Ferde grofe biography of nancy allen

As we celebrate the 50th year of his passing, he might not be a household name. He transformed the Gershwin score, written for two pianos, into a living musical and colorful canvas. I think I have spoken of America in this music simply because America spoke to me, just as it has spoken to you and to every one of us. If I have succeeded in capturing some part of the American musical spirit, I am grateful that I was trained to do so.

But this music is your music, and mine only in the highly technical sense that a copyright has been filed away with my name on it. Always we must realize that there is much more to hear. Our land is rich in music, and if you listen you can hear it right now. This is our music you hear, surging forth, singing up to every one of us.

Her father Bernardt, in turn, was a first-desk cellist with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and her brother Julius was first violinist and concertmaster of the Los Angeles Symphony.

This richly detailed work reveals

Once they returned to Los Angeles, his mother opened a studio and Ferde became proficient on a wide range of instruments, including piano, violin, viola he subsequently became a violist in the LA Symphony , baritone horn, alto horn and cornet. Paul Whiteman and his orchestra in Over the next 30 years he wrote and arranged many works for concert bands, and received commissions for a number of ballets in the s.

He was invited to teach orchestration at the Juilliard Summer School, and he devoted his time to large-scale compositions and guest conducting. His film score for Minstrel Man earned an Academy Award nomination, although his score for the science fiction film, Rocketship X-M , is perhaps better known for its effective use of the theremin.

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