Jacobi, Frederick

Jacobi, Frederick, American composer, conductor, and teacher; b. San Francisco, May 4, 1891; d. N.Y., Oct. 24, 1952. He was a student of Gallico, Joseffy, Goldmark, and Bloch in N.Y., and of Juon at the Berlin Hochschule für Musik. After studying the music of the Pueblo Indians in N.Mex. and Ariz., he returned to N.Y. and taught harmony at the Master School of the United Arts (1924–36) and composition at the Juilliard Graduate School (1936–50). He also served as director of the American section of the ISCM, and actively promoted the cause of contemporary American music. In 1945 he received the David Bispham Award for his opera The Prodigal Son. In some of his works, he made use of native American Indian themes. However, his music as a whole was characterized by an assured usage of Classical and Romantic idioms in a contemporary style.

Works

dramatic: Opera: The Prodigal Son (1943–44). ORCH.: The Pied Piper, symphonic poem (1915); A California Suite (San Francisco, Dec. 6, 1917); The Eve of St. Agnes, symphonic poem (1919); 2 syms.: No. 1, Assyrian (1922; San Francisco, Nov. 14, 1924) and No. 2 (1947; San Francisco, April 1, 1948); Indian Dances (1927–28); 3 Psalms for Cello and Orch. (1932); Piano Concerto (1934–35); Violin Concerto (1936–37); Ave Rota: 3 Pieces in Multiple Style for Piano and Orch. (1939); Rhapsody for Harp and Strings (1940); Night Piece for Flute and Small Orch. (1940); Ode (1941); Concertino for Piano and Strings (Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Sept. 3, 1946); 2 Pieces in Sabbath Mood (1946); Music Hall, overture (1948). CHAMBER: Nocturne for String Quartet (n.d.); 3 Preludes for Violin and Piano (1921); 3 string quartets (“on Indian Themes,” 1924; 1933; 1945); Scherzo for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, and Horn (1936); Swing Boy for Violin and Piano (1937); Hagiographia: 3 Biblical Narratives for String Quartet and Piano (1938); Fantasy for Viola and Piano (1941); Ballade for Violin and Piano (1942); Impressions from the Odyssey for Violin and Piano (1945); Music for Monticello for Flute, Cello, and Piano (1945); Meditation for Trombone and Piano (1947); Cello Sonata (1950); Night Piece and Dance for Flute and Piano (1952). keyboard: piano: 6 Pieces (1921); Pieces for Children (1935); Fantasy Sonata (1945); Moods (1946); Prelude (1946); Toccata (1946); Introduction and Toccata (1946); Suite fantasque (1948). organ:6 Pieces for Use in the Synagogue (1933); 3 Quiet Preludes (1950). VOCAL: The Poet in the Desert for Baritone, Chorus, and Orch. (1925); Sabbath Evening Service for Baritone and Chorus (1930–31); Sadia, hymn for Men’s Voices (1942); Ahavas Olom for Tenor, Chorus, and Organ (1945); Contemplation for Chorus and Piano (1947); Ode to Zion for Chorus and 2 Harps (1948); Arvit I’shabbat: Friday Evening Service No. 2 for Cantor, Chorus, and Organ (1952); songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire