masterpieces, and underappreciated gems by Wise Music composers.
  • The Best Recordings of 2022 from Wise Music Classical
  • Independent Repertoire: American Optimism — Grappling with Dark and Light
    • Independent Repertoire: American Optimism — Grappling with Dark and Light
    • Since the early days of the United States, Americans have had a reputation for optimism and a particular attitude of possibility. Yet the U.S. has also faced great challenges in its history, from the Civil War to the Great Depression and present-day threats. Numerous scholars and cultural commentators have also noted our enduring streaks of both apocalyptic thinking and forthright engagement with life’s hardships. American composers have grappled with and balanced such forces of dark and light.
  • The Best Recordings of 2023 from Wise Music Classical
  • Black History Month
    • Black History Month
    • Celebrate Black History Month: explore a curated playlist from Wise Music Classical.

Photos

Discography

    Dalia's Mixtape

    Dalia's Mixtape

    Julius Eastman Vol. 2: Joy Boy | Wild Up

    Julius Eastman Vol. 2: Joy Boy | Wild Up

    Julius Eastman Vol. 1: Femenine | Wild Up

    Julius Eastman Vol. 1: Femenine | Wild Up
    • Label
      New Amsterdam Records
    • Conductor
      Christopher Rountree
    • Ensemble
      Wild Up
    • Released
      18th June 2021
    • Works

    Julius Eastman ‎– Femenine

    Julius Eastman ‎– Femenine
    • Label
      Sub Rosa
    • Catalogue Number
      SR501
    • Ensemble
      Ensemble 0 & AUM grand ensemble
    • Released
      19th November 2020
    • Works

    Eastman: Evil Nigger / Gay Guerrilla

    Eastman: Evil Nigger / Gay Guerrilla
    • Label
      Neue Meister
    • Soloist
      Kai Schumacher, Patricia Martin, Mirela Zhulali, Benedikt ter Braak, pianos
    • Released
      10th July 2020
    • Works

    The Zürich Concert

    The Zürich Concert
    • Label
      New World Records
    • Catalogue Number
      80797
    • Soloist
      Julius Eastman, piano
    • Released
      1st November 2017
    • Works

    Julius Eastman ‎– Joy Boy

    Julius Eastman ‎– Joy Boy
    • Label
      Frozen Reeds
    • Catalogue Number
      fr23
    • Ensemble
      S.E.M. Ensemble
    • Released
      4th August 2017
    • Works

    Julius Eastman ‎– Femenine

    Julius Eastman ‎– Femenine
    • Label
      Frozen Reeds
    • Catalogue Number
      fr6
    • Ensemble
      S.E.M. Ensemble
    • Released
      1st August 2016
    • Works

    Unchained

    Unchained
    • Label
      Bôłt
    • Catalogue Number
      BR 1026
    • Soloist
      Joanna Duda, Bartek Wąsik, Emilia Sitarz, Mischa Kozłowski, pianos
    • Released
      1st November 2014
    • Works

    Book of Horizons

    Book of Horizons
    • Label
      New World Records
    • Catalogue Number
      80745-2
    • Soloist
      Joseph Kubera, piano
    • Released
      1st March 2014
    • Works
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