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Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Contents i

Preface ix Acknowledgments xiii Comments on Oral History xvii

ONE. Introducing the Century: 1 January 1900 1

CHARLES IVES 8

TWO. On and Eubie Blake 47

THREE. From the Early Modernists 67

LEO ORNSTEIN 71

EDGARD VARÈSE 94

CARL RUGGLES 117

DANE RUDHYAR 127 viii Contents

CHARLES SEEGER 137

HENRY COWELL 152

FOUR. On the Age and 183

FIVE. With a French Accent: Nadia Boulanger 235

SIX. From the Boulangerie 253

VIRGIL THOMSON 255

AARON COPLAND 285

ROY HARRIS 330

SEVEN. Exploring the World of 351

Notes 417 Resources 431 List of Supplemental Interviews 445 Illustration Credits 448 CD Track Listing 450 CD Music Credits 452 Index 459 CD Music Credits i

A list of musical excerpts featured on the two compact dics accompanying this book follows. Some tracks feature early and rare recordings of performances by the composers. CDs were co-produced by Perlis, Van Cleve, and Stefan Weisman.

DISC 1 Track 1

Aaron Copland, Music for the Theatre. Yale ; Shinik Hahm, conductor. Live recording, 18 February 1996. Duke Ellington, “It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing.” Princeton University Concert Jazz En- semble; Anthony Branker, director. Live recording, 11 October 2003. , “Etude.” Robert Helps, piano. CRI 874. David Lang, “Anvil Chorus.” Steve Schick, percussion. CRI 646. Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, Chamber Symphony. ; Richard Pittman, conductor. CRI 621.

Tracks 2–11

Charles Ives, Piano Trio, Movement III. The Monticello Trio. CRI 583. Charles Ives, Second Piano Sonata (Concord, ., 1840–60), “Emerson” and “Alcotts.” Charles Ives, piano. CRI 810. Charles Ives, “Some South-Paw Pitching” (Study No. 21). Donald Berman, piano. CRI 811. Charles Ives, Washington’s Birthday. Imperial Philharmonic of Tokyo; William Strickland, conductor. CRI 163. Charles Ives, “The Greatest Man.” Helen Boatwright, soprano; John Kirkpatrick, piano. CRI 675. Charles Ives, Washington’s Birthday. Daniel Stepner, violin; Stephen Drury, piano. New England Conserva- tory Series, NEC 122. Charles Ives, Thanksgiving. Iceland Symphony Orchestra; William Strickland, conductor. CRI 177. Charles Ives, Central Park in the Dark. Yale Philharmonia; Lawrence Leighton Smith, conductor. Live re- cording, 4 April 1998. CD Music Credits 453

Charles Ives, String Quartet No. 1, Movement I. Armadillo String Quartet. Live recording, 11 May 2004. Charles Ives, Fourth Symphony. Yale Philharmonia. Live recording, 31 January 1992. Charles Ives, Study No. 22. Donald Berman, piano. CRI 811. Charles Ives, The Celestial Railroad. Anthony De Mare, piano. CRI 837. Charles Ives, “They Are There!” Charles Ives, vocal and piano. CRI 810.

Tracks 12–13

Eubie Blake, “Classical Rag.” Eubie Blake, piano. From video documentary Memories of Eubie, co-produced by Ruth Leon, Allan Miller, and Vivian Perlis. Broadcast American Masters, PBS, 30 December 1979. Eubie Blake, “Charleston Rag.” Eubie Blake, piano. From Memories of Eubie. Eubie Blake, “ Buzz.” Eubie Blake, piano. From Memories of Eubie. Eubie Blake, “Lucky to Me.” Eubie Blake, piano and vocal. From Memories of Eubie. Eubie Blake, “I’m Just Wild About Harry.” Eubie Blake, piano. From Eubie Blake: Live Concert, recorded 22 May 1973. Eubie Blake Music EBM 5. Eubie Blake, “Love Will Find a Way.” From interview, Eubie Blake with Vivian Perlis, OHAM, 1972. Eubie Blake and , “Memories of You.” Eubie Blake, piano. From Memories of Eubie.

Tracks 14–15

Leo Ornstein, String Quartet No. 3. Lydian String Quartet. New World Records #80509-2. Leo Ornstein, Wild Men’s Dance. Michael Sellers, piano. Orion ORS 75194. Leo Ornstein, Piano Quintet. Janice Weber, piano; Lydian String Quartet. New World Records #80509-2. Leo Ornstein, “Joy” and “Anger,” from The Three Moods. William Westney, piano. CRI 339. Leo Ornstein, “Tarantelle.” Leo Ornstein, piano. From private recording.

Track 16

Edgard Varèse, Density 21.5. Thomas Nyfenger, Flute. Live recording, . Recordings of Nyfenger appear on the CD The Flutistry of Thomas Nyfenger, available through Paul Nyfenger, 347 High St., Closter NJ 07624, 201-784-9247. Edgard Varèse, Offrandes. Yale Contemporary Ensemble; , conductor. Live recording, 12 December 1984. Edgard Varèse, Poéme électronique. Edgard Varèse, Octandre. Yale Contemporary Ensemble; Arthur Weisberg, conductor. Live recording, 9 De- cember 1981. Edgard Varèse, Intégrales. Yale Contemporary Ensemble; Arthur Weisberg, conductor. Live recording, 15 December 1982.

Track 17

Dane Rudhyar, Paeans. , piano. CRI 584. Dane Rudhyar, Five Stanzas. Colonial Symphony; Paul Zukofsky, conductor. Musical Observations CP2 13. 454 CD Music Credits

Dane Rudhyar, “Tumult of the ,” from Advent. Kronos Quartet. CRI 604. Dane Rudhyar, “Stars,” from Pentagram No. 3 (Release). William Masselos, piano. CRI 584. Dane Rudhyar, Granites. William Masselos, piano. CRI 584.

Tracks 18–19

Henry Cowell, Ostinato Pianissimo. New Jersey Percussion Ensemble; Raymond DesRoches, conductor. Nonesuch 9 9150-2. Henry Cowell, “The Tides of Manaunaun.” Henry Cowell, piano. CRI 109. Henry Cowell, “Tiger.” Anthony De Mare, piano. CRI 837. Henry Cowell, Persian Set. , conductor, with members of his orchestra. CRI 114. Henry Cowell, Variation for Orchestra. Polish National Radio Orchestra; William Strickland, conductor. CRI 740. Henry Cowell, “Aeolian Harp.” Henry Cowell, piano. CRI 109. Henry Cowell, “Sinister Resonance.” Henry Cowell, piano. CRI 109. Henry Cowell, “Exultation.” Anthony De Mare, piano. CRI 837.

DISC 2 Tracks 1–7

George Gershwin, An American in . Wei-Yi Yang and Indhuon Srikaranonda, pianos. Live recording, 8 December 1998, Yale University. George Gershwin, “Swanee.” , vocal; Philharmonic Orchestra; Victor Young, conduc- tor. The Radio Years RY 9. George Gershwin, . George Gershwin, piano; Paul Whiteman and his orchestra. Pearl GEMM CDS 9483. George and , “Fascinatin’ Rhythm.” Fred and Adele Astaire, vocals; George Gershwin, piano. Pearl GEMM CDS 9483. George and Ira Gershwin, “Someone to Watch Over Me.” Frances Gershwin, vocal; Alfred Simon, piano. ACD-116. George and Ira Gershwin, “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off.” Marnie Nixon, vocal. Reference Recordings RR-19. George and Ira Gershwin, “Hi-Ho.” Ira Gershwin, vocal; Harold Arlen, piano. Recorded 1937 or 1938 “at an impromptu gathering.” George Gershwin, “Of Thee I Sing,” from live broadcast of the Rudy Vallee Show, recorded 9 November 1933. Pearl GEMM CDS 9483. George Gershwin, “Bess, You Is My Woman Now,” from . Todd Duncan, baritone; Anne Brown, soprano; George Gershwin, conductor. Musicmasters D111175 5062-2-C. George Gershwin, “Summertime,” from Porgy and Bess. Arthur Gershwin, piano. From interview with Robert Kimball and Alfred Simon, 30 November 1972. George Gershwin, “Oh Lawd, I’m On My Way,” from Porgy and Bess. Todd Duncan, vocal. Included in interview with Berthe Schuchat, 1976. CD Music Credits 455

George Gershwin, “I Loves You, Porgy,” from Porgy and Bess. Cynthia Haymon, soprano; London Philhar- monic; , conductor. EMI CDS 7 49568 2. George Gershwin, “I Loves You, Porgy.” Paul Bley, piano. IAI 37.38.53 AXIS. George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin, “.” Joan Morris, mezzo-soprano; William Bolcolm, piano. Nonesuch CD 9 79151-2.

Track 8

Nadia Boulanger, Vers la vie nouvelle. Angela Gassenhuber, piano. Trouba Disc TRO-CD 01407. Nadia Boulanger, Three Compositions for Violoncello and Piano, Friedemann Kupsa, cello; Angela Gassen- huber, piano. Trouba Disc TRO-CD 01407. Nadia Boulanger, “Soir d’hiver,” from Sept mélodies. Melinda Paulsen, mezzo-soprano; Angela Gassenhuber, piano. Trouba Disc TRO-CD 01407.

Track 9

Virgil Thomson, Symphony No. 3, Movement II. New Hampshire Symphony Orchestra; James Bolle, con- ductor. CRI 750. Virgil Thomson, “Tiger! Tiger!” from Five Songs of William Blake. Mack Harrell, baritone; the ; , conductor. CRI 398. Virgil Thomson, “Solitude: A Portrait of Lou Harrison.” David Del Tredici, piano. CRI 864. Virgil Thomson, “Before Sleeping.” , mezzo-soprano; Virgil Thomson, piano. CRI 670. , Einstein on the Beach. The Philip Glass Ensemble. Nonesuch #79323. Virgil Thomson, Four Saints in Three Acts. Orchestra of Our Time; Joel Thome, conductor. Electra/None- such 9 79035-2.

Tracks 10–12

Aaron Copland, Latin American Sketches. Live recording, 26 September 1991, . Aaron Copland, “Jazzy,” from Three Moods. Ramon Salvatore, piano. From Copland Piano Music—Roman- tic & Modern, Cedille Records CDR 90000 021. Aaron Copland, Piano Concerto. Noël Lee, piano; Orchestre National de France, Aaron Copland, conduc- tor. Etcetera CD KTC 1098, 1990. Aaron Copland, Dance Symphony. Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra; Akeo Watanabe, conductor. CRI 129. Aaron Copland, Music for Theatre. Yale Symphony Orchestra; Shinik Hahm, Conductor. Live recording, 18 February 1996. Aaron Copland, Piano Quartet. Gilbert Kalish, piano; Boston Symphony Chamber Players. Nonesuch 79168-2. Aaron Copland, Piano Sonata. Sara Laimon, piano. Live recording, 20 February 1991, Yale School of Music. Aaron Copland, . American Symphony Orchestra; , conductor; Aaron Copland, narrator. Live recording, 9 November 1980. 456 CD Music Credits

Aaron Copland, The Heiress. From video documentary Aaron Copland: A Self-Portrait, co-produced by Ruth Leon and Vivian Perlis, directed by Allan Miller. Broadcast American Masters, PBS, 1985. Aaron Copland, Appalachian Spring. New Music New Haven. Live recording, 26 September 1991, Yale School of Music.

Track 13

Roy Harris, Third Symphony. American Recording Society Orchestra; Walter Hendl, conductor. ARS 115. Roy Harris, Violin Sonata. Josef Gingold, violin; Johana Harris, piano. From Roy Harris at State University, OHAM Acquisition, 1973. Roy Harris, Elegy and Dance. Portland Youth Philharmonic; Jacob Avshalomov, conductor. CRI 664. Roy Harris, Contemplation. Johana Harris, piano. CRI 818.

Tracks 14–24

Duke Ellington and , “The Mooche.” Dwike Mitchell, piano; Willie Ruff, horn. Live recording, Yale University, 19 February 1999. Duke Ellington, “Soda Fountain Rag.” Duke Ellington, piano. Live recording, from interview with Byng Whittaker, 1964, OHAM Acquisition. Duke Ellington, Mitchell Parish, and Irving Mills, “.” Stanley Dance Collection. Duke Ellington, “Informal Blues.” Stanley Dance Collection. Duke Ellington and Bubber Miley, “East St. Louis Toodle-O.” Duke Ellington and his Kentucky Club Or- chestra. Stemra Classics Records 539. Duke Ellington, “Tootin’ Through the Roof.” Stanley Dance Collection. Duke Ellington and Bubber Miley, “.” From Duke Ellington and His Orchestra Live at the Cotton Club. Master Digital 19 900/3, Delta Music GmbH. Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, and Edgar DeLange, “Solitude.” From BMG/RCA Victor CD The Duke Elling- ton Centennial Edition. , “Lush Life.” Billy Strayhorn, vocal. From live broadcast, Duke Ellington and his band at Basin Street East, , 14 January 1964. Duke Ellington, “One More Time.” Stanley Dance Collection. Duke Ellington, “Tootin’ Through the Roof.” Stanley Dance Collection. Duke Ellington, “Blues.” Stanley Dance Collection. Dorothy Fields and Jimmy McHugh, “Diga Diga Do.” Irving Mills, vocal, with Duke Ellington and his or- chestra. From BMG/RCA Victor CD The Duke Ellington Centennial Edition. Duke Ellington and , “Caravan.” Princeton University Concert Jazz Ensemble; Anthony D. J. Branker, conductor. Live recording, 11 October 2003. Duke Ellington, “Blues,” from Black, Brown, and Beige. World premiere recording; Betty Roché, vocal. Prestige Records P-34004. Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, “Hey Buddy Bolden.” , trumpet. From , LP Columbia Special Products. CD Music Credits 457

Duke Ellington, Third Sacred Concert. Featuring Art Baron, recorder. Live recording. Duke Ellington, The River. New York, 1970. Saja records LMR 91045-2. Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, “Tonk.” Double Edge, pianos. CRI CD 637. Duke Ellington, “Come Sunday,” from Black, Brown, and Beige. , saxophone. Prestige Records P-34004.

Recording Credits

CRI recordings reproduced courtesy Composers Recordings, Inc. Princeton University Concert Jazz Ensemble recordings reproduced by permission of Princeton University. Recordings from live Yale concerts, the Stanley Dance Collection and the American Recording Society Orchestra, appear courtesy The Yale Collection of Historical Sound Recordings, Yale University Music Library. Reproduced by permission of Dean Robert Blocker, the estate of Thomas Nyfenger, Wei-Yi Yang, Indhuoun Srikaranonda, and Willie Ruff. Armadillo String Quartet live recording reproduced with permission of the Armadillo String Quartet; Barry Socher, first violin. Eubie Blake recordings reproduced with permission of Eubie Blake Music.

New World Records recording of Ornstein P 1997 Recorded Anthology of Music, Inc. Used by permission. Leo Ornstein’s “Tarantelle” reproduced with permission Severo Ornstein. Dane Rudhyar’s Five Stanzas reproduced courtesy Musical Observations, Inc. Nonesuch recordings reproduced courtesy of Elektra/Nonesuch, by arrangement with Warner Strategic Marketing. George Gershwin’s “Swanee” reproduced courtesy The Radio Years/Fono Enterprise. Pearl recordings reproduced courtesy Pavilion Records. George Gershwin’s “Someone to Watch Over Me” reproduced courtesy Audiophile Records. George Gershwin’s “Hi-Ho” reproduced by permission of the Ira and Leonore Gershwin Trusts. Arthur Gershwin performing George Gershwin’s “Summertime” reproduced with permission of Marc George Gershwin.

George Gerhswin’s “I Loves You, Porgy” P 1988 EMI Records Ltd. Used courtesy of Angel Records.

Paul Bley recording P 1977 used courtesy Improvising Artists, Inc. (improvart.com). Trouba Disc recordings reproduced courtesy Renate Eggebrecht-Kupsa, Troubadisc.

Copland Piano Music—Romantic and Modern P and © Cedille Records, a trademark of The Chicago Clas- sical Recording Foundation. Reproduced with permission. Billy Strayhorn’s “Lush Life” reproduced with permission of Dr. Gregory Morris. Columbia Special Products reproduced with permission of Sony Music. BMG/RCA Victor recordings reproduced with permission of BMG Music. Prestige recordings reproduced with permission of Fantasy Records. Duke Ellington’s Third Sacred Concert reproduced courtesy Joan Anderson. Duke Ellington’s The River reproduced courtesy LMR records. 458 CD Music Credits

Publishing Credits

Aaron Copland’s compositions reproduced by permission of Boosey & Hawkes, Inc. Mel Powell’s “Etude” reproduced by permission of G. Schirmer, Inc. David Lang’s “Anvil Chorus” reproduced by permission of G. Schirmer, Inc. Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s Chamber Symphony reproduced by permission of Carl Fischer Music. Charles Ives compositions reproduced by permission of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, Carl Fischer, G. Schirmer, Inc., Music Associates of America, and Peermusic classical. Eubie Blake compositions reproduced by permission of Eubie Blake Music and Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., Inc. Leo Ornstein compositions reproduced by permission of Severo Ornstein; for complete catalogue see www.otherminds.org/ornstein/ Dane Rudhyar compositions reproduced by permission of The American Composers Alliance and T. Presser. Henry Cowell compositions reproduced by permission of C. F. Peters Corporation and G. Schirmer, Inc. George Gershwin compositions reproduced by permission of Warner Chappell Music. Virgil Thomson compositions reproduced by permission of Carl Fischer Music, G. Schirmer, Inc., and Peer- music Classical. Philip Glass’s Einstein on the Beach reproduced by permission of Dunvagen Music Publishers, Inc. Roy Harris compositions reproduced by permission of G. Schirmer, Inc. Duke Ellington compositions reproduced by permission of EMI Music Publishing, Famous Music Corpora- tion, and G. Schirmer, Inc. Billy Strayhorn’s “Lush Life” reproduced by permission of G. Schirmer, Inc. Dorothy Fields and Jimmy McHugh’s “Diga Diga Do” copyright Cotton Club Music, care of EMI Music Publishing. Reproduced by permission. Ellington and Strayhorn’s “Tonk” reproduced by permission of Famous Music Corporation and Billy Stray- horn Songs.