Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

June 4, 1909

Death

:

January 18, 1977

 

Paul Nordoff was an American composer and music therapist who was born on June 28, 1909, in New York City. He was the youngest of three children born to a family of musicians. His father, Carl Nordoff, was a violinist and conductor, and his mother, Lillian Fuchs, was a pianist and composer. Nordoff's siblings, Ralph and Joseph, were also musicians. Nordoff began his musical education at an early age, studying piano with his mother and violin with his father. He later studied composition with Aaron Copland and Walter Piston at Harvard University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1931. He continued his studies at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City, where he earned his Master of Music degree in 1933. After completing his studies, Nordoff worked as a composer and arranger for radio and television programs. He also taught music at various schools and universities, including Columbia University, the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of Pennsylvania. In the 1950s, Nordoff became interested in the field of music therapy, which uses music to help people with physical, emotional, and cognitive disabilities. He began working with Dr. Clive Robbins, a special education teacher, to develop a new approach to music therapy that would be based on improvisation and interaction between the therapist and the client. Together, Nordoff and Robbins developed a method of music therapy that they called the Nordoff-Robbins approach. This approach involves the therapist and the client improvising music together, with the therapist using the client's responses to guide the music-making process. The goal of the therapy is to help the client develop communication, social, and emotional skills through music. Nordoff's work in music therapy had a profound impact on the field, and he became known as one of the pioneers of modern music therapy. He wrote several books on the subject, including "Music Therapy in Action" (1971) and "Creative Music Therapy" (1977). Despite his work in music therapy, Nordoff continued to compose music throughout his life. His compositions include works for orchestra, chamber ensembles, and solo instruments. He also wrote music for films and television programs. One of Nordoff's most famous works is his "Concerto for Piano and Orchestra," which was premiered by the New York Philharmonic in 1949. The concerto is a virtuosic work that showcases the pianist's technical abilities, while also incorporating elements of jazz and popular music. Another notable work by Nordoff is his "String Quartet No. 2," which was premiered by the Juilliard String Quartet in 1953. The quartet is a complex and challenging work that explores the possibilities of the string quartet as a medium for musical expression. In addition to his compositions, Nordoff was also known for his collaborations with other artists. He worked with the dancer and choreographer Martha Graham on several productions, including "Clytemnestra" (1958) and "Acrobats of God" (1960). He also collaborated with the poet and playwright Langston Hughes on the musical "Simply Heavenly" (1957). Nordoff received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the National Medal of Arts in 1987. He died on January 18, 1977, in New York City, at the age of 67. Today, Nordoff's legacy lives on through the Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy at New York University, which was founded in 1996.

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