TT he Living Composers Project  

Adler, Samuel (b. March 4, 1928, Mannheim). German-born American composer of mostly stage, orchestral, chamber, choral, vocal, piano, and organ works that have been performed throughout the world; he is also active as a conductor.

Prof. Adler is the son of cantor-composer Hugo Adler, who moved the family to the USA in 1939. He studied violin with Albert Levy as a child and later studied composition with Herbert Fromm and Hugo Norden at Boston University, where he earned his BMus in 1948. He then studied with Aaron Copland, Paul Hindemith, Paul Pisk, Walter Piston, and Randall Thompson at Harvard University, where he earned his MA in 1950, and also studied conducting with Sergey Koussevitzky at Tanglewood in 1949. He received honorary doctorates from the St. Louis Conservatory, St. Mary's Notre-Dame, Southern Methodist University, and Wake Forest University from 1968-79.

Among his honors are the Army Medal of Honor (1953, for his organization of the Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra), the Charles Ives Living Prize (1961), the Lillian Fairchild Award (1974), and the Deems Taylor Award (1983, for The Study of Orchestration). Other honors include the Composer of the Year Award from MTNA (1988-89), the Award of the American Academy of Arts and Letters (1990) and the Special Citation from the American Foundation of Music Clubs (2001).

He has received grants from the Rockefeller (1965) and Ford (1966-71) foundations, as well as five MacDowell fellowships (1954-55, 1957, 1959, 1964) and one Guggenheim Fellowship (1975-76). He has been a member of the Academia Chilena de Bellas Artes since 1993, the Akademie der Künste in Mannheim since 1999 and the American Academy of Arts and Letters since 2001.

As a conductor, he has led orchestras throughout the USA and conducted the Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra in Europe from 1950-52. He served as music director at Temple Emanu-El in Dallas from 1953-66 and of the Dallas Chorale and Dallas Lyric Theater from 1954-58.

His books are Anthology for the Teaching of Choral Conducting (1971, Holt, Reinhart and Winston; second edition, 1985, Schirmer Books), Sight Singing (1979, second edition, 1997, W.W. Norton) and The Study of Orchestration (1982, second edition, 1989, third edition, 2001, W.W. Norton).

He taught Fine Arts at the Hockaday School in Dallas from 1955-66 and taught as a professor of composition at North Texas State University from 1957-66. He then taught at the Eastman School of Music from 1966-95, where he served as chair of the composition department from 1974-95 and retired as professor emeritus, and has taught at the Juilliard School since 1997. He has given lectures throughout the Americas and in Asia and Europe and served as the Honorary Professorial Fellow at the University College in Cardiff in 1984-85.

In addition to the works listed below, Prof. Adler has made numerous arrangements and has written didactic music.

CONTACT INFORMATION

E-mail address: sadlercomp@yahoo.com

Street address: Prof. Samuel Adler, 9412 Sheffield Rd., Perrysburg, OH 43551-3750, USA

Telephone: 419 666 9519

COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS

STAGE: The Outcast of Poker Flat (1 act opera, libretto by Judah Stampfer), soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, baritone, bass, male chorus, orchestra, 1959; The Wrestler (1 act opera, libretto by Judah Stampfer), soprano, mezzo-soprano, 3 tenors, 3 baritones, children's chorus, female chorus, male chorus, orchestra, 1971; The Lodge of Shadows (music drama, text by Jarold Ramsey), baritone, dance troupe, small orchestra, 1973; The Disappointment (reconstruction of early American ballad opera, libretto by Andrew Barton), soprano, mezzo-soprano, 2 tenors, 4 baritones, 2 flutes, oboe, string quartet, double bass, harpsichord, 1974; The Waking (ballet, scenario by the composer, after Countee Cullen, Georgia Douglas Johnson, Theodore Roethke, James Stephens), children's chorus, mixed chorus, orchestra, 1978

ORCHESTRAL, 1940s-80s: Concert Piece, brass orchestra, 1946; Praeludium, brass orchestra, 1947; Divertimento, brass orchestra, 1948; Symphony No. 1, 1953; Toccata, large orchestra, 1954; Concertino No. 1, string orchestra, 1955; The Feast of Lights, 1955; Summer Stock, 1955; Symphony No. 2, 1957; Jubilee, large orchestra, 1958; Southwestern Sketches, symphonic band, 1960; Symphony No. 3, 'Diptych', symphonic band, 1960, revised 1980-81; Rhapsody, violin, orchestra, 1961; Song and Dance, viola, orchestra, 1961; Elegy, string orchestra, 1962; Four Early American Folksongs, string orchestra, 1962; Requiescat in pace (in memoriam John F. Kennedy), 1963; Festive Prelude, symphonic band, 1965; Song and Dance, viola, orchestra, 1965; Symphony No. 4, 'Geometrics', 1967; City by the Lake, 1968; Concerto, symphonic band, 1968; Five Vignettes, 12 trombones, 1968; Brass Fragments, brass orchestra, 1970; Organ Concerto, 1970; Concerto for Orchestra, 1971; Histrionics, symphonic band, 1971; Sinfonietta, 1971; Concertino No. 2, string orchestra, 1976; A Little Bit of..., string orchestra, 1976; A Little Night and Day Music, symphonic band, 1976; Flute Concerto, 1977; The Force of Credulity, symphonic band, 1977; An American Duo, symphonic band, 1981; Joi, Amor, Cortezia, small orchestra, 1982; Merrymakers, symphonic band, 1982; Piano Concerto, 1983; In Just Spring, large orchestra, 1984; Concerto, 4 saxophones, orchestra, 1985; Symphony No. 6, 1985; Double Visions, symphonic band, 1987; Beyond the Land (symphony), 1988; The Fixed Desire of the Human Heart, 1988

ORCHESTRAL, 1990s-2000s: Shadow Dances, large orchestra, 1990; Ultralight, symphonic band, 1990; Shir Hamaalot (concerto), flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, orchestra, 1991; To Celebrate a Miracle, 1991 (also version for symphonic band, 1999); Centennial, 1993; Concertino No. 3, string orchestra, 1993; Guitar Concerto, 1994; Cello Concerto, 1995; Art Creates Artists, large orchestra, 1996; Piano Concerto No. 2, 1996; Lux Perpetua (concerto), organ, large orchestra, 1997; Serenata concertante, flute, oboe, clarinet, alto saxophone, bassoon, symphonic band, 1997; Solemn March, symphonic band, 1997; American Airs and Dances, symphonic band, 1998; Dawn to Glory, symphonic band, 1998; Viola Concerto, 1999; Concerto, French horn, orchestra, 2001; Show an Affirming Flame, 2001; Beyond the Pale, clarinet, string orchestra, 2002

CHAMBER MUSIC, 1940s-70s: Sonata, French horn, piano, 1948; Sonata, French horn, piano, 1948; String Quartet No. 3, 1953, revised 1964; Sonata No. 2, violin, piano, 1956; Five Movements, French horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, tuba, 1963; String Quartet No. 4, 1963; Introduction and Capriccio, harp, 1964; Music for Eleven, 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, 5 percussion, 1964; Piano Trio No. 1, violin, cello, piano, 1964; Four Studies, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, 1965 (each of its four sections may be performed separately: Flaunting, flute; Oboration, oboe; Clarinon, clarinet; Bassoonery, bassoon); Sonata No. 3, violin, piano, 1965; Seven Epigrams, piccolo, flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, 1966; Sonata, cello, 1965; Intrada, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, 1967; Quintalogues, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, percussion, 1968; String Quartet No. 5, 1969; Canto I, trumpet, 1970; Canto II, bass trombone, 1970; Canto VI, double bass, 1971 (also revised as Canto VIA, double bass, 2000); Xenia, organ, percussion, 1971; Canto VII, tuba, 1972; A Dozen for Two, 2 violins, 1974; Four Dialogues, euphonium, marimba, 1974; Canto IV, alto saxophone, 1975; Déjà vu, 6 recorders, 1975; L'Olam vaed, cello, piano, 1975; Canto III, violin, 1976; Canto IX, timpani (+ rototoms), 1976; Aeolus, King of the Winds, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, 1977; Harobed, flute/clarinet, 1977; Line Drawings, 4 saxophones, 1978; Piano Trio No. 2, violin, cello, piano, 1978; Canto X, cello, 1979; Trumpet Triptych, 7 trumpets, 1979

CHAMBER MUSIC, 1980s-2000s: Tubetudes, tuba, 1980; Sonata, flute, 1981; String Quartet No. 7, 1981; Gottschalkiana, French horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, tuba, 1982; Introit and Toccatina, 2 trumpets, organ, 1982; Trumpetry, 2 trumpets, 1983; Canto XI, French horn, 1984; Sonata, viola, piano, 1984; Acrostics, flute, oboe, clarinet, violin, cello, harpsichord, 1985; Double Portrait, violin, piano, 1985; Sonata, guitar, 1985; Sonata, oboe, piano, 1985; Madrigals, 6 flutes, 1986; Pasiphae, piano, percussion, 1987; Acrostics, flute, oboe, clarinet, violin, cello, harpsichord, 1988; Meadowmountetudes, violin, 1988; Canto XII, bassoon, 1989; Close Encounters, violin, cello, 1989; Sonata, clarinet, piano, 1989; Sonata No. 4, violin, piano, 1989; Sounding, alto saxophone, piano, 1989; Triolet, flute, harp, viola, 1989; String Quartet No. 8, 1990; Ports of Call, guitar, 2 violins, 1992; Into the Radiant Boundaries of Light, guitar, viola, 1993; Canto XIII, piccolo, 1994; Porgy and Bess’ Rondo, marimba, 1994; Clarion Calls, trumpet, organ, 1995; Diary of a Journey, flute, bassoon, cello, 1995; Brahmsiana, 8 French horns, 1997; Canto XIV, clarinet, 1997; Canto XV, English horn, 1997; Pensive Soliloquy, alto saxophone, piano, 1997; Contrasting Inventions, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, 1998; Be Not Afraid: The Isle is Full of Noises, French horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, tuba, 1999; Divertissement, violin, marimba, 1999; Canto VIA, double bass, 2000 (revision of Canto VI); Canto XVI, double bass, 2000; Piano Quintet, piano, string quartet, 2000; Romp, string quartet, 2000; Scherzo Schmerzo, French horn, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, tuba, percussion, 2000

CHORAL, 1950s-60s: Five Choral Poems, mixed chorus, 1954; Three Encore Songs, mixed chorus, 1955; Three Madrigals, mixed chorus, 1955; In Nature's Ebb and Flow (texts by Lizette Woodworth Reese, Edwin Arlington Robinson, Hubert Wolfe, Emily Dickinson, Edna St. Vincent Millay), female chorus, piano, 1960; Shir chadash (service), baritone, mixed chorus, organ, 1960; Five American Folksongs, mixed chorus, 1961; The Vision of Isaiah (text from the Bible), baritone, mixed chorus, orchestra, 1962; B'Shaaray tefilah (service), baritone, mixed chorus, organ, 1963 (also version with orchestra, 1963); Contrasts, mixed chorus, 1964; Five Choral Pictures, mixed chorus, 1964; Shiru ladonay (service), mixed/unison chorus, organ, 1965; Behold Your God (cantata, text from the Bible), mixed chorus, French horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, tuba, 1966 (also version for mixed chorus, organ, 1966); The Binding (oratorio, text by A. Friedlander, after the Bible), boy soprano, soprano, alto, tenor, bass, mixed chorus, orchestra, 1967; From out of Bondage (text from the Bible), soprano, alto, tenor, bass, mixed chorus, French horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, tuba, organ, percussion, 1968; Begin My Muse (song-cycle), male chorus, 5 percussion, 1969; Hinay yom hadin – Behold the Day of Judgment, tenor, 4 mixed choruses, 1969; Two Views of Love, male chorus, 1969; A Whole Bunch of Fun (cantata, texts by Catullus, Finjan, Thomas Moore, Ogden Nash, Theodore Roethke, Dr. Seuss), soprano, baritone, 3 mixed choruses, orchestra, 1969

CHORAL, 1970s: Division, mixed chorus, 1971; Serenade (text by William Blake), mixed chorus, harp, symphonic band, 1971; Some Laughter, Some Tears, mixed chorus, 1971; Three Responses, mixed chorus, 1973; V’Shamru, mixed chorus, 1973; Listen to My Word, Lord, mixed chorus, organ, 1974; Seek Thy Servant, mixed chorus, 1974; We Believe: A Hymn of Faith (ecumenical mass), soprano, alto, tenor, bass, mixed chorus, flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, bassoon, violin, cello, amplified harpsichord, percussion, 1974; Blow the Wind Southerly, female chorus, 1975; Jubellied, mixed chorus, 1975; Leisure (madrigal), mixed chorus, 1976; Three Poems from the Chinese, mixed chorus, 1976; A Falling of Saints (text by Samuel Rosenbaum), tenor, bass, mixed chorus, orchestra, 1977; It Is to God I Shall Sing (text from the Book of Psalms), mixed chorus, organ, 1977; Azi v'zimrat ya, mixed chorus, 1978; Eli Tziyon, mixed chorus, 1978; It Is to God I Shall Sing, mixed chorus, organ, 1979; N’Ilah Fragment, soprano, mixed chorus, 1979; Sayings of the Father, mixed chorus, piano, 1979; Sing Praises (text from Psalm 100), mixed chorus, 1979; Two Nonsense Songs, mixed chorus, piano, 1979

CHORAL, 1980s: Two Shelley Songs, mixed chorus, 1980 (both songs may be performed separately: To–; The Fugitives); Hashkivenu, baritone, mixed chorus, 1981; Jacob's Ladder, mixed chorus, organ, 1981; The Twenty-Third Psalm, tenor, mixed chorus, 1981; The Flames of Freedom, mixed chorus, piano, 1982; I Think Continually of Those (text by Sir Stephen Spender), mixed chorus, 1983; My Boy Willie, female chorus, piano, 1983; Never was a Child So Lovely, female chorus, piano, 1983; The Way They are, mixed chorus, 1983; Havdalah Service, mixed chorus, piano/organ, 1984; L'Cha dodi, mixed chorus, flute, piano/organ, 1984; Praise Thy Saving Power, male chorus, piano, 1984; To Freedom, mixed chorus, piano/organ, 1984; Psalm 146, mixed chorus, 1985; Rededication, male chorus, French horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, tuba, 1985; Twelve Songs of Praise, mixed chorus, organ, 1985; Choose Life (oratorio), mezzo-soprano, tenor, mixed chorus, orchestra, 1986; High Flight, mixed chorus, small orchestra, 1986; A Prayer for Peace, mixed chorus, piano, string orchestra, 1986; 'Round the Globe (texts from folksongs), high chorus, piano, 1986; Shir hamaalot, high chorus, piano, 1986; Farmer's Curst Wife, mixed chorus, 1987; Let Us Rejoice, mixed chorus, handbells ensemble, 1987; Ma tovu, cantor, mixed chorus, organ, 1987; To Remember: To be Remembered (texts by Lionel Johnson, William Shakespeare), mixed chorus, 1987; Stars in the Dust (cantata), soloists, mixed chorus, orchestra, 1988; Any Human to Another (cantata, text by Theodore Roethke), mixed chorus, piano, string orchestra, 1989; Verses from Isaiah, mixed chorus, organ, handbells ensemble, brass orchestra, 1989

CHORAL, 1990s-2000s: Yamim naraim I-II, mixed chorus, 1990-91; Ever since Babylon (cantata), soloists, mixed chorus, orchestra, 1991; A Prophecy of Peace, mixed chorus, 1992; A Prolific Source of Sorrow, mixed chorus, flute, 1994; Call to Worship, cantor, mixed chorus, organ, 1995; Family Portraits (text by Jimmy Carter), mixed chorus, symphonic band, 1995; Rogues and Lovers (texts from folksongs), mixed chorus, symphonic band, 1995; Five Sephardic Choruses, mixed chorus, piano, 1998; Psalm Trilogy, mixed chorus, 1998; Transfiguration (ecumenical mass), soprano, alto, mixed chorus, French horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, tuba, organ, 2000

CHORAL, UNDATED: Awake, Do Not Cast Us off, mixed chorus; The Feast of Lights, mixed chorus, piano (also version for mixed chorus, orchestra); The Hanukkah Story, female chorus, piano; How Long, O Lord?, double mixed chorus, French horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, tuba, organ, 3 percussion; How Precious is Thy Loving Kindness, soprano, mixed chorus; How Sweet the Sound, mixed chorus, piano/organ; A Hymn of Praise, tenor, mixed chorus; I Will Give Thanks unto the Lord, mixed chorus; Judah's Song of Praise, mixed chorus, piano (also version for mixed chorus, orchestra); O Lord, Awesome is Your Name, mixed chorus, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, organ; Praised by the Lord by Day, mixed chorus; Praise the Lord, female chorus, piano; Proclaim God's Greatness, mixed chorus, organ; Psalm 24, mixed chorus, brass orchestra; Psalm 40, mixed chorus; Psalm 67, mixed chorus; Psalm 96, mixed chorus; Psalm 100, mixed chorus; A Psalm of Praise, mixed chorus; Set Me as a Seal upon Thy Heart (text from the Song of Solomon), mezzo-soprano, mixed chorus; Song of Exultation, mixed chorus; A Song of Hanukkah, mixed chorus, piano (also version for mixed chorus, orchestra); A Song of Welcome, mixed chorus, piano; Spin Dreidel Spin, female chorus, piano; The Steps to Wisdom, 4 equal voices; Two Psalm Motets, mixed chorus; Two Songs of Hope, male chorus; Who Can Retell?, female chorus, piano; Wisdom Cometh with the Years, mixed chorus, orchestra; Yism’chu, mixed chorus; Yom Hashabbat, mixed chorus, flute, cello

VOCAL, 1950s-60s: Three Songs about Nature (text by James Stephens), soprano, piano, 1950; Three Songs about Love (text from Old English sources), high voice, piano, 1953; Three Songs about the Times of Man, medium voice, piano, 1954; In Thine Own Image (text by Fania Kruger), medium voice, piano, 1955; Miscellany (serenade), mezzo-soprano, English horn, string quartet, 1956; Two Songs from the Portuguese, mezzo-soprano, piano, 1956; Two Sacred Songs: A Woman of Valor, soprano/mezzo-soprano, organ, 1962; Two Songs for Three Years (texts by Ruth Whitman, Ogden Nash), baritone, piano, 1964; I Will Betroth Thee unto Me, soprano, organ, 1965; Wish for a Young Wife (song-cycle, text by Theodore Roethke), tenor, piano, 1966; Canto V (text by Hyam Plutzik), soprano, flute, cello, 3 percussion, 1968; Cupid Is (text by Delmore Schwartz), bass-baritone, piano, 1968; Lament, baritone, small orchestra, 1968; Songs with Winds, soprano, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, 1969

VOCAL, 1970s: Dabair eylai attah – Speak Thou to Me (text by Yehuda Amichai), soprano, piano/organ, 1970; Thou, mezzo-soprano, flute, 1972; Bar Mitzvah, medium voice, organ, 1974; My God, I Believe in You So Much, medium voice, organ, 1974; The Passionate Sword (texts by Jean Starr Untermeyer, Louis Untermeyer), baritone, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, percussion, 1974; Nuptial Scene (text from a 15th-century Catalonian-Hebrew marriage poem), mezzo-soprano, flute, oboe, bass clarinet, violin, viola, cello, celesta, percussion, 1975; String Quartet No. 6 (text by Walt Whitman), mezzo-soprano/baritone, string quartet, 1975; Symphony No. 5, 'We are the Echoes' (texts by Cyrus Adler, A.J. Heschel, J. Robert Oppenheimer, Muriel Rukeyser, Karl Wolfskehl), mezzo-soprano, large orchestra, 1975; Of Saints and Sinners (texts by Irving Feldman, the Bible, Walter Kaufmann, Robert Mezey, Charles Reznikoff), medium voice, piano, 1976; Of Musique, Poetrie, Nature, and Love (text by Robert Herrick), mezzo-soprano, flute, piano, 1978; Ask Me, mezzo-soprano, ensemble, 1979

VOCAL, 1980s-2000s: Snow Tracks (texts by American poets), high voice, symphonic band, 1981; The Rocking Horse Winner, soprano, oboe, cello, piano, 1984; Many Times, high voice, piano, 1984; Unholy Sonnets (text by John Donne), tenor, piano, 1985; Two Traditional Japanese Songs, soprano, piano, 1985; Three Psalms, medium voice, organ, 1987; Just So, high voice, piano, 1988; Love Song (text by Rainer Maria Rilke), soprano, oboe, 1989; Domestic Tranquillity, soprano, oboe, piano, 1992; Reconciliation, soprano, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, 1992; Primavera amarilla (text by Juan Ramón Jiménez), mezzo-soprano, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, 1993; Time in Tempest Everywhere (text by Wystan Hugh Auden), soprano, oboe, piano, small orchestra, 1993; May and Moritz, speaker, orchestra, 1997; Those were the Days (text by Donald Justice), soprano, piano, 2000; The Challenge of the Muse (text by Judah al-Harzi), soprano, tenor, orchestra, 2003

PIANO: Capriccio, 1954; Sonata breve, 1963; Canto VIII, 1973; Gradus, Books I-III, 1979; Sonatina, 1979; Thy Song Expands My Spirit, 1980; The Sense of Touch, 1981; Duo Sonata, 2 pianos, 1983; The Road to Terpsichore: A Suite of Dances, 1988; Rushing Waters (toccata), 1999; Four Portraits, 2002

ORGAN: Two Meditations, 1955, revised 1964; Toccata, Recitation and Postlude, 1959; The Feast of Weeks, 1962; The Lord of All, 1962; Welcoming the Sabbath, 1963; Reflection, 1979; Fantasia on the Name Craighead, 1980; Wind Songs, 1982; Hymnset, 1983; Epistrophe (sonata), 1990; Festive Proclamations, 1995

HARPSICHORD: Sonata, 1982; Bridges to Span Diversity, 1989

(Last updated on April 10, 2003)