Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1903

Death

:

1985

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Film

 

 

Orchestral

 

Jacques Press was an American composer and conductor who was born on June 27, 1903, in New York City. He was the son of Russian immigrants and grew up in a musical family. His father was a violinist and his mother was a pianist, and they encouraged their son's interest in music from an early age. Press began his musical studies at the age of six, studying piano with his mother and violin with his father. He later studied composition with Rubin Goldmark and conducting with Albert Stoessel at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City. In 1924, Press joined the United States Marine Band as a violinist and later became the band's conductor. He served in this position for 25 years, during which time he composed many works for the band, including marches, overtures, and other pieces. One of Press's most famous works is his "American Salute," which is based on the folk song "When Johnny Comes Marching Home." The piece was first performed by the Marine Band in 1943 and has since become a staple of the band's repertoire. In addition to his work with the Marine Band, Press also composed music for other ensembles, including orchestras, wind bands, and chamber groups. His works are known for their tuneful melodies, rhythmic vitality, and colorful orchestration. Some of Press's other notable works include his "Symphony No. 1," which was premiered by the National Symphony Orchestra in 1950, and his "Concerto for Piano and Orchestra," which was premiered by the pianist Eugene List and the National Symphony Orchestra in 1953. Press was also a respected conductor, and he led many orchestras and bands throughout his career. He was particularly known for his interpretations of the music of George Gershwin, and he conducted the premiere of Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess" with the National Symphony Orchestra in 1951. In addition to his work as a composer and conductor, Press was also a dedicated educator. He taught at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore and at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He also served as a guest conductor and lecturer at many universities and music schools throughout the United States. Press received many honors and awards throughout his career, including the Legion of Merit from the United States Marine Corps and the Gold Medal of the National Institute of Arts and Letters. He died on December 10, 1983, in Washington, D.C., at the age of 80. Today, Jacques Press is remembered as one of the most important American composers of the 20th century. His music continues to be performed and recorded by orchestras and bands around the world, and his legacy as a composer, conductor, and educator lives on.

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