Biography Wikipedia
Wikipedia:
Ned Rorem (born October 23, 1923) is a Pulitzer prize-winning American composer and diarist. He is best known and most praised for his song settings.
Life [edit]
Rorem was born in Richmond, Indiana and received his early education in Chicago at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, the American Conservatory of Music and then Northwestern University. Later, Rorem moved on to the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia and finally the Juilliard School in New York City.
In 1966 he published The Paris Diary of Ned Rorem, which, with his later diaries, has brought him some notoriety, as he is honest about his and others' sexuality, describing his relationships with Leonard Bernstein, Noël Coward, Samuel Barber, and Virgil Thomson, and outing several others (Aldrich and Wotherspoon, eds., 2001). Rorem has written extensively about music as well. These essays are collected in anthologies such as Setting the Tone, Music From the Inside Out, and Music and People. His prose is much admired, not least for its barbed observations about such prominent musicians as Pierre Boulez. Rorem has composed in a chromatic tonal idiom throughout his career, and he is not hesitant to attack the orthodoxies of the avant-garde.
His notable students include Daron Hagen.
Selected works [edit]
Operas [edit]
A Childhood Miracle, 1951, opera in one act.The Robbers, (1956), a one-act opera.Miss Julie (1965)Hearing (1966–76), opera in five scenesBertha (1968), opera in one act.The Three Sisters Who Are Not Sisters (1968), three-act opera.Fables (1971), five very short operas to poems by Jean de la Fontaine. The five 'micro-operas' are: The Animals Sick of the PlagueThe Bird Wounded by an ArrowThe Fox and the GrapesThe Lion in LoveThe Sun and the Frogs'.Our Town (2005), first performed by the Indiana University Opera, Bloomington, in 2006. Subsequent performances have been given by Lake George Opera, Aspen Opera, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Festival Opera of Walnut Creek, Catholic University of America, Juilliard Opera, Skylark Opera, Civic Opera of Kansas City, Raylynmor Opera Company, Tufts University, University of South Carolina University of North Texas, Shepherd School of Music, and Baldwin–Wallace Conservatory of Music among others.[Miss Julie and Our Town are his only full length operas.]
Symphonies [edit]
Symphony No. 1 (1950) [Peermusic Classical] [edit]
The First symphony is cast in four fairly brief movements: I. Maestoso II. Andantino III. Largo IV: Allegro. and is scored for full orchestra. Rorem has written of this work:
There are as many definitions of symphony as there are symphonies. In Haydn's day it usually meant an orchestral piece in four movements, of which the first was in so-called sonata form. But with Bach, and later with Beethoven through Stravinsky, Symphony means whatever the composer decides.
Symphony No. 2 (1956) [Boosey & Hawkes] [edit]
The Second Symphony is cast in 3 movements of unequal proportion; the 2nd & 3rd combined being less than half the length of the first; I. Broad, Moderate II. Tranquillo III. Allegro. The Second Symphony is probably the composer's least performed. Composed in 1956 it was only performed a handful of times and has remained dormant since 1959 until, as the composer puts it, "José Serebrier resurrected" it 43 years later.
Symphony No. 3 (1958) [Boosey & Hawkes] [edit]
The Third Symphony is cast in 5 movements: I. Pasacaglia II. Allegro molto vivace III. Largo IV. Andante V. Allegro molto. It is perhaps the best known of Rorem's numbered symphonies, having been premiered by Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall, April 1959. 3 recordings have been issued over the years, though none but the most recent Naxos recording have remained in the catalogue for very long. Notable conductors of this work include: Maurice Abravanel, Leonard Bernstein, André Previn & José Serebrier. For the Naxos recording the composer noted:
Of the five movements the second was written first, the first was second, the fourth was third, the third fourth, and the last was written last. I is a Passacaglia in C, a slow overture in the grand style. II was written originally for two pianos eight years before the rest, and incorporated as the second movement of the symphony. It is a brisk and jazzy dance. III is a short, passionate page about somnambulism, full of dynamic contrast, and coming from afar. IV is a farewell to France. V is a long and fast Rondo, in itself a Concerto for Orchestra.
Orchestral [edit]
Piano Concerto No. 1 (1948), for piano & orchestra (withdrawn)From an Unknown Past (1950), for voice & orchestraSymphony No. 1 (1950)Piano Concerto No. 2 (1951), for piano & orchestraDesign (1953)Poèmes pour la paix (1953/56), for voice & string orchestraSymphony No. 2 (1956)Sinfonia (1957), for orchestral winds with optional timpani, percussion and piano/celesteEagles (1958)Pilgrims (1958), for string orchestraSymphony No. 3 (1958)Ideas (1961), for chamber/youth orchestraLions (A Dream) (1963), for jazz quartet & orchestraSun (1966), for high voice & orchestraWater Music (1966), for clarinet, violin & orchestraPiano Concerto No. 3 (1969), for piano & orchestraAir Music (1974)Assembly and Fall (1975), for oboe, trumpet, timpani, viola & orchestraA Quaker Reader (1976/88), for chamber orchestraSunday Morning (1977)Remembering Tommy (1979), for piano, cello & orchestraAfter Long Silence (1982), for voice, oboe & stringsViolin Concerto (1984), for violin & orchestraOrgan Concerto (1985), for organ & chamber orchestraString Symphony (1985), for string orchestraFrolic (1986)The Schuyler Songs (1987), for soprano & orchestraFantasy and Polka (1989)Swords and Plowshares (1990), for four solo voices & orchestraPiano Concerto No. 4 (1991), for piano (left hand) & orchestraConcerto for English Horn (1991–92), for english horn & orchestraTriptych (1992), for chamber orchestraMore Than A Day (1995), for soprano/countertenor & chamber orchestraWaiting (1996)Double Concerto (1998), for violin, cello & orchestraCello Concerto (2002), for cello & orchestraFlute Concerto (2002), for flute & orchestraMallet Concerto (2003), for percussion & orchestraEleven Songs for Susan (2007), for mezzo-soprano & chamber orchestraSongs Old and New (2008), for soprano & orchestraChamber [edit]
Concertino de Camera (1946), for harpsichord & small ensembleMountain Song (1948), for flute/oboe/violin/cello & pianoDance Suite (1949), for two pianosSicilienne (1950), for two pianosViolin Sonata (1954), for violin & pianoEleven Studies for Eleven Players (1959–60), for large ensembleTrio (1960), for flute, cello & pianoLovers (1964), for harpsichord, oboe, cello & percussionDay Music (1971), for violin & pianoNight Music (1972), for violin & pianoSolemn Prelude (1973), for eleven brassBook of Hours (1975), for flute & harpRomeo and Juliet (1977), for flute & guitarThree Slow Pieces (1978), for cello & pianoWhales, Weep Not! (1978), for flute & pianoWinter Pages (1981), for clarinet, bassoon, violin, cello & pianoPicnic on the Marne (1983), for alto saxophone & pianoDances (1984), for cello & pianoSeptet Scenes from Childhood (1984–85), for oboe, horn, piano & string quartetThe End of Summer (1985), for violin, clarinet & pianoBright Music (1987), for flute, two violins, cello & pianoFanfare and Flourish (1988), for two trumpets, two trombones & organDiversions (1990), for brass quintetSpring Music (1990), for piano trioString Quartet No. 3 (1991)Songs of Sadness (1994), for voice, guitar, cello & clarinetString Quartet No. 4 (1994)Six Variations (1995), for two pianos - four handsAutumn Music (1996–97), for violin & pianoAn Oboe Book (1999), for oboe & pianoCries and Whispers (2000), for trumpet & pianoNine Episodes for Four Players (2001), for clarinet, violin, cello & pianoUnited States - Seven Viewpoints (2001), for string quartetPas de Trois (2002), for oboe, violin & pianoThe Unquestioned Answer (2002), for flute, two violins, cello & pianoFour Colours (2003), for clarinet & pianoYesterday, Today and Tomorrow (2004), for piano quartetFour Prayers (2006), for flute & pianoNocturne (2007), for double bass & pianoA Little Fantasy (2008), for cello & pianoVocal [edit]
Two Poems of Edith Sitwell (1948), for medium-high voice & pianoRequiem (1948), for voice & pianoFrom an Unknown Past (1950), for voice & piano/orchestraCycle of Holy Songs (1951), for voice & pianoFlight for Heaven (1952), song-cycle for voice & pianoFour Dialogues (1953–54), for soprano, tenor & two pianosThree Poems for Demetrios Capetanakis (1954), for voice & pianoPoèmes pour la paix (1953/56), for medium voice & stringsFive Poems of Walt Whitman (1957), for voice & pianoTwo Poems of Theodore Roethke (1959) for voice & pianoKing Midas (1961), cantata for voice(s) & pianoFour Poems of Tennyson (1963), for voice & pianoPoems of Love and the Rain (1963), song-cycle for mezzo-soprano & pianoSun (1966), for high voice & orchestraSome Trees (1968), for soprano, mezzo-soprano, bass-baritone & pianoWar Scenes (1969), for medium-low voice & pianoGloria (1970), for two solo voices & pianoAriel (1971), for soprano, clarinet & pianoLast Poems of Wallace Stevens (1971–72), for voice, cello & pianoSerenade on Five English Poems (1975), for mezzo-soprano, violin, viola & pianoWomen's Voices (1975–76), for soprano & pianoSanta Fe Songs (1980), for baritone, string trio & pianoAfter Long Silence (1982), for soprano, oboe & stringsThree Calamus Poems (1982), for baritone & pianoThe Schuyler Songs (1987), for soprano & orchestraThe Auden Poems (1989), for tenor & piano trioSwords and Plowshares (1990), for solo voices & orchestraMy Sad Captains (1995), for soprano, alto, tenor, bass & pianoEvidence of Things Not Seen (1997), thirty-six songs for soprano, alto, tenor, baritone & pianoAnother Sleep (2000), song-cycle for medium voice & pianoTwo Sermons (2001), for voice, clarinet, violin, double bass & pianoAftermath (2001–02), song-cycle for baritone, violin, cello & pianoSound the Flute (2004), for high voice, recorder & pianoEleven Songs for Susan (2007), for mezzo-soprano & chamber orchestraThree Poems of Edna St. Vincent Millay (2007), for voice & pianoSongs Old and New (2008), for soprano & orchestraFour Sonnets of Shakespeare (2008), for tenor & pianoSonnet 144 (Two Loves I Have) (2010), for soprano, mezzo-soprano & pianoSelected songs [edit]
[All with piano accompaniment, except where stated otherwise.]
Alleluia (1946)Spring and Fall (1946)Spring (1947)Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening (1947)The Lordly Hudson (1947)Echo's Song (1948)Little Elegy (1949)Rain in Spring (1949)The Silver Swan (1949)The Sleeping Palace (1949)What If Some Little Pain (1949)Julia's Clothes (1950)Lullaby of the Woman of the Mountain (1950)To the Willow Tree (1950)Love in a Life (1951)O Do Not Love Too Long (1951)The Call (1951)The Nightingale (1951)To a Young Girl (1951)A Christmas Carol (1952)Clouds (1953)Cradle Song (1953)For Susan (1953)In a Gondola (1953)Love (1953)Ode (1953)Pippa's Song (1953)Sally's Smile (1953)Song for a Girl (1953)The Tulip Tree (1953)The Midnight Sun (1953)Early in the Morning (1954)Youth, Day, Old Age and Night (1954)I Am Rose (1955)I Will Always Love You (1955)See How They Love Me (1956)What Sparks and Wiry Cries (1956)Conversation (1957)Gliding O'er All (1957)Gods (1957)Look Down, Fair Moon (1957)O You to Whom I Often and Silently Come (1957)Reconciliation (1957)Sometimes With One I Love (1957)Such Beauty as Hurts to Behold (1957)To You (1957)Visits to St. Elizabeth's (1957)I Strolled Across an Open Field (1959)Memory (1959)My Papa's Waltz (1959)Night Crow (1959)Orchids (1959)Root Cellar (1959)Snake (1959)The Waking (1959)Do I love you more than a day? (1962)Ask Me No More (1963)Far-Far-Away (1963)For Poulenc (1963)Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal (1963)The Sleeping Palace (1963)That Shadow, My Likeness (1963)To You (1970)Trickle Drops (1970)The Serpent (1972)We Never Said Farewell (1975–76)A Journey (1976)Ferry me across the water (1978)From When Cometh Song? (1978)The Dance (1978)Nantucket (1978–79)Go, Lovely Rose (1979)The Dancer (1979)Up-Hill (1979)Back to Life (1980) [accomp. double bass]Sonnet (1980) [accomp. piano quartet]The Sowers (1980) [accomp. piano quartet]The Wintry Mind (1980)Let's Take a Walk (1981)Anna la Bonne (1989)Are You the New Person? (1989)Full of Life Now (1989)I Will Always Love You (1990)A Dream of Nightingales (1992)Their Lonely Betters (1992)Somewhere... (1994)Three Women (1994)Remembrance of Things Past (1998)Chromatic Fantasy (2001)He Will Not Hear (2001)I Never Knew (2001)The End (2003)While Sodom Was Occupied (2004)The Stars Have Not Dealt (2007)A Poison Tree (2007)Death and the Young Man (2007)Wild Nights (2007)Choral [edit]
The Seventieth Psalm (1943), for S.A.T.B. choir & wind ensembleA Sermon on Miracles (1947), for soprano solo, unison choir & stringsFour Madrigals (1947), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choirThree Incantations from a Marionette Tale (1948), for unison choir & pianoFrom an Unknown Past (1950), for S.A.T.B. choir & orchestraI Feel Death... (1953), for three-part a cappella male choirThe Poets' Requiem (1954–55), soprano solo, S.A.T.B. choir & orchestraAll Glorious God (1955), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choirSing, My Soul, His Wondrous Love (1955), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choirMiracles of Christmas (1959), for S.A.T.B. choir & organPrayers and Responses (1960), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choirVirelai (1961), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choirTwo Psalms and a Proverb (1962), for S.A.T.B. choir & string quartetLift up your Heads (The Ascension) (1963), for S.A.T.B. choir, eight wind, nine brass & timpaniLaudemus Tempus Actum (1964), for S.A.T.B. choir & orchestraLetters from Paris (1966), for S.A.T.B. choir & orchestraLove Divine, All Loves Excelling (1966), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choirProper for the Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit (1966), for unison choir & organTruth in the Night Season (1966), for S.A.T.B. choir & organHe Shall Rule from Sea to Sea (1967), for S.A.T.B. choir & organPraises for the Nativity (1970), for soprano, alto, tenor & bass soli, S.A.T.B. choir & organCanticle of the Lamb (1971), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choirCanticles: Sets 1 & 2 (1971–72), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choirFour Hymns (1973), for S.A.T.B. choir & keyboardIn Time of Pestilence (1973), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choirLittle Prayers (1973), for soprano & baritone soli, S.A.T.B. choir & orchestraMissa Brevis (1973), for soprano, alto, tenor & bass soli, & S.A.T.B. choirPrayer to Jesus (1973), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choirThree Motets (1973), for S.A.T.B. choir & organThree Prayers (1973), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choirSurge Illuminare (1977), for S.A.T.B. choir & organThree Choruses for Christmas (1978), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choirGive All to Love (1981), for two-part choir & pianoLittle Lamb, Who Made Thee? (1982), for S.A.T.B. choir & organPraise the Lord, O My Soul (1982), for S.A.T.B. choir & organAn American Oratorio (1983), for tenor solo, S.A.T.B. choir & orchestraMercy and Truth Are Met (1983), for S.A.T.B. choir & organWhitman Cantata (1983), for S.A.T.B. choir, brass ensemble & timpaniPilgrim Strangers (1984), for six a cappella male voicesBefore the Morning Star (1986), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choirHomer (1986), for S.A.T.B. choir & ensembleSeven Motets for the Church Year (1986), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choirThree Poems of Baudelaire (1986), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choirTe Deum (1986–87), for S.A.T.B. choir, two trumpets, two trombones & organFive Armenian Love Songs (1987), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choirThe Death of Moses (1987), for S.A.T.B. choir & organWhat is Pink? (1987), for treble choir & pianoGoodbye My Fancy (1988), for alto & baritone soli, S.A.T.B. choir & orchestraLead Kindly Light (1988), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choirBreathe On Me (1989), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choirLove Alone (1989), for male-voice choir & piano duetChrist is made the sure foundation (1992), for S.A.T.B. choir & organFestival Alleluia (1992), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choirO God, My Heart is Ready (1992), for S.A.T.B. choir & organSpirit Divine (1992), for S.A.T.B. choir & organPresent Laughter (1993), for S.A.T.B. choir, brass quintet & pianoHow Lovely is your Dwelling Place (1994), for S.A.T.B. choir & piano/organExaltabo Te, Domine (1995), for S.A.T.B. choir & keyboardFour Introits (1999), for S.A.T.B. choir & keyboardWe Are the Music Makers (2003), for S.A.T.B. choir & pianoA Song of Hosea (2005), for S.A.T.B. choir & organFour Sonnets (2005), for S.A.T.B. choir & pianoOde to Man (2005), for a cappella S.A.T.B. choirAfternoon on a Hill (2006), for two-part children's choir & pianoTwo Shakespearean Poems (2008), for S.A.T.B. choir & pianoSolo instrumental [edit]
Fantasy and Toccata (1946), for organSonata No. 1 (1948), for pianoA Quiet Afternoon (1948), for pianoBarcarolles (1949), for pianoPastorale (1949), for organSonata No. 2 (1949), for pianoSonata No. 3 (1954), for pianoSpiders (1968), for harpsichordEight Etudes (1975), for pianoA Quaker Reader (1976), for organSky Music (1976), for harpAfter Reading Shakespeare (1980), for celloSuite (1980), for guitarViews from the Oldest House (1981), for organSong and Dance (1986), for pianoFor Shirley (1989), for piano duetOrganbook I. (1989), for organOrganbook II. (1989), for organOrganbook III. (1989), for organSix Pieces (1997), for organ99 Notes for the Millenium (1999), for pianoFor Ben (1999), for pianoRecalling (2003), for pianoSoundpoints (2003), for pianoFor Barbara (2006), for pianoFor Don (2006), for pianoFor Marian (2006), for pianoFor Mary (2006), for pianoFor Rosemary (2006), for piano75 Notes for Jerry (2007), for pianoCurrent/recent projects [edit]
Rorem is currently working on a saxophone concerto for Branford Marsalis. He has just been commissioned - 2010 - to write a piece for clarinet, cello and piano for clarinetist Thomas Piercy. He has recently written Four Sonnets of Shakespeare for tenor Andrew Kennedy, which premières at Wigmore Hall, London on September 27, 2009, and a song-cycle Songs Old and New, written in 2008 for soprano Mary Wilson and premièred by Wilson and the IRIS Chamber Orchestra under Michael Stern in November of last year.
Recordings [edit]
Ned Rorem's works have been extensively recorded. The information below is very scant. For more information, please consult Ned Rorem's own official website in the External Links (below).
Songs of Ned Rorem Susan Graham (mezzo) Malcolm Martineau (piano) Rorem's settings of poems by Paul Goodman, Theodore Roethke, Witter Bynner, Tennyson, Walt Whitman and others. Erato 80222Songs of Ned Rorem with Charles Bressler (tenor) Phyllis Curtin (soprano) Gianna d'Angelo (soprano) Donald Gramm (bass) Regina Sarfaty (mezzo-soprano) Accompanied at the piano by the composerThree Symphonies José Serebrier, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Naxos Records 8.559149"Gotham Ensemble Plays Ned Rorem" Thomas Piercy, clarinet, Rolf Shulte, violin, Judith Olson, piano, Angelina Réaux, soprano, Humbert Lucarelli, oboe, Delores Stevens, piano. Albany Records [1].Day Music, Jaime Laredo (violin), Ruth Laredo (piano); Night Music: Earl Carlyss (violin), Ann Schein (piano). CD, Phoenix USA PHCD123, 1991