Becker, John Joseph
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Becker, John Joseph
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Becker, John Joseph
Becker, John J.
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Name :
Becker, John J.
Becker, John
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Becker, John
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Biographical History
John Joseph Becker, 1886-1961, was an American composer.
Music to the play by Alfred Kreymborg. Composed 1939.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.
Text is a poem by Ezra Pound which begins "Dark eyed O woman of my dreams." Composed 1932 as a ballet with poem.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.
Poem by Mark Turbyfill. Composed 1935. Dedicated to Charles E. Ives.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.
Stage work no. 5-b is the second of three plays with music written in collaboration with Alfred Kreymborg. First performance, Albert Lea, Minnesota, 7 June 1940, Minnesota Symphony Orchestra, the composer conducting.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.
From 3rd movement of Symphony no. 6. Composed for Efrem Kurtz, 1942. Dedicated to General Douglas MacArthur and his gallant troops. For complete symphony see callno.: 4760 --Cf. Fleisher Collection.
Composed 1937.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.
Composed 1912. First performance Minneapolis, 8 August 1940, Minnesota Symphony Orchestra of the WPA, Bernhard Andersen conductor. According to numerous correspondences from the composer's widow, Evelyn Becker, these two pieces were incorrectly labelled "Two pieces for orchestra," and are actually the first two movements of the three-movement suite, "Cossack sketches," inspired by the Leo Tolstoy novel "The Cossacks."--Cf. Fleisher Collection.
This version completed 1920. Composer's note: The Agnus Dei section may be sung by a male choir. First performance of original version Frankfurt, Germany.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.
Composed 1933.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.
Completed 1931. First performance St. Paul, Minnesota, 14 May 1936, Minnesota Symphony Orchestra of the WPA, Paul Lemay conductor. --Cf. Fleisher Collection.
Completed 1912. First performance Northrop Memorial Auditorium, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 17 June 1936, Twin Cities Civic Orchestra of the WPA, Gabriel Fenyves conductor.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.
Suggested by the Leo Tolstoy novel, The Cossacks. Composed 1912 as the third of a three movement suite. The other two were incorrectly labelled "Two pieces for orchestra."--Fleisher Collection.
Composed 1912. First performance Minneapolis, 8 August 1940, Minnesota Symphony Orchestra of the WPA, Bernhard Andersen conductor. According to numerous correspondences from the composer's widow, Evelyn Becker, these two pieces were incorrectly labelled "Two pieces for orchestra," and are actually the first two movements of the three-movement suite, "Cossack sketches, " inspired by the Leo Tolstoy novel "The Cossacks."--Fleisher Collection.
Text for 2nd movement by Alfred Kreymborg. Text for 3rd movement by Abraham Lincoln. Victory march in 3rd movement written for Efrem Kurtz at his request. Composed 1941-42. Dedicated to the composer's three sons. Victory march also available separately, callno.: 4744.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.
Composed 1938.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.
Composed 1942. Dedicated to Dr. Hans Rosenwald.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.
John Joseph Becker (1886-1961) was an ultramodernist composer, conductor, and educator.
Becker was a member of a group of avant-garde composers known as a the "American Five." This group, which included Charles Ives, Henry Cowell, Carl Ruggles, and Wallingford Riegger, was known for its dissonant, distinctly American style of music that broke away from European styles of compostion. Becker wrote symphonies, concertos, orchestral suites, songs, and choral works (especially religious works). Among his notable works, A Marriage with Space (1935), is often cited as most representative of his new forms for the stage by incorporating sound, light, dance, and poetry. He was honored late in his career when his Symphonia Brevis (written in 1930-1931) was performed at Carnegie Hall in 1958. Based in the Midwest, Becker taught at Catholic schools in several states, including the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota (1929-1933). He also spent six years working as the Director of the Federal Music Project for the state of Minnesota (1935-1941). Throughout his career, Becker also wrote extensively about music and culture; he also served as an editor of New Music, along with Cowell, who had founded the publication.
Composer's note in score: with the exception of the Interludes, the piano is played as a percussion instrument. Commissioned by Diana Huebert and Carleton College, 1938. Composed 1938. First performance Northfield, Minnesota, 12 December 1938, by a group at Carleton College, the composer conducting, Diana Huebert, dancer. According to Don Gillespie via a phonecall 4/16/84, the correct title of this piece is Vigilante-1938, a dance. Our copy of the score only has the title "A dance," and this is the title as it appears on the questionnaire signed by the composer, and in the Catalog of
his works compiled by Evelyn Becker.-Cf. Fleisher Collection.
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https://viaf.org/viaf/237836639
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Languages Used
eng
Zyyy
Subjects
Ballet
Ballet
Ballets
Ballets
Choruses, Sacred (Equal voices, 3 parts), Unaccompanied
Choruses, Sacred (Equal voices, 3 parts) with organ
Choruses, Sacred (Equal voices, 3 parts) with piano
Choruses, Sacred (Men's voices, 4 parts), Unaccompanied
Choruses, Sacred (Mixed voices), Unaccompanied
Christmas music
Composers
Composers
Concertos (Flute)
Concertos (Flutes (2))
Concertos (Horn)
Concertos (Piano)
Concertos (Piano)
Concertos (Viola)
Dance music
Dramatic music
Incidental music
Incidental music
Manuscripts (Books)
Marches (Orchestra)
Masses (Unison), Unaccompanied
Monologues with music (Chorus with piano)
Motets
Music
Music
Music
Musical sketches
Music teachers
Offertories (Music)
Orchestral music
Orchestral music
Orchestral music, Arranged
Percussion and piano music
Percussion ensembles
Percussion music
Piano music
Piano music
Piano with percussion ensemble
Sacred vocal quartets with organ
Sextets (Piano, violins (2), viola, violoncello, double bass)
Sonatas (Clarinet and flute)
Song cycles
Songs (High voice) with piano
Songs (Medium voice) with instrumental ensemble
Songs (Medium voice) with piano
Suites (Chamber orchestra)
Suites (Orchestra)
Symphonies
Symphonies
Symphonies (Chamber orchestra)
Trios (Piano, percussion)
Nationalities
Activities
Occupations
Composers
Music teachers
Legal Statuses
Places
United States
as recorded (not vetted)
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United States
as recorded (not vetted)
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