Role

:

Composer Performer

Birth

:

January 28, 1936

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Choral

 

Robert Suderburg was an American composer, pianist, and music educator who was born on August 22, 1931, in Los Angeles, California. He was the son of a violinist and a pianist, and his parents encouraged him to pursue music from a young age. Suderburg began playing the piano at the age of four and showed a natural talent for the instrument. Suderburg studied music at the University of Southern California, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in 1953 and a Master of Music degree in 1954. He also studied composition with Ingolf Dahl and Halsey Stevens, two prominent American composers of the time. Suderburg's early compositions were influenced by the neoclassical style of Stravinsky and the serialism of Schoenberg. In 1955, Suderburg won the prestigious Prix de Rome, which allowed him to study composition in Italy for two years. While in Rome, he studied with Goffredo Petrassi, a leading Italian composer of the time. Suderburg's time in Italy had a profound impact on his music, and he began to incorporate elements of Italian folk music and Renaissance polyphony into his compositions. After returning to the United States, Suderburg began a career as a music educator. He taught at several universities, including the University of California, Los Angeles, the University of Michigan, and the University of Oregon. He also served as the director of the School of Music at the University of Oregon from 1976 to 1982. Throughout his career, Suderburg continued to compose music in a variety of styles. His works include orchestral pieces, chamber music, vocal music, and solo piano music. Some of his most notable compositions include his Piano Concerto No. 1, which was premiered by the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1961, and his String Quartet No. 2, which was commissioned by the Juilliard String Quartet in 1968. Suderburg's music is characterized by its use of complex rhythms, intricate counterpoint, and a wide range of tonal colors. He often incorporated elements of jazz and popular music into his compositions, as well as influences from non-Western musical traditions. In addition to his work as a composer and educator, Suderburg was also an accomplished pianist. He performed as a soloist and chamber musician throughout his career, and he recorded several albums of his own music as well as works by other composers. Suderburg received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to music. In 1985, he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and in 1991, he was awarded the Distinguished Teaching Award by the University of Oregon. He also received grants and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the Rockefeller Foundation. Robert Suderburg passed away on December 22, 1997, at the age of 66. His legacy as a composer, pianist, and educator continues to inspire musicians and music lovers around the world.

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