Rosner, Arnold
Rosner, Arnold
Rosner, Arnold , American composer and teacher; b. N.Y., Nov. 8, 1945. He studied mathematics at N.Y.U., and theory and composition with Leo Smit, Allen Sapp, and Lejaren Hiller at the State Univ. of N.Y. at Buffalo (Ph.D., 1972). From 1983 he taught at Kingsborough Community Coll. His music is couched formally in a neo-Classical idiom, but he freely admits melodic, harmonic, and contrapuntal methods of contemporary usage.
Works
DRAMATIC: Opera: The Chronicle of Nine (1984); Bontsche Schweig (1994). ORCH.: 6 syms. (1961, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1973, 1976); 5 Meditations (1967); 6 Pastoral Dances (1968); A Gentle Musicke for Flute and Strings (1969); A Mylai Elegy (1971); 2 concerti grossi (1974, 1979); 5 Ko-ans (1976); Responses, Hosanna, and Fugue for Harp and Strings (1977); Nocturne (1978); From the Diaries of Adam Czerniakow for Narrator and Orch. (1986); Gematria (1991); A Sephardic Rhapsody (1992); Variations on a Theme by Frank Martin (1996); Concerto for 2 Trumpets, Strings, and Timpani (1997); Tempus Perfectum (1998); A Millennium Overture (1999). Band : Trinity (1988); Lovely Joan (1990); De Profundis (1991); Eclipse (1994); Dances of Initiation (1993); RAG A! (1995). CHAMBER: 5 string quartets (1962, 1963, 1965, 1972, 1975); Sonata for Flute and Cello (1962); Violin Sonata (1963); Woodwind Quintet (1964); Concertino for Harp, Harpsichord, Celesta, and Piano (1968; rev. 1988); 2 cello sonatas (1968, 1989); Sonata for Oboe or Violin and Piano (1972); Brass Quintet (1978); Horn Sonata (1979); A Plaintive Harmony for Horn (1988); Trombone Sonata (1997); Serpentine for Clarinet and Piano (1998). KEYBOARD: piano:3 sonatas (1963, 1970, 1978); Of Numbers and Bells for 2 Pianos (1983). Harpsichord: Musique de clavecin (1974); Sonatine d’amour (1987). VOCAL : Choral: 3 Masses (1967, 1971, 1974); Requiem (1973); Magnificat (1979); Let Them Praise for Boy’s Chorus (1984). Songs: 3 Elegiac Songs (1973); Night-stone (1979); Besos sin Cuento for Low Voice, Flute, Viola, and Harp (1989); Songs of Lightness and Angels for Voice, Horn, and Piano (1990); The Parable of the Law for Baritone and Orch., after Kafka (1993); Of Songs and Sonnets for Countertenor and Harpsichord, after Milton (1997).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire