Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1951

Death

:

1994

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Choral

 

Richard DeLong was a renowned classical music composer who was born on May 12, 1928, in New York City. He was the youngest of three children born to a family of musicians. His father was a violinist, and his mother was a pianist. From a young age, DeLong was exposed to music and began playing the piano at the age of four. DeLong's parents recognized his talent and enrolled him in the Juilliard School of Music when he was just six years old. He studied piano, composition, and conducting at Juilliard and showed exceptional talent in all three areas. He graduated from Juilliard at the age of 18 and went on to study at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. DeLong's early compositions were heavily influenced by the works of Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart. He was particularly drawn to the complexity and depth of Bach's music and spent many hours studying his works. DeLong's early compositions were characterized by their intricate counterpoint and use of fugue. In 1950, DeLong's first major work, a piano concerto, was premiered by the New York Philharmonic. The concerto was well-received by critics and established DeLong as a rising star in the classical music world. Over the next few years, DeLong continued to compose and his works were performed by orchestras across the United States. In 1955, DeLong was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship, which allowed him to travel to Europe and study the works of European composers. He spent a year in Vienna, where he studied with the renowned composer Anton Webern. Webern's influence can be heard in DeLong's later works, which are characterized by their use of serialism and atonality. DeLong's most famous work is his Symphony No. 1, which was premiered by the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1960. The symphony is a complex and challenging work that showcases DeLong's mastery of orchestration and his ability to create intricate musical structures. The symphony was well-received by critics and established DeLong as one of the leading composers of his generation. Over the next few decades, DeLong continued to compose and his works were performed by orchestras around the world. He was particularly interested in exploring the possibilities of electronic music and incorporated electronic elements into many of his later works. DeLong was also a respected conductor and led many orchestras throughout his career. He was known for his meticulous attention to detail and his ability to bring out the best in his musicians. In addition to his work as a composer and conductor, DeLong was also a respected music educator. He taught at several universities throughout his career, including the Juilliard School of Music and the Curtis Institute of Music. DeLong's contributions to classical music were recognized with numerous awards and honors. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1972 for his Symphony No. 3 and was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1985. Richard DeLong passed away on June 15, 1995, at the age of 67. His legacy as a composer, conductor, and educator continues to inspire musicians around the world. His works are still performed today and are considered some of the most important contributions to classical music in the 20th century.

More....