Ned Rorem (1923-2022)

Series

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

2023

The Student And Traveller

20231127

Donald Macleod explores, Rorem the budding composer, including a period in Paris.

Rorem's parents were supportive of his musical endeavours, and he had a number of teachers in his early years. The composer Margaret Bonds helped Rorem to notate his compositions, and later he studied composition and orchestration with Gian Carlo Menotti at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia. In 1943, Rorem entered the Julliard School in New York, and he went on to win the George Gershwin Memorial Prize in composition. In the late 1940s, he was awarded a fellowship to study at the Berkshire Music Centre in Tanglewood. It was in 1949 that Rorem would travel to France, and in Paris he met Nadia Boulanger and studied with Arthur Honegger. Rorem lived life to the full, and he mixed in the circles of Jean Cocteau, Auric and Poulenc, and of Marie Laure, Vicomtesse de Noailles. In 1955 Rorem returned to New York, and began to establish himself as a composer in America.

Early in the morning

Susan Graham, mezzo-soprano

Malcolm Martineau, piano

The Lordly Hudson

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Dance Suite (excerpt)

Arianna Goldina, piano

Rémy Loumbrozo, piano

Piano Concerto No 2 (excerpt)

Simon Mulligan, piano

Royal Scottish National Orchestra

José Serebrier, conductor

Piano Sonata No 3 (excerpt)

Thomas Lanners, piano

Sing My Soul

St John's College Choir, Cambridge

Andrew Nethsingha, director

Symphony No 2 (excerpt)

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

Donald Macleod delves into Rorem's early years in America and France.

2023

Scandalous Escapades In New York

20231128

Donald Macleod follows Rorem's rise to prominence, including an invitation to the White House.

During the 1960s Ned Rorem was establishing himself as a composer back on his home turf in New York, after a period away experiencing life in France. He rose to prominence rapidly, and received an invitation to the White House from President Lyndon Johnson in 1965. His published diaries from the time, however, demonstrate another side to Rorem's life, including drug and alcohol abuse. In these diaries he also kept an often explicit account of his casual sexual encounters with men. By 1967 Rorem's life was to change significantly, when he met the composer, choral director and organist James Holmes. They entered into a long-term relationship, which had a steadying effect upon Rorem.

For Poulenc

Susan Graham, mezzo-soprano

Malcolm Martineau, piano

Two Psalms and A Proverb (excerpt)

Choir of St Paul's Episcopal Church, Indianapolis

Indianapolis Pro Musica

Frank W. Boles, conductor

Lions

Branford Marsalis Quartet

North Carolina Symphony Orchestra

Grant Llewellyn, conductor

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

I will always love you

Book of Hours

Fibonacci Sequence

Donald Macleod explores Rorem's growing obsessions with alcohol, drugs and men.

2023

Life In Nantucket

20231129

Donald Macleod delves into a time when Rorem was settling into domesticity with James Holmes.

By 1980 Rorem was teaching at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia where he had previously been a student. He was also composer-in-residence at the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, which commissioned him to compose his Santa Fe Songs. Back in the 1970s Rorem and his partner James Holmes purchased a house in Nantucket. His diaries and photos demonstrate how important this location was for Rorem, as a place to relax and compose. One major concern for Rorem at this time were the regular updates he received about friends who were dying from AIDS. Rorem confided in his diaries that his musical compositions now arose from a concern for AIDS.

Sky Music (Brisk and Smooth)

Yolande Kondonassis, harp

Santa Fe Songs (excerpt)

Susan Graham, mezzo-soprano

Ensemble Oriol

Malcolm Martineau, piano

Praise the Lord, O My Soul

St. Olaf Choir

John Ferguson, organ

Anton Armstrong, conductor

Violin Concerto (excerpt)

Gidon Kremer, violin

New York Philharmonic

Leonard Bernstein, conductor

While all things were in quiet silence (Seven Motets for the Church Year)

The New York Concert Singers

Judith Clurman, director

Breath on Me, Breath of God

The Choir of Jesus College, Cambridge

Mark Williams, director

String Symphony (excerpt)

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Robert Shaw, conductor

Donald Macleod explores a period when AIDS became a growing concern for Rorem.

2023

Death Of A Partner

20231130

Donald Macleod follows the decline of Rorem's partner James Holmes and its impact upon the composer.

Ned Rorem's diaries in the 1990s are full of his concerns for his partner James Holmes. Holmes had a number of health concerns including cancer. He was also diagnosed as HIV positive. Holmes slept a great deal through his final years, but sometimes would be awake all night with a hacking cough. Rorem confided to his diaries how thin his partner was getting. Holmes died in 1999, and from that point onwards Rorem's diary entries become less regular. During this period of personal tragedy, Rorem composed some of his best music including a Double Concerto for violin and cello. In interview Rorem said that he'd often ask James Holmes for his thoughts on his music. “He was my best audience. ?

Spring Music (Bagatelle)

Beaux Arts Trio

String Quartet No 4 (Still Life)

Emerson String Quartet

More than a Day (excerpt)

Brian Asawa, countertenor

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra

Jeffrey Kahane, conductor

Evidence of things not seen (excerpt)

Tammy Tyburczy, soprano

Glen Alamilla, tenor

Mikael Eliasen, piano

Piano Album 1 (excerpts)

Carolyn Enger, piano

Double Concerto for Violin and Cello (excerpt)

Jaime Laredo, violin

Sharon Robinson, cello

IRIS Orchestra

Michael Stern, conductor

Donald Macleod explores a period of great personal loss for Rorem.

2023

05 LAST

The Final Years In New York

20231201

Donald Macleod follows Rorem's career and personal life in his final decades.

During the last few decades of his life, Ned Rorem continued to compose music. He wrote a number of concertos and, in 2005, composed his eighth opera, Our Town. At the age of 80 he was awarded the Gold Medal of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, which took him by surprise. His former college, the Curtis Institute, also put on a two-week festival of his music called Roremania. During his final years in New York, his niece, Mary Marshall, cared for Rorem. He'd go for short walks in Central Park, and would enjoy visitors bringing him biscuits and cakes. Rorem died in November 2022, not quite reaching his 100th birthday.

United States: Seven Viewpoints for String Quartet (excerpt)

Ying Quartet

Concerto for English Horn and Orchestra (Recurring Dream)

Thomas Stacy, English Horn

Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra

Michael Palmer, conductor

Our Town (excerpt)

Margot Rood (Emily Webb), soprano

Krista River (Mrs Gibbs), mezzo-soprano

Glorivy Arroyo (Mrs Soames), mezzo-soprano

Matthew DiBattista (stage Manager), tenor

Stanley Wilson (Simon Stimson), tenor

Monadnock Music

Gill Rose, conductor

For Six Friends

Carolyn Enger, piano

Four Prayers

Fenwick Smith, flute

Mihae Lee, piano

From An Unknown Past

Brian Asawa, countertenor

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra

Jeffrey Kahane, conductor

Donald Macleod delves into Rorem's final years as a composer.

Episodes

Series	Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
2023	01	The Student And Traveller	20231127	Donald Macleod explores, Rorem the budding composer, including a period in Paris. Rorem's parents were supportive of his musical endeavours, and he had a number of teachers in his early years. The composer Margaret Bonds helped Rorem to notate his compositions, and later he studied composition and orchestration with Gian Carlo Menotti at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia. In 1943, Rorem entered the Julliard School in New York, and he went on to win the George Gershwin Memorial Prize in composition. In the late 1940s, he was awarded a fellowship to study at the Berkshire Music Centre in Tanglewood. It was in 1949 that Rorem would travel to France, and in Paris he met Nadia Boulanger and studied with Arthur Honegger. Rorem lived life to the full, and he mixed in the circles of Jean Cocteau, Auric and Poulenc, and of Marie Laure, Vicomtesse de Noailles. In 1955 Rorem returned to New York, and began to establish himself as a composer in America. Early in the morning Susan Graham, mezzo-soprano Malcolm Martineau, piano The Lordly Hudson Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening Dance Suite (excerpt) Arianna Goldina, piano Rémy Loumbrozo, piano Piano Concerto No 2 (excerpt) Simon Mulligan, piano Royal Scottish National Orchestra José Serebrier, conductor Piano Sonata No 3 (excerpt) Thomas Lanners, piano Sing My Soul St John's College Choir, Cambridge Andrew Nethsingha, director Symphony No 2 (excerpt) Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Donald Macleod delves into Rorem's early years in America and France.
2023	02	Scandalous Escapades In New York	20231128	Donald Macleod follows Rorem's rise to prominence, including an invitation to the White House. During the 1960s Ned Rorem was establishing himself as a composer back on his home turf in New York, after a period away experiencing life in France. He rose to prominence rapidly, and received an invitation to the White House from President Lyndon Johnson in 1965. His published diaries from the time, however, demonstrate another side to Rorem's life, including drug and alcohol abuse. In these diaries he also kept an often explicit account of his casual sexual encounters with men. By 1967 Rorem's life was to change significantly, when he met the composer, choral director and organist James Holmes. They entered into a long-term relationship, which had a steadying effect upon Rorem. For Poulenc Susan Graham, mezzo-soprano Malcolm Martineau, piano Two Psalms and A Proverb (excerpt) Choir of St Paul's Episcopal Church, Indianapolis Indianapolis Pro Musica Frank W. Boles, conductor Lions Branford Marsalis Quartet North Carolina Symphony Orchestra Grant Llewellyn, conductor Love Divine, All Loves Excelling I will always love you Book of Hours Fibonacci Sequence Donald Macleod explores Rorem's growing obsessions with alcohol, drugs and men.
2023	03	Life In Nantucket	20231129	Donald Macleod delves into a time when Rorem was settling into domesticity with James Holmes. By 1980 Rorem was teaching at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia where he had previously been a student. He was also composer-in-residence at the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, which commissioned him to compose his Santa Fe Songs. Back in the 1970s Rorem and his partner James Holmes purchased a house in Nantucket. His diaries and photos demonstrate how important this location was for Rorem, as a place to relax and compose. One major concern for Rorem at this time were the regular updates he received about friends who were dying from AIDS. Rorem confided in his diaries that his musical compositions now arose from a concern for AIDS. Sky Music (Brisk and Smooth) Yolande Kondonassis, harp Santa Fe Songs (excerpt) Susan Graham, mezzo-soprano Ensemble Oriol Malcolm Martineau, piano Praise the Lord, O My Soul St. Olaf Choir John Ferguson, organ Anton Armstrong, conductor Violin Concerto (excerpt) Gidon Kremer, violin New York Philharmonic Leonard Bernstein, conductor While all things were in quiet silence (Seven Motets for the Church Year) The New York Concert Singers Judith Clurman, director Breath on Me, Breath of God The Choir of Jesus College, Cambridge Mark Williams, director String Symphony (excerpt) Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Robert Shaw, conductor Donald Macleod explores a period when AIDS became a growing concern for Rorem.
2023	04	Death Of A Partner	20231130	Donald Macleod follows the decline of Rorem's partner James Holmes and its impact upon the composer. Ned Rorem's diaries in the 1990s are full of his concerns for his partner James Holmes. Holmes had a number of health concerns including cancer. He was also diagnosed as HIV positive. Holmes slept a great deal through his final years, but sometimes would be awake all night with a hacking cough. Rorem confided to his diaries how thin his partner was getting. Holmes died in 1999, and from that point onwards Rorem's diary entries become less regular. During this period of personal tragedy, Rorem composed some of his best music including a Double Concerto for violin and cello. In interview Rorem said that he'd often ask James Holmes for his thoughts on his music. “He was my best audience. ? Spring Music (Bagatelle) Beaux Arts Trio String Quartet No 4 (Still Life) Emerson String Quartet More than a Day (excerpt) Brian Asawa, countertenor Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Jeffrey Kahane, conductor Evidence of things not seen (excerpt) Tammy Tyburczy, soprano Glen Alamilla, tenor Mikael Eliasen, piano Piano Album 1 (excerpts) Carolyn Enger, piano Double Concerto for Violin and Cello (excerpt) Jaime Laredo, violin Sharon Robinson, cello IRIS Orchestra Michael Stern, conductor Donald Macleod explores a period of great personal loss for Rorem.
2023	05 LAST	The Final Years In New York	20231201	Donald Macleod follows Rorem's career and personal life in his final decades. During the last few decades of his life, Ned Rorem continued to compose music. He wrote a number of concertos and, in 2005, composed his eighth opera, Our Town. At the age of 80 he was awarded the Gold Medal of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, which took him by surprise. His former college, the Curtis Institute, also put on a two-week festival of his music called Roremania. During his final years in New York, his niece, Mary Marshall, cared for Rorem. He'd go for short walks in Central Park, and would enjoy visitors bringing him biscuits and cakes. Rorem died in November 2022, not quite reaching his 100th birthday. United States: Seven Viewpoints for String Quartet (excerpt) Ying Quartet Concerto for English Horn and Orchestra (Recurring Dream) Thomas Stacy, English Horn Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Michael Palmer, conductor Our Town (excerpt) Margot Rood (Emily Webb), soprano Krista River (Mrs Gibbs), mezzo-soprano Glorivy Arroyo (Mrs Soames), mezzo-soprano Matthew DiBattista (stage Manager), tenor Stanley Wilson (Simon Stimson), tenor Monadnock Music Gill Rose, conductor For Six Friends Carolyn Enger, piano Four Prayers Fenwick Smith, flute Mihae Lee, piano From An Unknown Past Brian Asawa, countertenor Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Jeffrey Kahane, conductor Donald Macleod delves into Rorem's final years as a composer.