Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

July 23, 1916 in St. Louis, MO

Death

:

June 16, 1979 in New York City, NY

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Symphony

 

 

Vocal

 

Ben Weber was an American composer of classical music who was born on January 22, 1916, in St. Louis, Missouri. He was the son of a violinist and a pianist, and his parents encouraged him to pursue music from a young age. Weber began studying the piano at the age of six and later took up the clarinet and saxophone. He attended Washington University in St. Louis, where he studied composition with Max Wald and earned a bachelor's degree in music in 1937. After completing his undergraduate studies, Weber moved to New York City to study with Aaron Copland at the New School for Social Research. Copland was a major influence on Weber's early work, and the two composers remained close friends throughout their lives. Weber also studied with Roger Sessions and Stefan Wolpe, both of whom had a significant impact on his compositional style. Weber's early works were heavily influenced by the neoclassical style of Copland and Stravinsky, but he soon began to develop his own unique voice. His music was characterized by its rhythmic complexity, dissonant harmonies, and use of serial techniques. Weber was also interested in incorporating elements of jazz and popular music into his compositions, and he often used unconventional instruments and extended techniques to create new sounds. One of Weber's most significant early works was his Symphony No. 1, which he composed in 1940. The piece was premiered by the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Artur Rodzinski, and it received critical acclaim for its innovative use of rhythm and harmony. Weber continued to compose orchestral works throughout his career, including his Symphony No. 2, which was premiered by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1951. In addition to his orchestral works, Weber also composed a number of chamber music pieces, including his String Quartet No. 1, which was premiered by the Juilliard String Quartet in 1951. He also wrote several works for solo instruments, including his Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, which was premiered by Benny Goodman in 1945. Weber was also a prolific composer of vocal music, and he wrote a number of choral works and art songs throughout his career. One of his most famous vocal works is his cantata The Legend of King Arthur, which was premiered by the New York Philharmonic in 1952. The piece features a narrator, soloists, and chorus, and it tells the story of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Throughout his career, Weber was recognized for his contributions to the field of classical music. He received numerous awards and honors, including a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1951 and a commission from the Koussevitzky Music Foundation in 1953. He also served as a professor of music at Columbia University from 1949 to 1961 and at the University of Maryland from 1961 to 1981. Weber continued to compose music until his death on June 26, 1979, in Great Neck, New York. His legacy lives on through his innovative and influential compositions, which continue to be performed and studied by musicians and scholars around the world.

More....