KPFA-FM Music Dept. ➔ The Life and Music of Elie Siegmeister, 2 of 2

Analog Audio

Event Type

Interview and Music

Origin

KPFA

Identifier

AM.1972.07.31.c2.B

Program Length

135 min

Part

2 of 2

Dates

1972-07-31 | broadcast
| 1972-03-24 | created

Description

In a recording made on March 24, 1972 and first broadcast on July 31st of that year, Charles Amirkhanian interviews composer Elie Siegmeister and his wife Hannah, while also playing a wide assortment of Siegmeister’s music. Known for his interest in American music and the plight of the working class, Siegmeister has written art songs, operas, musicals, and film scores, as well as a wide variety of orchestral and chamber works. In this delightful interview Siegmeister disputes Amirkhanian’s attempt to divide his career into an early Americana phase and a later period dedicated to more experimental and abstract music, saying that while certain works may emphasize one aspect more than the other both themes are generally present in all his music. An active composer since at least the 1930s Siegmeister knew many of the great American composers of his time and provides entertaining stories about many of them in this program. Not necessarily a modest man, Siegmeister states that he would be happy if most people spent 12 hours a day listening to his music, and with this program you can get started on fulfilling his wishes.

Genres

20th century classical
Art songs

Musical Selections

The Plough and the Stars: Opening Scene [libretto by Edward Howe Mabley, after the play by Sean O’Casey] (1963-69) (3:00) / Elie Siegmeister -- Sextet, for brass and percussion [last movement] (1965) (4:06) / Elie Siegmeister -- The Face of War: Official Notice ; Listen here, Joe ; Peace ; The dove ; War, a song cycle for solo voice and orchestra [text by Langston Hughes] (1966, rev. 1967-68) (9:39) / Elie Siegmeister -- Sonata No. 2, for violin and piano (1965) (16:00) / Elie Siegmeister

Performers

L. D. Clements, tenor (Plough)
Elie Siegmeister, conductor (Plough)
Gerard Schwarz, trumpet (Sextet)
Allan Dean, trumpet (Sextet)
Edward Birdwell, horn (Sextet)
Arnold Fromme, trombone (Sextet)
Toby Hanks, tuba (Sextet)
Gordon Gottlieb, percussion (Sextet)
William Warfield, baritone (Face)
Henry Lewis, conductor (Face)
Jaime Laredo, violin (Sonata)
Ruth Laredo, piano (Sonata)

Subjects

20th century classical
Art songs
Operas -- Excerpts
Sextets (Horn, trombone, trumpets (2), tuba, percussion)
Songs (Medium voice) with orchestra
Song cycles
Sonatas (Violin and piano)

Acknowledgment

Funding for the preservation of this program made possible through a grant by the GRAMMY Foundation.

Related places

Berkeley (Calif.) (was recorded at)
Berkeley (Calif.) (was broadcast at)

Related Entities

Amirkhanian, Charles
Siegmeister, Elie, 1909-1991
Siegmeister, Hannah
Mabley, Edward Howe, 1906-
O'Casey, Sean, 1880-1964
Clements, L. D.
Schwarz, Gerard, 1947-
Dean, Allan
Birdwell, Edward R.
Fromme, Arnold, 1925-
Hanks, Toby
Gottlieb, Gordon
Hughes, Langston, 1902-1967
Warfield, William
Lewis, Henry, 1932-1996
Laredo, Jaime
Laredo, Ruth