Composer Scrapbook: Samuel Adler

Composer Scrapbook

Samuel Adler

Photos: Adler family archiveSibley Music LibraryDavid Aaron

THEODORE PRESSER COMPANYwww.presser.com

1928born March 4, Mannheim, Germany, to Hugo Adler, Cantor and composer, and

Selma (née Rothschild), a singer

1935 begins violin lessons at the age of seven

1939the family flees Nazi Germany and comes to the

U.S.A. The young Adler was photographed on board the SS Manhattan on January 22nd with other

passengers, who had gathered on deck to see the Statue of Liberty as they entered New York harbor.

1939the family settles in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he continues his violin studies, and eventually joins the Worcester Philharmonic (1942-46)…1945

…where his first orchestral work, Epitaph for the Unknown American Soldier (now

withdrawn) is premiered 1946 becomes a U.S. citizen

1946-48attends Boston University, graduating with a B.Mus. 1948-50

continues studies for M.A. at Harvard University, studying with Walter Piston, Randall Thompson, Paul Hindemith and Irving Fine

1949-50during the summers, studies composition and

conducting with Aaron Copland and Serge Koussevitzky respectively

Copland with Adler at Eastman School of Music, 1974Photo: Louis Ouzer. Used with permission (Sibley Music Library)

1950-52serves in the U.S. Army; founds and conducts

the Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra, and as a result, is awarded a special Army citation for

distinguished service

Photo: Stern, 7th Army

1953moves to Dallas, Texas, where he won the Dallas-University of Texas Prize in and was commissioned to write his Symphony No. 1, which was premiered by the Dallas Symphony under Walter Hendl1957

premiere of Symphony No. 2, also with Dallas and Hendl

1953-66becomes Music Director at Temple Emanu-El, Dallas (1953-66); Music Director of the Dallas Lyric Theater (1954-62); Professor of Composition at the University of North Texas (1956-66)

1963first opera, The Outcasts of Poker Flat,

premieres at Dallas Lyric Theater

1960stwo daughters are born to Sam and first wife, Carol: Deborah (b. 1961), a flutist, and Naomi (b. 1966), a lawyer

1966-95teaches at Eastman School of Music, where he is Chair

of the Music Dept. from 1974 until his retirement, conducts the Eastman Philharmonia

Photo: Louis Ouzer. Used with permission (Sibley Music Library)

1966-73serves as Eastern Regional Director for the

Contemporary Music Project with National Director, Norman Dello Joio 1977

premiere of Nuptial Scene with Addie Etzion, mezzo-soprano, and the Jerusalem Chamber Orchestra

1982The Study of Orchestration is published by Norton;

becomes a standard in college curricula…

1983…and wins the Deems Taylor Award the following year

1984premiere of The Lodge of Shadows (musical drama), an American Indian setting of Orpheus and Euridice,

at Fort Worth Symphony and Ballet

1991marries conductor Emily Freeman Brown

1997Serenata Concertante (with flute, oboe, clarinet,

bassoon, saxophone soloists) is commissioned and premiered by a consortium of several wind ensembles

1997-presentjoins the faculty at the Juilliard School

1999elected to the Berlin Akademie der Künste in Germany for distinguished service to Music

1999the Dallas Symphony, Andrew Litton, conductor,

commissions and premieres Lux Perpetua for Organ and Orchestra, in which Adler celebrates the bright sunshine and perpetual light of the city: “One’s spirit is lifted with

the sunshine. That’s what I feel about Texas, too.”

2001elected a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters

Members’ Dinner, American Academy of Arts and Letters, January 14, 2004.Standing: Olly Wilson, Samuel Adler, Ezra Laderman, Jack BeesonSeated: George Perle, Ned Rorem, Andrew Imbrie Photograph by Benjamin Dimmitt.By permission of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, New York City.© Benjamin Dimmitt

2003presented with the Aaron Copland Award by

ASCAP, for Lifetime Achievement in Music 2005returns to his hometown of Mannheim, Germany, for the premiere of Man lebt nur einmal (darum tanzen wir) by the Nationaltheater-Orchester Mannheim, which is dedicated to the orchestra

2008inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame (located in Cincinnati) during a concert at Juilliard in honor of his 80th birthday. The Juilliard School was also inducted, the medal accepted by Joseph Polisi, President of the School

2009awarded the 2009-10 William Schuman Scholar’s Chair at the Juilliard School

2013currently at work on String Quartet No. 10, scheduled for premiere by the Cassatt Quartet at the 2014 Bowdoin International Music Festival in Brunswick, Maine

Album

L to R: Warren Benson, Krzysztof Penderecki, and Adler at the Eastman School of Music on February 8th, 1972.

Photo: Louis Ouzer. Used with permission (Sibley Music Library)

Taken during “Aram Khatchaturian Week” at the Eastman School of Music, on or around March 4th, 1968.

L to R: Donald Hunsberger (Eastman faculty), translator (unidentified), Aram Khatchaturian, Donald Shetler (Eastman Faculty), Adler.

Photo: Louis Ouzer. Used with permission (Sibley Music Library)

Adler with clarinetist Igor Begelman after a concert at Juilliard celebrating the composer’s

80th birthday, as well as inducting him into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame.

George Rochberg and Adler on March 10, 1974, during a visit to the Eastman School of Music by Mr. Rochberg.

Photo: Louis Ouzer. Used with permission (Sibley Music Library)

Adler with Aaron Copland, during a visit to the Eastman School of Music in the 1970’s.

Photo: Louis Ouzer. Used with permission (Sibley Music Library)

Adler with Vincent Persichetti, during a visit to the Eastman School of Music in October, 1974.

Photo: Louis Ouzer. Used with permission (Sibley Music Library)

L to R: Pierre Boulez, Warren Benson, and Adler on February 17, 1974 during a visit to the Eastman School of Music by Mr. Boulez.

Photo: Louis Ouzer. Used with permission (Sibley Music Library)

Chamber and Solo

Acrostics Four Games for Six Players -- 15’Fl. Ob. Cl. Vln. Vcl. Hpschd.Sale: 114-40876

Arcos Concerto for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon and String Orchestra -- 15’Fl. Ob. Cl. Bsn. Str.Rental

Diary of a Journey Four Snapshots for Flute, Bassoon and Cello -- 20’Sale: 114-40875

Meadowmountetudes Four Etudes for Solo Violin -- 8’Sale: 114-40724

Piano Quintet -- 13’Sale: 114-41123

Choral and Vocal

A Psalm Trilogy for SATB Chorus, a cappella -- 10’Sale: #312-41730

Recalling the Yesterdays -- 17’Mezzo-soprano Fl. Cl. Vn. Vc. Pno. Perc.Sale: 111-40195

Rogues and Lovers -- 18’A Folksong Suite for Chorus and Wind EnsembleRental

Orchestra

Art Creates Artists A Celebration for Orchestra – 2½’3(Picc.) 3(E.H.) 3(B.Cl.) 3 – 4 3 3 1; Timp. 3Perc. Str.Rental

Beyond the Pale A Portrait of a Klezmer for Clarinet and String Orchestra -- 10½’Rental

A Bridge to Understanding A Suite for Orchestra -- 18’3 3 3 2 – 4 3 3 1; Timp. 3Perc. Hp.(opt.) Cel.(opt.) Str.Rental

Concerto “Shir Ha Ma’alot” for Solo Woodwind Quintet -- 20’0 0 0 0 - 4 3 3 1; Timp. 2Perc. Str.Rental

Man lebt nur einmal (darum tanzen wir) Dance Suite for Large Orchestra -- 23’3(Picc.) 3(E.H.) 3(B.Cl.) 3(Cbsn.) - 4 3 3 1; Timp. 3Perc. Hp. 2Vln. Vla. Vcl. Cb.Rental

Show an Affirming Flame A Poem for Orchestra -- 5’2(Picc.) 2 2 2 - 2 2 0 0; Timp. Perc. Str.Rental

Band

Serenata Concertante for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon and Saxophone soli and Wind Ensemble -- 24’Fl. Ob. Cl. Bsn. A.Sax. Soli; 3(Picc.) 2 2(B.Cl.) 2 - 4 3 3 1; Timp. 3Perc. A.Sax.Rental

selected works

THEODORE PRESSER COMPANYwww.presser.com