Role

:

Composer  

Birth

:

December 16, 1910 in Buffalo, NY

Period

:

Baroque

 

 

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Keyboard

 

Robert Noehren was an American classical music artist who was born on August 16, 1910, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was the son of a Lutheran minister and grew up in a musical family. Noehren's father was a skilled organist, and his mother was a pianist. Noehren's musical talent was evident from a young age, and he began playing the piano at the age of four. Noehren's family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, when he was a child, and he continued to study music. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in 1932. He then went on to study at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he earned a Master of Music degree in 1934. After completing his studies, Noehren began his career as a concert organist. He quickly gained a reputation as one of the most talented organists of his generation. He performed extensively throughout the United States and Europe, playing in some of the most prestigious concert halls in the world. One of the highlights of Noehren's career was his performance at the dedication of the new organ at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City in 1954. The organ was the largest in the world at the time, and Noehren's performance was widely praised for its technical skill and musicality. Noehren was also a prolific recording artist. He recorded numerous albums of classical organ music, including works by Bach, Handel, and Mendelssohn. His recordings were widely praised for their technical excellence and musical sensitivity. In addition to his career as a performer, Noehren was also a respected teacher and scholar. He taught at the University of Michigan from 1952 to 1978, where he was the chair of the organ department. He also wrote several books on organ music, including "The Organist's Manual" and "The Art of Organ Building." Noehren received numerous awards and honors throughout his career. In 1964, he was awarded the Prix de Rome by the American Academy in Rome. In 1970, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Richard Nixon. He was also a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the American Philosophical Society. Noehren continued to perform and teach until his death on February 9, 2002, at the age of 91. He left behind a legacy as one of the greatest organists of the 20th century, and his recordings and writings continue to be studied and admired by musicians and scholars around the world.

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