When and where was Roger Sessions born?
Roger Huntington Sessions entered the world on the 28th of December 1896 in Brooklyn, New York. His family lineage traced back to Samuel Huntington through his mother Ruth.
Questions about Roger Sessions
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What musical styles did Roger Sessions compose during different periods of his career?
Works written up to 1930 displayed a neoclassical style typical of the era before shifting to tonal but harmonically complex pieces between 1930 and 1945. The period from 1946 onwards introduced atonality and serial techniques influenced by Arnold Schoenberg while maintaining unique personal approaches.
Which universities employed Roger Sessions as a teacher throughout his life?
Teaching positions included Smith College, Princeton University starting in 1936, and the University of California Berkeley from 1945 until 1953. He returned to Princeton until retirement in 1965 and continued part-time teaching at the Juilliard School from 1966 through 1983.
How many symphonies did Roger Sessions compose and when were they completed?
A list of major works reveals nine symphonies composed over fifty years with Symphony No. 1 appearing in 1927 and Symphony No. 9 arriving in October 1978. The Sixth Symphony written in 1966 received its premiere on the 4th of March 1977 by the Juilliard Orchestra.
What books did Roger Sessions publish regarding music theory and criticism?
Published essays explored harmonic practice and reflections on American musical life including Harmonic Practice which appeared through Harcourt Brace in New York during 1951. Reflections on the Music Life in the United States was published by Merlin Press in 1956 while Questions About Music followed from Harvard University Press in 1970.
When did Roger Sessions die and what awards recognized his contributions to music?
He died at age eighty-eight in Princeton New Jersey on the 16th of March 1985 after receiving a special Pulitzer Prize cited for his life's work as a distinguished American composer in 1974. Annual Pulitzer Prizes for Music recognized his Concerto for Orchestra won in 1982 following its first performance by the Boston Symphony Orchestra on the 23rd of October 1981.