David Diamond (composer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Diamond
|
|
|---|---|
Portrait of Diamond c. 1987
|
|
| Born | July 9, 1915 Rochester, New York, U.S.
|
| Died | June 13, 2005 (aged 89) Brighton, New York, U.S.
|
| Occupation | Composer |
David Leo Diamond (born July 9, 1915 – died June 13, 2005) was an American composer. He wrote classical music. Many people thought he was one of the best American composers of his time. His music often sounded traditional, using clear melodies and harmonies. Some of his early pieces had a distinct American feel. Later, his music became a bit more complex.
Contents
Life and career
David Diamond was born in Rochester, New York. He studied music at famous schools. These included the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Eastman School of Music. He also learned from important teachers. These teachers included Roger Sessions and Nadia Boulanger. Diamond won many awards for his music. These included three Guggenheim Fellowships.
Diamond's most well-known piece is Rounds (1944). It is written for a group of string instruments. He composed many other types of music too. These included eleven symphonies and several concertos. He also wrote music for violin, string quartets, and wind ensembles. His works also include chamber music, piano pieces, and vocal music.
He composed the main musical theme. This theme was heard on the CBS Radio Network show Hear It Now. It was also used for its TV show, See It Now.
Diamond was named an honorary composer. He worked with the Seattle Symphony. He also taught for a long time at the Juilliard School. Some of his famous students include Kenneth Fuchs and Eric Whitacre. Diamond also advised Glenn Gould on his String Quartet, Op. 1.
In 1995, he received the National Medal of Arts. In 1991, he was given the Edward MacDowell Medal.
David Diamond was very successful in the 1940s and early 1950s. Many famous conductors supported his music. However, in the 1960s and 1970s, new music styles became popular. This made his traditional style less noticed. The New York Times said he was a major American composer. They noted his early success was overshadowed by newer music. He was part of a group of great American symphonists. This group included Howard Hanson and William Schuman. Diamond was also known for being very honest. He would sometimes speak his mind in public.
In 2005, David Diamond died at his home. He passed away in Brighton, Monroe County, New York. He died from heart failure.
Works
Ballet
- TOM (1936)
Orchestra
- Early discarded symphonies (No. 1 from 1933, No. 2 from 1935)
- Symphony No. 1 (1940)
- Symphony No. 2 (1942–1943)
- Symphony No. 3 (1945)
- Symphony No. 4 (1945)
- Symphony No. 5 (1947–1964)
- Symphony No. 6 (1951)
- Symphony No. 7 (1957)
- Symphony No. 8 (1958–1960)
- Symphony No. 9 (1985)
- Symphony No. 10 (1987/2000)
- Symphony No. 11 (1989–1991)
- Concerto for Small Orchestra (1940)
- Psalm (1936)
- Elegy in Memory of Ravel (1937)
- Rounds for String Orchestra (1944)
- Concert Piece for large orchestra (1939)
- Timon of Athens - A Portrait After Shakespeare (1955)
- Music for chamber orchestra
- Overture
- Heroic Piece
- The Enormous Room (1948)
- The World of Paul Klee
Concertante
- Violin Concerto No. 1 (1937)
- Concerto for Small Orchestra (1940)
- Violin Concerto No. 2 (1947)
- Violin Concerto No. 3 (1976)
- Flute Concerto (1986)
- Concerto for String Quartet and Orchestra (1996)
- Piano Concerto
- Piano Concertino
- Cello Concerto
- Kaddish for cello and orchestra (1987)
- Romeo and Juliet (1947)
- Incidental music for Romeo and Juliet (1951)
Wind ensemble
- Tantivy (1988)
- Hearts Music (1989)
Chamber music
- String Quartet No. 1 (1940)
- String Quartet No. 2 (1943–1944)
- String Quartet No. 3 (1946)
- String Quartet No. 4 (1951)
- String Quartet No. 5 (1960)
- String Quartet No. 6 (1962)
- String Quartet No. 7 (1963)
- String Quartet No. 8 (1964)
- String Quartet No. 9 (1965–1968)
- String Quartet No. 10 (1966)
- Concerto for String Quartet (1936)
- String Trio (1937)
- Quintet for Flute, Piano and String Trio (1937)
- Quartet for Piano and String Trio (1936/67)
- Partita for Oboe, Bassoon, and Piano (1935)
- Quintet for Clarinet, 2 Violas and 2 Cellos (1950)
- Piano Trio (1951)
- Wind Quintet (1958)
- Night Music, for Accordion and String Quartet (1961)
- Piano Quartet (1937 rev. 1967)
- Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1 (1943-6)
- Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 2 (1981)
- Canticle for Violin and Piano (1946)
- Perpetual Motion for Violin and Piano (1946)
- Chaconne for Violin and Piano (1948)
- Sonata for Solo Violin
- Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 1
- Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 2 (1987)
- Sonata for Solo cello
- Concert Piece for Horn and String Trio (1978)
- Concert Piece for Flute and Harp (1989)
- Concert Piece for Viola and Piano (1994–95)
- Concerto for Two Solo Pianos (1942)
- Alto Saxophone Sonata
- Nonet for Strings
- Sonatina for Accordion
Piano
- Piano Sonata No. 1 (1947)
- Piano Sonata No. 2 (1971)
- Piano Sonatina No. 1 (1935)
- Piano Sonatina No. 2 (1987)
- Prelude and Fugue No. 1 in C major
- Prelude and Fugue No. 2 in C minor (1939)
- Prelude and Fugue No. 3 in E minor
- Prelude and Fugue No. 4 in C-sharp minor (1939)
- Prelude, Fantasy and Fugue (1983)
- A Myriologue (1935; rev. 1969)
- Gambit (1967)
- Tomb of Melville (1950)
- 8 Piano Pieces
- Album for the Young
- Two Barcarolles (1993)
Vocal
- David Mourns for Absalom (1946); text from II Samuel 18:33
- Vocalises for soprano and viola (1935, revised 1956)
- This Sacred Ground for solo baritone, choir, children's choir and orchestra (1962)
- Prayer for Peace for choir
- Many songs for solo voice with piano
See also
In Spanish: David Diamond para niños
