Role

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Composer

Period

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Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

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Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Vocal

 

Robert Strassburg was an American composer, conductor, and music educator who made significant contributions to the world of classical music. He was born on August 15, 1915, in Brooklyn, New York, to a family of musicians. His father was a violinist, and his mother was a pianist. Strassburg showed an early interest in music and began studying the piano at the age of six. Strassburg's musical education continued at the Juilliard School, where he studied composition with Bernard Wagenaar and conducting with Albert Stoessel. He also studied at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he worked with the renowned composer Samuel Barber. Strassburg's early compositions were influenced by the neoclassical style of Stravinsky and Hindemith, but he later developed his own unique voice. In 1940, Strassburg joined the faculty of the New School for Social Research in New York City, where he taught composition and music theory. He also served as the conductor of the New School Orchestra and the New School Chorus. During this time, he composed several works, including his Symphony No. 1, which was premiered by the New School Orchestra in 1942. In 1943, Strassburg was drafted into the United States Army and served as a bandmaster in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He conducted the 7th Infantry Division Band and wrote several works for military bands, including his March for the 7th Infantry Division. After the war, he returned to the New School and continued to teach and compose. In 1950, Strassburg joined the faculty of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he taught composition and conducting for over 30 years. He also served as the conductor of the UCLA Symphony Orchestra and the UCLA Chorale. During his tenure at UCLA, he composed several works, including his Symphony No. 2, which was premiered by the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1957. Strassburg's music is characterized by its rhythmic vitality, colorful orchestration, and use of folk and popular music elements. His works include orchestral music, chamber music, choral music, and music for the theater. Some of his most notable works include his Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, his String Quartet No. 1, and his opera The Balcony, which was based on the play by Jean Genet. In addition to his work as a composer and educator, Strassburg was also a champion of new music. He founded the Contemporary Music Workshop at the New School in 1941, which provided a platform for young composers to showcase their works. He also served as the director of the Monday Evening Concerts in Los Angeles, which presented new and experimental music by composers such as John Cage, Morton Feldman, and Earle Brown. Strassburg's contributions to the world of classical music were recognized with several awards and honors. He was a recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship, the Fulbright Fellowship, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters Award. He was also elected to the National Institute of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Robert Strassburg passed away on May 17, 2003, at the age of 87. His legacy lives on through his music and the countless students he taught and inspired throughout his career.

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