Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

February 12, 1928 in Newark, NJ

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Orchestral

 

James Cohn was an American composer of classical music, born on August 24, 1928, in New York City. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a violinist and his mother a pianist. Cohn began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the violin and viola. He attended the Juilliard School of Music in New York City, where he studied composition with Vincent Persichetti and Aaron Copland. Cohn's early compositions were influenced by the neoclassical style of Stravinsky and the twelve-tone technique of Schoenberg. He also drew inspiration from jazz and popular music, incorporating elements of these genres into his works. Cohn's music is characterized by its rhythmic vitality, harmonic complexity, and melodic lyricism. Cohn's first major work was his Symphony No. 1, which he composed in 1952. The symphony was premiered by the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Leonard Bernstein. The work received critical acclaim and established Cohn as a promising young composer. In the 1950s and 1960s, Cohn continued to compose orchestral works, including his Symphony No. 2, which was premiered by the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1960. He also wrote chamber music, including his String Quartet No. 1, which was premiered by the Juilliard String Quartet in 1956. Cohn's music began to receive international recognition in the 1970s and 1980s. He was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1972 and a Fulbright Fellowship in 1974. He also received commissions from major orchestras and ensembles, including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Cohn's later works continued to explore a wide range of musical styles and techniques. He wrote several operas, including The Dybbuk, which was premiered by the New York City Opera in 1984. He also composed music for ballet, including his ballet score for The Tempest, which was premiered by the American Ballet Theatre in 1988. Cohn's music is notable for its emotional depth and expressive power. His works often explore themes of love, loss, and redemption, and are characterized by their rich harmonies and lush orchestration. Cohn's music has been described as "accessible yet complex, modern yet timeless." Cohn continued to compose music until his death on December 15, 2016, at the age of 88. His legacy as a composer and educator continues to inspire generations of musicians and music lovers.

More....