Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

November 17, 1919 in Philadelphia, PA

Death

:

December 2, 1981 in Danbury, CT

Genre

:

Ballet

 

 

Opera

 

Hershy Kay was an American composer and arranger who made significant contributions to the world of classical music. Born on February 22, 1919, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Kay grew up in a musical family. His father was a violinist, and his mother was a pianist. Kay began playing the piano at a young age and showed a natural talent for music. Kay's formal music education began at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he studied composition with Rosario Scalero and conducting with Fritz Reiner. After graduating from Curtis, Kay moved to New York City, where he began working as a freelance arranger and composer. Kay's early career was marked by his work as an arranger for some of the biggest names in popular music. He worked with artists such as Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, and Glenn Miller, arranging their music for big band orchestras. Kay's arrangements were known for their innovative use of harmony and rhythm, and he quickly gained a reputation as one of the most talented arrangers in the business. In the 1940s, Kay began to focus more on classical music. He worked as an arranger for the New York City Ballet, where he collaborated with choreographer George Balanchine on several productions. Kay's arrangements for the ballet were praised for their ability to capture the essence of the music while also enhancing the dance. Kay's most famous work for the New York City Ballet was his arrangement of George Gershwin's "An American in Paris." Kay's arrangement, which included additional music by Gershwin, was a huge success and helped to establish Kay as a major figure in the world of classical music. In addition to his work with the New York City Ballet, Kay also worked as an arranger for the New York Philharmonic and the Boston Pops Orchestra. He arranged music for several Hollywood films, including "The Great Caruso" and "The Band Wagon." Kay's own compositions were heavily influenced by his work as an arranger. He was known for his use of jazz and popular music elements in his classical compositions, which gave his music a unique and modern sound. Kay's most famous composition is his "Three Penny Opera Suite," which was based on the music of Kurt Weill. The suite, which was first performed in 1955, was a critical and commercial success and helped to establish Kay as a major composer in his own right. Kay continued to compose and arrange music throughout his career, working with some of the biggest names in classical music. He was awarded several prestigious awards for his work, including the Guggenheim Fellowship and the Pulitzer Prize for Music. Hershy Kay died on December 2, 1981, in Stamford, Connecticut. His contributions to the world of classical music continue to be celebrated today, and his innovative arrangements and compositions have inspired generations of musicians.

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