Richard Peaslee (June 13, 1930, New York NY – August 20, 2016) was a composer who worked in a variety of idioms, including chorus, orchestra, dance, and soundtracks for film and television, but he was most active as a composer for the theatre.

Education

He received his undergraduate degree in Music Composition from Yale University, and after serving two years in the U.S. Army, received a master's degree from The Juilliard School, in addition to studying privately with Nadia Boulanger in Paris and William Russo in New York and London.

Works

He had written the music for:

London

New York City

Dance

Film and television

His film scores include the Peter Brook films Marat/Sade (1967) and Tell Me Lies (1968). His music for television includes the Emmy-nominated score for Joseph Campbell/Bill Moyers series The Power of Myth, Claudia Shear's Blown Sideways Through Life (American Playhouse), and Time/Life's Wild, Wild World of Animals.

Symphonic and jazz works

Peaslee's works have been performed by the Philadelphia, Detroit, Seattle, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, and Buffalo Symphony Orchestras; William Russo's London Jazz Orchestra, Chicago Jazz Ensemble, Stan Kenton and Ted Heath Orchestras and Gerry Mulligan. Arrows of Time for Solo Trombone and Band was composed in 1993 for Joseph Alessi and the United States Army Band.

Awards