Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

December 3, 1914 in Boston, MA

Death

:

August 23, 1962 in Boston, MA

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Vocal

 

Irving Fine was an American composer of classical music who was born on December 3, 1914, in Boston, Massachusetts. He was the youngest of three children born to Russian-Jewish immigrants. His father was a tailor, and his mother was a homemaker. Fine showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of six. He attended Boston Latin School, where he was a member of the school's orchestra and chorus. After graduating from high school, Fine attended Harvard University, where he studied music with Walter Piston and Edward Burlingame Hill. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1937 and went on to study composition with Nadia Boulanger in Paris. While in Paris, Fine met and became friends with other American composers, including Aaron Copland and Virgil Thomson. Fine returned to the United States in 1939 and began teaching at Harvard University. He also began composing music, and his early works were influenced by the neoclassical style of Stravinsky and the French composers he had studied with in Paris. In 1940, Fine married his wife, Esther, and they had two children together. During World War II, Fine served in the United States Army, where he worked as a radio operator and a composer for the Army Air Forces. After the war, he returned to Harvard and continued to teach and compose music. In 1952, he was appointed the Walter W. Naumburg Professor of Music at Brandeis University, where he taught until his death in 1962. Fine's music is characterized by its clarity, elegance, and emotional depth. He was a master of counterpoint and often used complex rhythms and harmonies in his compositions. His works include orchestral pieces, chamber music, vocal music, and music for the stage. One of Fine's most famous works is his Symphony, which he composed in 1962, the year of his death. The Symphony is a three-movement work that is both lyrical and dramatic. The first movement is a lively and rhythmic scherzo, while the second movement is a slow and contemplative adagio. The final movement is a fast and energetic allegro that brings the symphony to a thrilling conclusion. Another notable work by Fine is his Notturno for Strings and Harp, which he composed in 1951. The Notturno is a hauntingly beautiful piece that features lush harmonies and a soaring melody. It has become one of Fine's most popular works and is often performed by orchestras around the world. Fine also composed several works for the stage, including the opera The Childhood of Christ, which he wrote in 1955. The opera tells the story of the birth of Jesus from the perspective of the children of Bethlehem. It features a cast of children's voices and is set to a score that is both playful and reverent. In addition to his work as a composer, Fine was also a respected music educator. He was known for his dedication to his students and his ability to inspire them to achieve their full potential. Many of his students went on to become successful composers and performers in their own right. Irving Fine died on August 23, 1962, at the age of 47. His death was a great loss to the world of classical music, but his legacy lives on through his music and the many students he inspired. Today, Fine is remembered as one of the most important American composers of the 20th century, and his music continues to be performed and admired by audiences around the world.

More....