Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1906

Death

:

1979

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Willson Osborne was an American composer and pianist who was born on August 25, 1906, in Waco, Texas. He was the youngest of three children born to a family of musicians. His father, John Osborne, was a violinist and conductor, and his mother, Lillian Osborne, was a pianist and music teacher. Willson showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of four. Osborne's family moved to Dallas when he was six years old, and he continued his musical education under the guidance of his mother. He also studied with several other teachers, including the composer and pianist Arthur Friedheim, who had been a student of Franz Liszt. Friedheim recognized Osborne's talent and encouraged him to pursue a career in music. In 1924, Osborne enrolled at the Juilliard School in New York City, where he studied piano with Josef Lhévinne and composition with Bernard Wagenaar. He graduated in 1928 with a diploma in piano performance and a certificate in composition. After graduation, he returned to Texas and began teaching at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Osborne's early compositions were influenced by the music of Debussy, Ravel, and Stravinsky. He also drew inspiration from American folk music and jazz. His first major work, the Piano Sonata No. 1, was premiered in 1930 by the pianist Egon Petri. The sonata was well-received and established Osborne as a promising young composer. In 1932, Osborne moved to New York City and began working as a freelance composer and pianist. He became associated with a group of composers known as the "American Five," which also included Aaron Copland, Roy Harris, Virgil Thomson, and Walter Piston. The group shared a commitment to creating a distinctively American style of classical music. Osborne's most famous work is the Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, which he composed in 1944. The piece was commissioned by the pianist William Kapell and premiered by Kapell and the Boston Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Serge Koussevitzky. The Rhapsody is a virtuosic showcase for the piano, with a lively and rhythmic first movement, a lyrical second movement, and a lively and energetic finale. Osborne's other notable works include the Symphony No. 3, which was premiered by the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Leonard Bernstein in 1951, and the Piano Concerto No. 2, which was premiered by the pianist John Ogdon and the London Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Colin Davis in 1968. He also wrote several chamber works, including a String Quartet, a Piano Trio, and a Sonata for Violin and Piano. In addition to his work as a composer, Osborne was also a respected pianist. He performed his own works as well as the works of other composers, and he was known for his virtuosic technique and expressive playing. He recorded several albums of his own music, including a recording of the Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra with the composer as soloist. Osborne was a dedicated teacher and mentor to many young composers and pianists. He taught at several universities, including the University of Michigan, the University of Southern California, and the University of Texas at Austin. He also served as a visiting professor at several other institutions, including the Juilliard School and the Eastman School of Music. Willson Osborne died on March 18, 1979, in New York City. He left behind a legacy of innovative and expressive music that continues to be performed and admired today.

More....