Role

:

Composer  

Birth

:

March 17, 1920 in Oak Park, IL

Death

:

April 29, 2013

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Vocal

 

John La Montaine was an American composer and pianist who was born on March 28, 1920, in Oak Park, Illinois. He was the youngest of three children and grew up in a musical family. His father was a violinist and his mother was a pianist, and both of his siblings were also musicians. La Montaine began playing the piano at a young age and showed a natural talent for music. He studied with several prominent teachers, including Alexander Raab and Rudolph Ganz. He also attended the Juilliard School in New York City, where he studied composition with William Schuman and Vincent Persichetti. La Montaine's early compositions were influenced by the neoclassical style of Stravinsky and Hindemith. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1959 for his Piano Concerto No. 1, which was premiered by the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Leonard Bernstein. The concerto is a virtuosic work that showcases La Montaine's skill as a pianist and his ability to write for orchestra. In addition to his work as a composer, La Montaine was also a respected pianist. He performed his own works as well as those of other composers, and he was known for his sensitive and expressive playing. He recorded several albums of his music, including a series of solo piano works for the Albany Records label. La Montaine's music is characterized by its lyricism, clarity, and emotional depth. He often used traditional forms and structures in his compositions, but he also experimented with new techniques and styles. His works range from solo piano pieces to large-scale orchestral works, and he wrote in a variety of genres, including opera, ballet, and chamber music. One of La Montaine's most famous works is his Symphony No. 1, which was premiered by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1952. The symphony is a powerful and dramatic work that showcases La Montaine's skill as an orchestrator. It is divided into three movements, each of which explores a different mood and theme. La Montaine also wrote several operas, including The Shephard's Christmas, which was premiered by the New York City Opera in 1954. The opera is based on a play by Thornton Wilder and tells the story of a group of shepherds who witness the birth of Jesus. It is a charming and whimsical work that showcases La Montaine's skill as a storyteller. In addition to his work as a composer and pianist, La Montaine was also a respected teacher. He taught at several universities, including the University of Illinois and the University of Southern California. He was known for his dedication to his students and his ability to inspire them to reach their full potential. La Montaine continued to compose and perform throughout his life, and he remained active in the music community until his death on April 29, 2013, at the age of 93. His legacy as a composer and pianist lives on through his recordings and the many musicians he inspired and taught over the course of his career.

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