Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

Morton Gould & His Orchestra was a classical music ensemble that was founded in 1946 by the American composer and conductor Morton Gould. The ensemble was known for its innovative programming and its ability to blend classical and popular music styles. Morton Gould was born in Richmond Hill, New York in 1913. He showed an early aptitude for music and began composing at the age of six. He studied at the Institute of Musical Art (now the Juilliard School) and later at the New York College of Music. In 1934, he joined the staff of radio station WOR in New York City, where he worked as a pianist, arranger, and conductor. Gould's career as a composer and conductor took off in the 1940s. He composed music for films, television, and the concert hall, and he conducted many of his own works with major orchestras around the world. In 1946, he founded Morton Gould & His Orchestra as a way to showcase his own music and to explore new musical styles. The ensemble's main members were drawn from the ranks of New York's top studio musicians. They included such notable players as trumpeter Doc Severinsen, saxophonist Al Cohn, and drummer Don Lamond. The orchestra's repertoire was eclectic, ranging from classical works by Bach and Beethoven to popular songs by Gershwin and Porter. One of the highlights of Morton Gould & His Orchestra's early career was their performance at the 1947 Newport Jazz Festival. The ensemble played a program of Gould's own compositions, including his popular "Boogie Woogie Etude." The performance was a critical and popular success, and it helped to establish Gould as a leading figure in the world of classical music. Over the years, Morton Gould & His Orchestra continued to perform and record a wide variety of music. They made numerous recordings for RCA Victor, including albums of Gould's own compositions, as well as works by other composers. They also performed on television and in concert halls around the world. One of the orchestra's most notable performances was their 1957 concert at Carnegie Hall, which featured the world premiere of Gould's "Latin-American Symphonette." The work was a fusion of classical and Latin American music styles, and it was an instant hit with audiences and critics alike. The concert was recorded and released as an album, which became one of the orchestra's best-selling recordings. Morton Gould & His Orchestra also received numerous awards and honors over the years. In 1966, they won a Grammy Award for their recording of Gould's "West Point Symphony." Gould himself was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1995, in recognition of his lifetime of musical achievements. Despite their success, Morton Gould & His Orchestra disbanded in the 1980s, as Gould's health began to decline. Gould passed away in 1996, but his legacy as a composer and conductor lives on. His music continues to be performed and recorded by orchestras around the world, and his innovative approach to blending classical and popular music styles has influenced generations of musicians.

More....