Composer. His music embraced a more traditional style and direct appeal to listeners. He helped lead the revolt against the serialist techniques of Arnold Schoenberg and his followers, and pioneered what is now called "The New Tonalism" in American Music. Rochberg is probably best-known for his Violin Concerto (1974). It was commissioned by violinist Isaac Stern, who performed it nearly 50 times and recorded it with conductor Andre Previn. He also composed six symphonies, seven string quartets, and an opera, "The Confidence Man". His last major work was the Clarinet Concerto (1996). Born in Paterson, New Jersey, his musical education was interrupted by Army service during World War II; he was wounded in action and received a Purple Heart with an oak-leaf cluster. He later studied at the Curtis Institute and at the University of Pennsylvania. Rochberg's early work was influenced by Schoenberg's 12-tone method and he first achieved fame for his "Night Music" (1953). But the tragic death of his son in 1964 so devastated him that he felt he could not truly express his grief in the style of music he had written up to then. He ultimately rejected serialism root and branch, calling it "finished, hollow and meaningless", and began composing in a more accessible, melodious manner. Rochberg was attacked by many critics, composers and musical academics for his turnabout. "I was accused of betraying, in the following order, the church and the state. I was a traitor, a renegade", he recalled in 2001. Today Rochberg is considered one of the most influential American composers of the last 50 years. He died in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, of complications after surgery on May 2.
Composer. His music embraced a more traditional style and direct appeal to listeners. He helped lead the revolt against the serialist techniques of Arnold Schoenberg and his followers, and pioneered what is now called "The New Tonalism" in American Music. Rochberg is probably best-known for his Violin Concerto (1974). It was commissioned by violinist Isaac Stern, who performed it nearly 50 times and recorded it with conductor Andre Previn. He also composed six symphonies, seven string quartets, and an opera, "The Confidence Man". His last major work was the Clarinet Concerto (1996). Born in Paterson, New Jersey, his musical education was interrupted by Army service during World War II; he was wounded in action and received a Purple Heart with an oak-leaf cluster. He later studied at the Curtis Institute and at the University of Pennsylvania. Rochberg's early work was influenced by Schoenberg's 12-tone method and he first achieved fame for his "Night Music" (1953). But the tragic death of his son in 1964 so devastated him that he felt he could not truly express his grief in the style of music he had written up to then. He ultimately rejected serialism root and branch, calling it "finished, hollow and meaningless", and began composing in a more accessible, melodious manner. Rochberg was attacked by many critics, composers and musical academics for his turnabout. "I was accused of betraying, in the following order, the church and the state. I was a traitor, a renegade", he recalled in 2001. Today Rochberg is considered one of the most influential American composers of the last 50 years. He died in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, of complications after surgery on May 2.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Rochberg memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
