William Schuman

Brief bio of Schuman by Tim Page.

Schuman begins by saying what advice he'd give a young composer. "The composer must listen to and be true to his inner life." He says trying to be fashionable leads to trouble. and says the symphony is not dead and continues to be exciting. He talks about his early contact with symphony orchestras as well as Chamber works vs. Symphony orchestra work. Schuman returns to advice to young composers. Competitions. Schuman's earlier popular music band. Jazz. Dick Rogers. Frank Lesser. Stephen Sondheim. Comments on the administrative position held at the Juilliard School and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Schuman provides background on his work, Symphony for Strings.

Musical Selection: Symphony for Strings - Leonard Bernstein conducts the NY Philharmonic. Columbia Masterworks MS7442.

Schuman comments on the state of music today. Early musical coverage by the press versus coverage of popular music today by the press. It is healthy and unhealthy. All music is not equal. There is a reluctance to develop a contemporary American repertoire. He briefly comments on his current work. Discusses "In Praise of Shahn."

Musical Selection: In Praise of Shahn (CANTICLE FOR ORCHESTRA). Leonard Bernstein conducts the New York Philharmonic on CBS Masterworks M30112.

WNYC archives id: 8913