Role

:

Conductor  

Genre

:

Vocal

 

John Langstaff was a renowned classical music artist who dedicated his life to promoting the beauty and importance of traditional folk music. Born on June 24, 1920, in Brooklyn, New York, Langstaff grew up in a family that valued music and the arts. His father, Gordon Langstaff, was a composer and conductor, and his mother, Margaret, was a singer and pianist. Langstaff's love for music began at an early age, and he started playing the piano when he was just four years old. He later learned to play the violin and the cello, and by the time he was a teenager, he was already performing in public. In 1938, Langstaff enrolled at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he studied under the renowned conductor Fritz Reiner. After completing his studies at the Curtis Institute, Langstaff joined the United States Army during World War II. He served as a medic in Europe and was awarded the Bronze Star for his bravery in combat. After the war, Langstaff returned to the United States and began his career as a classical music artist. In the early 1950s, Langstaff became interested in traditional folk music and began to explore this genre. He founded the Revels, a group that performed traditional folk music and dance from around the world. The group quickly gained popularity, and Langstaff became known for his ability to bring traditional music to life and make it accessible to audiences of all ages. One of Langstaff's most significant achievements was the creation of the Christmas Revels, an annual performance that celebrates the winter solstice and features traditional music, dance, and storytelling. The first Christmas Revels was held in 1957 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and it quickly became a beloved holiday tradition. Langstaff continued to direct the Christmas Revels for over 30 years, and the performance has since been replicated in cities across the United States. In addition to the Christmas Revels, Langstaff directed numerous other performances and festivals throughout his career. He was a regular performer at the Newport Folk Festival and the Tanglewood Music Festival, and he also directed the American Dance Festival and the Boston Early Music Festival. Langstaff's contributions to the world of music were recognized with numerous awards and honors throughout his career. In 1982, he was awarded the National Endowment for the Arts' National Heritage Fellowship, which is the highest honor given to traditional artists in the United States. He was also awarded the Bicentennial Medal by the Massachusetts Historical Society in 1991 and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Folklore Society in 1996. Langstaff continued to perform and direct music until his death on December 13, 2005, at the age of 85. His legacy lives on through the Christmas Revels and the many other performances and festivals that he directed throughout his career. He is remembered as a passionate and talented musician who dedicated his life to preserving and promoting traditional folk music.

More....