Robert Russell (composer) explained

Robert Russell (1933 – March 29, 2020) was an American composer, educator, and broadcaster.

Biography

Russell was born in 1933 in Hempstead, New York.

He received bachelor's and master's degrees in composition from the Manhattan School of Music. After graduation, he served on the faculty of the City University of New York. He then became a classical music broadcaster on WNYC, hosting the "world" classical music program Hands Across The Sea upon the retirement of WNYC's original music director Herman Neuman.^{[1] [2] [3]}

In 1977 he joined the staff of Wisconsin Public Radio and remained there until his retirement in 1995.^[4] He hosted and produced several classical music programs, including Morning Concert, Tonight At 8, and Sunday Afternoon Live from the Elvehjem.^[5]

In 1983 he married Barbara Boehm.^[6]

He died on March 29, 2020 in Madison, Wisconsin.

Legacy

His compositions were performed worldwide, including premieres at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Some of his music was published by Paul Kapp's General Music Publication Company; some published scores and manuscripts have been archived by NYPL's American Music Center. His suite Places for piano 4-hands, which contains extra-musical inspiration and allusions to several New York City locations, has been kept alive in the repertoire by Jean and Kenneth Wentworth,^[7] Weekley & Arganbright^[8] and Rodewald & Morebello. His Abstract No. 2, has been kept alive in the brass repertoire through Wuff Ridd's arrangement for trumpet ensemble.

Selected compositions

• End of May, a "music drama", excerpts of which were performed at Carnegie Recital Hall on April 13, 1965 by Bradley Alexander and Jennie Kallas.^[9]
• So How Does Your Garden Grow? (1965), one-act opera buffa, libretto by Russell.^[10] Premiered March 18, 1966 in Carnegie Hall.^{[11] [12] [13]}
• Places, op. 9, suite for piano 4-hands, dedicated to his niece Helen Clark, premiered Feb 24th at Carnegie Recital Hall by Jean and Kenneth Wentworth^{[14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19]}
• Abstract No. 1, op. 14 for two clarinets and dancer^{[20] [21] [22]}
• Metamorphoses, op. 19 for clarinet alone^[23]
• Sonatinas, op. 23 for trumpet and piano^[24]
• Sonata in one movement for trombone (or horn) and piano, op. 24 (1967)^[25]
• Pan, op. 26 for flute and piano^[26]
• Scherzo, for clarinet and piano
• Abstract No. 2 for two trumpets or horns.^[27] Arranged for trumpet ensemble by Wuff Ridd.^{[28] [29]}
• Duo for flute and piano^[30]
• Brass quintet^[31]
• Woodwind Quintet op. 32^[32]
• A Spring Sampler^[33]
• Symphony for Six: A Percussion Sextet (1971) premiered at Carnegie Hall as part of WNYC's 33rd Annual American Music Festival.^{[34] [35]}
• Dover Beach, song for voice and piano
• Manhattan from my window, song for voice and piano

Notes and References

1. News: 1975-11-15 . Radio . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-10-22 . 0362-4331.
2. News: 1975-11-01 . Radio . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-10-22 . 0362-4331.
3. News: 1976-06-05 . Radio . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-10-22 . 0362-4331.
4. Web site: Woodward . Angela . 2020-05-14 . Remembering WPR Music Host Robert Russell . 2022-10-21 . Wisconsin Public Radio . en.
5. Web site: Robert W. Russell Obituary . 2022-10-21 . www.tributearchive.com . en.
6. News: 1983-12-11 . Barbara Boehm Is Married . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-10-21 . 0362-4331.
7. National Gallery of Art: Twenty-Third American Music Festival . April 15, 1966 . Music Festival program notes . National Gallery of Art.
8. Dreisbach . Kimberly . The Contributions of Dallas Weekley and Nancy Arganbright to Piano Duet Performance and Literature . 2010 . DMA . Oklahoma University .
9. News: Strongin . Theodore . Apr 14, 1965 . Composer Group Unveils Its Work . 34 . . 2022-10-24. .
10. Book: Directory of Operas/musicals for Young Audiences: From Kindergarten Through High School : Performed by Children And/or Adults . 1984 . Central Opera Service . 132 . en.
11. Book: Griffel, Margaret Ross . Operas in English: A Dictionary . 2012-12-21 . Scarecrow Press . 978-0-8108-8325-3 . en.
12. Book: Summers, W. Franklin . Operas in One Act: A Production Guide . 1996 . Scarecrow Press . 978-0-8108-3222-0 . en.
13. News: March 18, 1966 . Music Notes . 33 . . 2022-10-24. .
14. 1970 . Back Matter . Notes . 27 . 2 . 405 . 896966 . 0027-4380.
15. Book: Russell, Robert . Places: Suite for piano 4 hands . General Music Publishing Co . 1968 . New York, NY . 16840250.
16. Dawes . Frank . 1969 . ... And Duets . The Musical Times . 110 . 1518 . 864–865 . 10.2307/953294 . 953294 . 0027-4666.
17. McGraw . Cameron . 1968 . An Annual Survey: Piano Music for Children . Notes . 25 . 2 . 339–345 . 10.2307/894047 . 894047 . 0027-4380.
18. News: Feb 20, 1966 . Who Makes Music and Where . X14 . . 2022-10-24. .
19. News: Strongin . Theodore . Feb 25, 1966 . Wentworths Make 4-Hand Piano Debut . 25 . . 2022-10-24. .
20. Book: Russell, Robert . Abstracts No. 1 for two clarinets, op. 14 . General Music Publishing Co . 1968 . New York, NY . 10158246.
21. O'Loughlin . Niall . 1968 . Krenek . Ernst . Perle . George . Russell . Robert . Paciorkiewicz . Tadeusz . Zanaboni . Giuseppe . Modern Woodwind . The Musical Times . 109 . 1509 . 1050–1051 . 10.2307/952149 . 952149 . 0027-4666.
22. Web site: American Music Center collection of published scores . 2022-10-22 . archives.nypl.org.
23. Book: Russell, Robert . Metamorphoses: for clarinet alone . 1968 . General Music ; Boston Music . New York : Boston, Mass.
24. Book: Russell, Robert . Sonatina, for trumpet and piano, op 23 . 1968 . General Music Pub. Co.; [sole selling agent: Boston Music Co., Boston] . New York.
25. Book: Russell, Robert . Sonata in one movement: for trombone (or horn) and piano, op. 24 . General Music Publishing Co . 1969 . New York, NY . 5303972.
26. Book: Russell, Robert . Pan: for flute & piano . 1968 . General Music Pub. Co. ; Sole selling agent, Boston Music Co . New York : Boston.
27. O'Loughlin . Niall . 1968 . Stravinsky . Igor . Russell . Robert . Evans . Robert . Stoker . Richard . Barber . Samuel . Modern Brass . The Musical Times . 109 . 1509 . 1050 . 10.2307/952148 . 952148 . 0027-4666.
28. Trumpet ensemble composition and arranging: applications, strategies, and current composer perspectives . May 2018 . Thesis . en . Robert . Luther.
29. Web site: Abstracts No. 2 for 4 trumpets & 2 flugelhorns . 2022-10-22 . Wiff Rudd . en-US.
30. 1971 . Back Matter . Notes . 28 . 2 . 363 . 940432 . 0027-4380.
31. Book: Alumni composition concert . 1975 . Chiandusse . Richard S. . Lorini . Joseph . Martin . Jean Frazier . Leon . Jay . Mignone . John . Deaver . Susan Elizabeth . Kriegler . Mitchell . Volckhausen . Lee . Shepley . Maryellen.
32. Sprung . David . 1973 . Review of Quintet for Winds; Woodwind Quintet; Woodwind Quintet, op. 32; Pentagram for Woodwind Quintet; Zeachis Hafis, Quintetto 67 für Flöte, Oboe, Klarinette in B, Horn in F und Fagott . Notes . 29 . 3 . 550–551 . 10.2307/896469 . 896469 . 0027-4380.
33. Book: Office, Library of Congress Copyright . Catalog of Copyright Entries. Third Series: 1964: January-June . 1967 . Copyright Office, Library of Congress . 751 . en.
34. Book: Concert of March 16, 1972 . 1972 . Manhattan School of Music . Price . Paul . Korf . Anthony . Lyman . Thomas . Sallier . Robert . Varèse . Edgard . Russell . Robert . Kraft . William . Ernst . David.
35. Web site: WNYC American Music Festival . 2022-10-21 . www.carnegiehall.org.