Composer. His more than 60 year career will probably be best remembered for his role in the development of American chamber music. Raised initially in Brooklyn, he moved to California with his Russian immigrant family at age nine. After study at Los Angeles City College with Ernst Toch, he was recommended to Arnold Schoenberg; while enrolled in graduate school at the University of California, Berkeley, he won the 1942 George Ladd Prix de Paris, but was to see his muscical studies interrupted by World War II. He returned to Berkeley after three years of US military service, then moved on to Mills College, Oakland, California, in 1954. Kirchner's greatest impact as a teacher came during his 28 year professorship at Harvard (from which he retired in 1989); he trained such current notables as Lynn Chang and Yo-Yo Ma, while conducting the Harvard Chamber Orchestra with a number of leading guest artists, such as pianist Peter Serkin. His own compositions reflect the influence of his mentor Schoenberg, though he never fully adopted that artist's 12-tone format; Kirchner's four string quartets, published between 1950 and 2006 provide a concise portrait of evolving musical styles, with the third (from 1966) earning him the Pulitzer Prize. He also produced a number of larger works, with the 1953 Piano Concerto #1 winning the Naumberg Award, and "Music for Cello and Orchestra" (1992) garnering the Friedheim Award. His one venture into opera failed; he spent 18 years on "Lily" (adapted from the Saul Bellow novel "Henderson the Rain King), but the 1977 New York City Opera premiere was poorly received, and the piece has never been revived. Kirchner continued work almost to the end of his life, with his final published work, "The Forbidden", appearing in 2008. He died after an extended illness. Of his approach to art he said: "Music is a science, but a science that must make people laugh and dance and sing."
Composer. His more than 60 year career will probably be best remembered for his role in the development of American chamber music. Raised initially in Brooklyn, he moved to California with his Russian immigrant family at age nine. After study at Los Angeles City College with Ernst Toch, he was recommended to Arnold Schoenberg; while enrolled in graduate school at the University of California, Berkeley, he won the 1942 George Ladd Prix de Paris, but was to see his muscical studies interrupted by World War II. He returned to Berkeley after three years of US military service, then moved on to Mills College, Oakland, California, in 1954. Kirchner's greatest impact as a teacher came during his 28 year professorship at Harvard (from which he retired in 1989); he trained such current notables as Lynn Chang and Yo-Yo Ma, while conducting the Harvard Chamber Orchestra with a number of leading guest artists, such as pianist Peter Serkin. His own compositions reflect the influence of his mentor Schoenberg, though he never fully adopted that artist's 12-tone format; Kirchner's four string quartets, published between 1950 and 2006 provide a concise portrait of evolving musical styles, with the third (from 1966) earning him the Pulitzer Prize. He also produced a number of larger works, with the 1953 Piano Concerto #1 winning the Naumberg Award, and "Music for Cello and Orchestra" (1992) garnering the Friedheim Award. His one venture into opera failed; he spent 18 years on "Lily" (adapted from the Saul Bellow novel "Henderson the Rain King), but the 1977 New York City Opera premiere was poorly received, and the piece has never been revived. Kirchner continued work almost to the end of his life, with his final published work, "The Forbidden", appearing in 2008. He died after an extended illness. Of his approach to art he said: "Music is a science, but a science that must make people laugh and dance and sing."
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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