Ned Rorem (1923-2022)

Ned Rorem was an American composer and writer, and was hailed by
some as the greatest art-song composer of his time. Writing over
500 songs, his music has been described as Neoromantic, leaning
at times towards a more lyrical nature. Early musical influences
upon Rorem were Margaret Bonds, Virgil Thomson, Aaron Copland and
also Arthur Honegger. After a period of living in Paris where he
associated with members of Les Six, as well as frequent trips to
Morocco, Rorem eventually settled back in the USA for the rest of
his life. He went on to win a Pulitzer Prize in 1976 for his
orchestral work, Air Music.


Rorem also wrote seventeen books, six of which were intimate
diaries. These earned him a certain reputation from the 1960s
onwards, particularly for his openness about his regular sexual
encounters with men. During this period, Rorem also had issues
with alcohol and drugs, but his life steadily settled when he
entered into a long-term relationship with the composer and
choral director James Holmes. They purchased a house together in
Nantucket, and Rorem often relied upon Holmes for feedback
concerning his own music. This week, Donald Macleod reflects on
Ned Rorem’s life and music, remembering his own encounter with
the composer when he interviewed Rorem for this series in 2003.


Music Featured:


Early in the morning The Lordly Hudson Stopping by Woods on a
Snowy Evening Dance Suite (excerpt) Piano Concerto No 2 (excerpt)
Piano Sonata No 3 (excerpt) Sing My Soul Symphony No 2 (excerpt)
For Poulenc Two Psalms and A Proverb (excerpt) Lions Love Divine,
All Loves Excelling I will always love you Book of Hours Sky
Music (Brisk and Smooth) Santa Fe Songs (excerpt) Praise the
Lord, O My Soul Violin Concerto (excerpt) While all things were
in quiet silence (Seven Motets for the Church Year) Breath on Me,
Breath of God String Symphony (excerpt) Spring Music (Bagatelle)
String Quartet No 4 (Still Life) More than a Day (excerpt)
Evidence of things not seen (excerpt) Piano Album 1 (excerpts)
Double Concerto for Violin and Cello (excerpt) United States:
Seven Viewpoints for String Quartet (excerpt) Concerto for
English Horn and Orchestra (Recurring Dream) Our Town (excerpt)
For Six Friends Four Prayers From An Unknown Past


Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Luke Whitlock for BBC
Audio Wales and West


For full track listings, including artist and recording details,
and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after
broadcast) head to the series page for Ned Rorem (1923-2022)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001slxs


And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve
featured on Composer of the Week here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z