Allen Forte facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Allen Forte
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| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Columbia University |
| Title | Battell Professor Emeritus of the Theory of Music, Yale University |
| Spouse(s) | Madeleine Forte |
| Awards | Guggenheim Fellow |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Yale University Columbia University |
Allen Forte (born December 23, 1926 – died October 16, 2014) was an American music theorist and musicologist. He was a top professor of music theory at Yale University. He was known for studying and understanding atonal music from the 20th century. Atonal music means music that does not have a main key or "home note."
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About Allen Forte
Allen Forte was a very important person in the world of music. He helped us understand how music works, especially newer kinds of music. He taught many students and wrote many books. His ideas are still used by musicians and scholars today.
Early Life and School
Allen Forte was born in Portland, Oregon. When he was only ten years old, he played the piano on a local radio show. He played songs by famous composers like Cole Porter.
Later, he joined the United States Navy and served during World War II. After the war, he moved to New York City. He went to Columbia University where he earned three degrees: a bachelor's, a master's, and a doctorate. At first, he studied how to compose music. But he soon became very interested in music theory, which is the study of how music is put together.
Teaching and Research
In the late 1950s, Forte started teaching music in New York City. He taught at places like Columbia University Teachers College and the Manhattan School of Music. In 1959, he began teaching at Yale University. He stayed at Yale for a long time, becoming a very respected professor. He retired in 2003.
Professor Forte was a great teacher and researcher. He helped many students earn their Ph.D. degrees in music theory. He taught them how to analyze music and understand its structure. He even taught at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for a year. There, he explored how computers could help with music theory.
One of his important students was Jeffrey Brooks.
Awards and Recognition
Allen Forte received many honors for his work. Two special books were created to celebrate his achievements. These books, called Festschriften, included essays from his former students and colleagues. They honored his contributions to music theory.
Personal Life
Allen Forte was married twice. His second wife was Madeleine Forte, who is a talented pianist and a retired professor of piano.
See also
- Forte number
