KPFA-FM Music Dept. ➔ Interview with Ernst Bacon (1988)
Analog Audio
Event Type
InterviewsOrigin
Steve WolfeIdentifier
AM.1988.06.01Program Length
92 minDates
1988-06-01 | createdDescription
Steve Wolfe interviews Ernst Bacon at his home in Orinda, CA on June 1st, 1988. Bacon had just celebrated his 90th birthday a few days prior on May 26th.Born in 1898, Ernst Bacon was an American composer, pianist, conductor and teacher, and was part of a pioneering generation of composers lending a new voice to "American" music such as Aaron Copland and Charles Ives.
This lengthy interview has the humorous Bacon recounting many stages in his life from his beginnings as a composer and teacher, to commentary on various conductors, orchestras, performers, as well as his own works.
Ernst Bacon was the first composer to write music to the poems of Emily Dickinson.
At the time of this interview he had written two books on music; Words on Music and Notes on the Piano, which are still in print.
Genres
20th century classicalSubjects
Composers -- United States -- InterviewsComposition (Music)
Orchestras
Conductors (Music)