Morton Gould (1913-1996)

from Spirituals for Orchestra

TRANSCRIPTION:

March 19, 1979

Dear Michael Judd1
    Thank you for kind and flattering letter and interest
in my work.
    I do not have any one particular "idol" as such.
I think Music and Art and the whole history of human
expression is filled with many "idols," and I personally
have at different ages and stages, admired some more
than others but then this changes, too. I am not, and
never have been a purist--so I cannot pick out one
particular composer, or kind of music, or esthetic philosophy, etc.
Sorry, I cannot be more specific. Anyway -- here are a
few autograph notes instead.------

[music sample-see above]

All best wishes to you, and your career.

Cordially,

Morton Gould

NOTES:

1) According to the original envelop, the addressee at this time, lived in California.

ABOUT THE COMPOSER:

Morton Gould was born in Richmond Hill, New York on December 10, 1913. He was recognized  as a child prodigy and had his first composition published at age six. He studied at Juilliard (known then as the Institute of Musical Art). By 21, Gould was conducting orchestral programs for WOR Mutual Radio. Gould also became popular during the 1940s through his appearances on CBS's "The Chrysler Hour."

Gould conducted American orchestras and those Europe, South America and the Far East. In 1966, he received a Grammy Award for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra recording of the First Symphony by Charles Ives. The American Symphony Orchestra League bestowed its Gold Baton Award in 1983. Additionally, he won a Kennedy Center Honor (1994) and a Pulitzer Prize (1995), and was Musical America's 1994 Composer-of-the-Year.

His compositions were as diverse as their are styles, both classical and popular. Gould died February 21, 1996 in Orlando, Florida, during a 3-day tribute to Gould by the United States Military Academy Concert Band.

REV. 01/28/2004

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