Ned Rorem was an American composer and writer of contemporary classical music. Rorem was best known for his art songs, which number over 500. He was the leading American writer of the genre in his time. His other work included operas, concerts, piano music as well as choral chamber and orchestral work. He was a pure talent, he won so many awards including the Pulitze Prize for Music in 1976, for his Air Music: Ten Etudes for Orchestra.
Rorem attended University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. Hi... moreNed Rorem was an American composer and writer of contemporary classical music. Rorem was best known for his art songs, which number over 500. He was the leading American writer of the genre in his time. His other work included operas, concerts, piano music as well as choral chamber and orchestral work. He was a pure talent, he won so many awards including the Pulitze Prize for Music in 1976, for his Air Music: Ten Etudes for Orchestra.
Rorem attended University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. His love for music was natured by his parents as they used to go to concerts of famous pianist like Josef Hoffman. He started learning piano in his youth having professional lessons from the age of 12 and he kept improving as he got lessons from various famous teachers. Rorem added to his music knowledge by attending the School of Music of North-western University, studying music theory as well at a different institute.
Rorem had strong interests in literature, and this aided him in his song writing as he wrote incidental music, ballet music and puppet show music. One of his songs that grabbed attention was The Lordly Hudson on a poem by Goodman, winning the Music Library Association’s best published song of the year award in 1948. In the same year he won a Gershwin Prize, for his orchestral Overture in C and it was premiered by the New York Philharmonic under Mishel Piastro.
Rorem also taught at his alma mater, the Curtis Institute. He authored books like Music from Inside Out published in 1967. Rorem died at the age of 99 at his home in Manhattan.
