A Romantic Symphony
The Autobiography of Howard Hanson
Published on 10. December 2024
Book
Hardback
348 pages
978-1-64825-103-0 (ISBN)
Description
Howard Hanson's previously unpublished autobiography is now compiled and edited from manuscript sources, providing valuable insight into the life and work of this important American musician and educator.
Howard Hanson was an American composer, conductor, and educator. Following his retirement as director of the Eastman School of Music, he worked intermittently for about a half-dozen years on an autobiography before abandoning the project. A Romantic Symphony: The Autobiography of Howard Hanson has been compiled and edited from various manuscript sources and now published as a valuable source of information concerning a man of wide influence in the music world of his time.
Although an important composer, it is perhaps as an educator and advocate for American music that he should be most remembered. His early efforts to establish criteria for the Bachelor of Music curriculum and later for the development of a professional doctorate in music were among his most notable achievements. Of equal importance, however, was his support for the work of fellow American composers through his annual American Composers' Concerts and Festivals of American Music, which gave these composers opportunities to hear live performances of their works, often for the first time. Equally significant were Hanson's many recordings of American music that were issued on the RCA Victor, Columbia, and Mercury labels over a period of more than three decades. Hanson's autobiography is an important addition to our knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of this important figure in American music.
Howard Hanson was an American composer, conductor, and educator. Following his retirement as director of the Eastman School of Music, he worked intermittently for about a half-dozen years on an autobiography before abandoning the project. A Romantic Symphony: The Autobiography of Howard Hanson has been compiled and edited from various manuscript sources and now published as a valuable source of information concerning a man of wide influence in the music world of his time.
Although an important composer, it is perhaps as an educator and advocate for American music that he should be most remembered. His early efforts to establish criteria for the Bachelor of Music curriculum and later for the development of a professional doctorate in music were among his most notable achievements. Of equal importance, however, was his support for the work of fellow American composers through his annual American Composers' Concerts and Festivals of American Music, which gave these composers opportunities to hear live performances of their works, often for the first time. Equally significant were Hanson's many recordings of American music that were issued on the RCA Victor, Columbia, and Mercury labels over a period of more than three decades. Hanson's autobiography is an important addition to our knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of this important figure in American music.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Rochester
United States
Publishing group
Boydell & Brewer Ltd
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
36 b/w illus.
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
590 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-64825-103-0 (9781648251030)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
12/2024
University of Rochester Press
€25.00
Available immediately
Persons
VINCENT A. LENTI is professor emeritus of piano and school historian at the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester. HOWARD HANSON (1896-1981) was an American composer, conductor, and educator. He served as director of the Eastman School of Music for forty years (1924-64) and was a winner of the 1944 Pulitzer Prize in music.
Content
List of Figures
Preface
Introduction
1. Bold Island
2. Nebraska
3. Early Years in Wahoo and Lincoln
4. On the Chautauqua Circuit
5. Studying in New York
6. Studying at Northwestern University
7. Teaching at the College of the Pacific
8. Dean of the Conservatory
9. Prix de Rome
10. At the American Academy
11. Travels in Europe and Composing in Rome
12. An Invitation from Rochester
13. Beginnings in Rochester
14. Joseph Maddy and the National Music Camp
15. Finding Time for Composition
16. Conductors and Orchestras
17. Promoting the Cause of American Music
18. Radio Broadcasts and Recordings
19. Concerts at the Library of Congress
20. The Lament for Beowulf and the First Two Symphonies
21. Return to Rome
22. Conducting Concerts in Germany
23. A Commission to Write an Opera
24. The Metropolitan Opera Production of Merry Mount
25. Serious Challenges at the Eastman School
26. The Death of George Eastman and Rush Rhees's Retirement
27. Chautauqua Memories
28. Thoughts on Orchestral Conducting
29. Working for UNESCO
30. Working with University of Rochester Presidents
31. The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers
32. Experiences with Several American Presidents
33. Honorary Doctorates and Other Honors
34. Eastman School Students
35. An Author and a Lecturer
36. An Invitation from the State Department
37. The Eastman Philharmonia Tour (I)
38. The Eastman Philharmonia Tour (II)
39. The Eastman Philharmonia Tour (III)
40. The Eastman Philharmonia Tour (IV)
41. The Eastman Philharmonia Tour (V)
42. The Eastman Philharmonia Tour (VI)
43. Encounters With Various Musicians
44. Composing During the Nineteen-Fifties
45. Reflection at the End of a Long Career
Appendix: Letters from Howard Hanson to His Parents
Index
Preface
Introduction
1. Bold Island
2. Nebraska
3. Early Years in Wahoo and Lincoln
4. On the Chautauqua Circuit
5. Studying in New York
6. Studying at Northwestern University
7. Teaching at the College of the Pacific
8. Dean of the Conservatory
9. Prix de Rome
10. At the American Academy
11. Travels in Europe and Composing in Rome
12. An Invitation from Rochester
13. Beginnings in Rochester
14. Joseph Maddy and the National Music Camp
15. Finding Time for Composition
16. Conductors and Orchestras
17. Promoting the Cause of American Music
18. Radio Broadcasts and Recordings
19. Concerts at the Library of Congress
20. The Lament for Beowulf and the First Two Symphonies
21. Return to Rome
22. Conducting Concerts in Germany
23. A Commission to Write an Opera
24. The Metropolitan Opera Production of Merry Mount
25. Serious Challenges at the Eastman School
26. The Death of George Eastman and Rush Rhees's Retirement
27. Chautauqua Memories
28. Thoughts on Orchestral Conducting
29. Working for UNESCO
30. Working with University of Rochester Presidents
31. The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers
32. Experiences with Several American Presidents
33. Honorary Doctorates and Other Honors
34. Eastman School Students
35. An Author and a Lecturer
36. An Invitation from the State Department
37. The Eastman Philharmonia Tour (I)
38. The Eastman Philharmonia Tour (II)
39. The Eastman Philharmonia Tour (III)
40. The Eastman Philharmonia Tour (IV)
41. The Eastman Philharmonia Tour (V)
42. The Eastman Philharmonia Tour (VI)
43. Encounters With Various Musicians
44. Composing During the Nineteen-Fifties
45. Reflection at the End of a Long Career
Appendix: Letters from Howard Hanson to His Parents
Index