Congratulations to Jennifer Higdon on her third Grammy (even if the Awards themselves pay classical music scant regard).
Tag: Composer
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Nancy Deussen Gershwin Secret Dies
Composer Nancy Bloomer Deussen has died at the age of 88, and for the second time in two years, there are murmurs about an illegitimate child of George Gershwin. Deussen’s mother, Julia Van Norman, was exceptionally close with Gershwin, perhaps closer than the Gershwin estate would have liked.
For her part, Deussen never wished to exploit her possible kinship to promote her own music, so perhaps it’s a disservice to her memory to even mention it. I only do so, because still fresh in the memory is the death last year of Alan Gershwin, who always insisted he was George’s son.
Alan was 91. I must say, the resemblance is uncanny.
Georgie be good!
Deussen’s “Night Forest” for Native American flute:
PHOTOS: Nancy Bloomer Deussen and, top to bottom, George Gershwin, Alan Gershwin, and juicy Gershwin scandal rag
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Michael Colgrass Pulitzer Winner Dies
On this Independence Day, I learn of the passing of American-born composer Michael Colgrass. Colgrass, who began his career as a jazz musician, was the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1978 for his work, “Déjà vu.”
“Mr. Colgrass is something of a maverick,” wrote Harold Schonberg for the New York Times. “He will use serial textures, but will mix them with jazz, or outright romanticism, or dissonance à la Ives. He also has evolved a distinct sort of miniature style that is extremely personal and poetic.”
Colgrass made Toronto his home since 1974. He died on Tuesday at the age of 87.
Speaking of déjà vu, here’s a selection from a new release I received in the mail only a couple of weeks ago from the always reliable Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP).
Colgrass’ juxtaposition of old and new puts me in the mind of Schnittke – but without perhaps the lingering sense of queasiness!
An absorbing interview with Colgrass by Bruce Duffie:
http://www.bruceduffie.com/colgrass.html
Colgrass at his most accessible, “Bali:”
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Peter Westergaard Princeton Composer Dies at 88
Composer Peter Westergaard has died. Westergaard was chair of the Princeton University Music Department – twice – from 1974-1978 and from 1983-1986. He also taught at Columbia University and Amherst. Among his teachers were Milton Babbitt, Edward T. Cone, Wolfgang Fortner, Darius Milhaud, Walter Piston, and Roger Sessions. Westergaard retired from Princeton in 2001. As a composer, he wrote mainly chamber music and opera, including adaptations of the “The Tempest,” “Moby Dick,” and “Alice in Wonderland.” Westergaard was 88 years-old.
You’ll find out more about Westergaard here:
http://uihistories.library.illinois.edu/TAMHistory/Talbot/rh_talbot5.htmlHis chamber opera, after Edward Lear, “Mr. & Mrs. Discobbolos:”
The text of Lear’s poem:
http://www.nonsenselit.org/Lear/ll/discobbolos.html
http://www.nonsenselit.org/Lear/ll/discobbolos2.html
PHOTOS: (top) Westergaard at the dress rehearsal for the premiere of “Alice in Wonderland” at Princeton in 2008; (bottom, left to right) cover design for the score and libretto of “The Tempest” by Lambertville artist Alison Carver; composer and friend enjoying some together time at the keyboard; Westergaard and his wife, Barbara, in 1994
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Samuel Barber Birthday Celebration
Paul Moon reminds me that today is Samuel Barber’s birthday. Watch Paul’s documentary, Samuel Barber: Absolute Beauty, at samuelbarberfilm.com.
Barber makes a wish in 1977:
Happy birthday, Sam! It’s a good day for a trip to the Barber.
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