Role

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Composer Conductor Performer

Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Orchestral

 

Robert Henderson was an American composer and conductor who was born on December 19, 1906, in Detroit, Michigan. He was the son of a Scottish immigrant father and an American mother. Henderson's father was a violinist and a conductor, and his mother was a pianist. From a young age, Henderson was exposed to music and began playing the piano at the age of four. Henderson's musical education began at the Detroit Conservatory of Music, where he studied piano, violin, and composition. He later studied at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he received a Bachelor of Music degree in 1929. Henderson continued his studies at the Juilliard School in New York City, where he studied composition with Bernard Wagenaar and conducting with Albert Stoessel. In 1931, Henderson became the conductor of the Detroit Civic Orchestra, a position he held for three years. He then moved to New York City, where he worked as a freelance conductor and composer. In 1935, he became the conductor of the New York City WPA Symphony Orchestra, a position he held until 1940. Henderson's compositions were influenced by the music of Igor Stravinsky, Paul Hindemith, and Aaron Copland. His early works were characterized by a neoclassical style, but he later moved towards a more modernist style. Henderson's most famous work is his Symphony No. 1, which was premiered by the New York Philharmonic in 1940. The symphony was well-received by critics and established Henderson as a major American composer. Henderson's other notable works include his Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, which was premiered by the pianist William Kapell and the NBC Symphony Orchestra in 1945. He also composed a ballet, "The Triumph of Bacchus," which was premiered by the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in 1949. In addition to his work as a composer, Henderson was also a respected conductor. He conducted many of his own works, as well as the works of other composers. He was a guest conductor with many major orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Henderson was also a teacher and mentor to many young composers. He taught at the Juilliard School, the Manhattan School of Music, and the University of Michigan. His students included composers such as William Bolcom, Leslie Bassett, and Donald Erb. Henderson's career was cut short by his untimely death in 1970 at the age of 63. However, his legacy as a composer and conductor lives on. His music continues to be performed and recorded, and his influence can be heard in the works of many contemporary composers. In conclusion, Robert Henderson was a talented American composer and conductor who made significant contributions to the world of classical music. His neoclassical and modernist compositions, including his Symphony No. 1 and Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, established him as a major American composer. Henderson's work as a conductor and teacher also had a significant impact on the world of classical music. Despite his untimely death, Henderson's legacy continues to inspire and influence musicians today.

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