Robert Walter Moevs (2 December 1920 – 10 December 2007) was an American composer of contemporary classical music.[1] He was known for his highly chromatic music.
Career
Moevs was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and served in the United States Army Air Forces as a pilot during World War II. He then received his degree from Harvard University. Moevs was a student of Walter Piston and Nadia Boulanger. He taught at Harvard University and Rutgers University. He received the Rome Prize (1952) and a Guggenheim Fellowship (1962). In 1978 his Concerto Grosso was awarded the Stockhausen International Prize in Composition.[2]
His music has been performed by the Cleveland Orchestra, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Symphony of the Air. His papers, including unpublished scores and recordings, are held by the Rutgers Music Library. He died in Hillsborough, New Jersey.[3][4]
Music
Discography
Title / date | Performer | Label | Catalog no. |
---|---|---|---|
Piano Sonata (1950) | Joseph Bloch | New World Records | NWCRL136 |
Musica Da Camera I (1965) | Contemporary Chamber Ensemble conducted by Arthur Weisberg | New World Records | NWCRL223 |
Variazioni sopra una melodia (1961) | Jacob Glick / Robert Sylvester | New World Records | NWCRL223 |
A Brief Mass (1968) | Kirkpatrick Chamber Choir conducted by David Drinkwater | New World Records | NWCRL262 |
Fantasia sopra un motivo (1951) | Wanda Maximilien | New World Records | NWCRL404 |
Phoenix (1972) | Wanda Maximilien | New World Records | NWCRL404 |
Una collana musicale (1977) (excerpts) | Wanda Maximilien | New World Records | NWCRL404 |
Concerto Grosso for Piano, Percussion and Orchestra (1960 / 68) | Orchestra of the 20th Century conducted by Arthur Weisberg, Wanda Maximilien soloist | New World Records | NWCRL457 |
Una collana musicale (1977) (more excerpts) | Wanda Maximilien | New World Records | NWCRL496 |
Pan (1951) | Karl Kraber | Orion Records | out of print |
Saraband (1986) | Jory Vinikour | Dorian Sono Luminus | DSL 92174 |
Notes
- ^ "Robert Moevs (1920–2007)". Edward B. Marks Music. Archived from the original on February 20, 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ Archibald and Wilson 2008.
- ^ Papers of Robert Moevs
- ^ The Robert Moevs Collection
Sources
- Archibald, Bruce, and Richard Wilson. 2008. "Moevs, Robert (Walter)". Grove Music Online, edited by Dean Roote (accessed 1 October 2013).
Further reading
- Boros, James. 1990. "The Systematic Chromaticism of Robert Moevs." Perspectives of New Music 28/1 (Winter): 294–323.
- Boros, James. 1990. "A Conversation with Robert Moevs." Perspectives of New Music 28/1 (Winter): 324–335.
- Boros, James. 1990. "The Evolution of Robert Moevs's Compositional Methodology." American Music 8/4 (Winter): 383–404.
- Moevs, Robert. 1966. "Some Observations on Instruction in Music Theory." College Music Symposium 6 (Fall): 69–71.
- Moevs, Robert. 1969. "Music and the Liturgy." Liturgical Arts 38/1 (November): 4–9.
- Moevs, Robert. 1969. "Intervallic Procedures in Debussy." Perspectives of New Music 8/1 (Fall/Winter): 82–101.
- Moevs, Robert. 1971. "Mannerism and Stylistic Consistency in Stravinsky." Perspectives of New Music 9/2 (10/1): 92–103.
- Moevs, Robert, in conversation with Ellen Rosand. 1980. "Recollections—Nadia Boulanger (1887–1979)." 19th-Century Music 3/3 (March): 276–278.
- Wilkinson, Carlton. 1997. "Robert Moevs's Heptachronon for solo cello." Perspectives of New Music 35/1 (Winter): 231–261.
External links
- Robert Moevs, Theodore Presser Company
- Robert Moevs, bach-cantatas.com
- "A tribute to Moevs" by Richard Wilson, newmusicbox.org Archived 2011-06-04 at the Wayback Machine
- Recordings of some works by Robert Moevs, YouTube
- Interview with Robert Moevs by Bruce Duffie, December 28, 1988
- American male classical composers
- 20th-century American classical composers
- 1920 births
- 2007 deaths
- People from La Crosse, Wisconsin
- Military personnel from Wisconsin
- United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II
- Harvard University alumni
- Harvard University faculty
- Rutgers University faculty
- Pupils of Walter Piston
- Classical musicians from Wisconsin
- 20th-century American male musicians