Bacon, Ernst, 1898-1990

Variant names
Dates:
Birth 1898-05-26
Death 1990-03-16
Americans,
German, English,

Biographical notes:

Ernst Bacon, 1898-1990, was an American composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.

From the description of Papers, 1962-1976 (inclusive), 1972-1976 (bulk). (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122639945

From the guide to the Ernst Bacon papers, 1962-1976 (inclusive, 1972-1976, (The New York Public Library. Music Division.)

Composed 1937. First performance Chicago, 5 February 1940, Illinois Symphony Orchestra of the Works Progress Administration, the composer conducting.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

From the description of Symphony no. 2 / Ernst Bacon. [193-?] (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 43300126

Composer.

From the description of Ernst Bacon autograph letter to Benno Frank, 1958 June 18. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 366710267

From the description of Ernst Bacon autograph letter to H. Wolfes, 1958 July 16. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 366668198

From the description of Ernst Bacon autograph letter to H. Wolfes, 1958 Dec. 1. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 366662975

California composer; pianist; author, pioneer in composition in scales other than major and minor, music theoretician.

From the description of Ernst Bacon papers, 1926-1990. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122510601

American composer and pianist, first Director of the San Francisco Federal Music Project, Works Progress Administration, 1935-1937.

From the description of Ernst Bacon papers, 1933-1986. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122585791

Text and narration by Paul Horgan from Great River: The Rio Grande in North American History (1954). Composed 1955-56. First performance Dallas, Texas, 11 February 1957, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Walter Hendl conductor.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

From the description of Great River : the Rio Grande : for symphony orchestra with narrator / music by Ernst Bacon ; text by Paul Horgan. [195-?] (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 43300016

American composer; d. 1990.

From the description of Ernst Bacon collection, 1931-1990. (Boston University). WorldCat record id: 70960120

Commissioned by the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra. Composed 1962. Portions of the music originally composed for solo piano. First performance of orchestral version Syracuse, New York, 18 January 1963, Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, Karl Kritz conductor, the composer as soloist. Dedicated to Karl Kritz and the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

From the description of Riolama : ten places for piano and orchestra / Ernst Bacon. 1962. (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 43300109

Composed 1957. First performance Stanford, California, 1957, Stanford University Symphony, the composer conducting.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

From the description of Concerto grosso : for string orchestra or quintet / Ernst Bacon. [195-?] (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 43250048

Composed 1931. First performance (of last three movements only) San Francisco, 5 January 1934, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Issay Dobrowen conductor. Awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1932.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

From the description of Symphony in 4 movements / Ernst Bacon. [193-?] (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 43300119

Ernst Bacon, composer, pianist, and conductor was born on May 26, 1898. He studied at Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, and the University of California, also privately with Alexander Raab, Glenn Dillard Gunn, Ernest Bloch, and Karl Weigl. Among the awards and grants he received are the Bispham Award, the Ditson and the League of Composers Commission, the Pulitzer fellowship, a Guggenheim fellowship, and grants from the National Institute of Arts and Letters, American Society of Authors, Composers, and Publishers, and The National Endowment for the Arts. A multi-faceted musician, Bacon composed and conducted symphonies, operas, piano concertos, musical theater, and ensemble and solo instrumental and vocal works. In addition, he concertized as a pianist in Europe and America, and he conducted the WPA orchestra in California from 1935 to 1937. He taught and administered at Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester (1926-1927), Syracuse University (1945-1947), and Converse College (1938-1945). Ernst Bacon died on March 16, 1990, in Orinda, California.

From the description of Ernst Bacon collection, 1907-1990 (bulk 1930-1980). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 71055189

Premiered 25 February, 1977 for a Bicentennial Concert featuring the Palo Alto Youth Symphony, massed high school choirs from Palo Alto, and the Stanford University Choir, Dr. William Ramsey, guest conductor.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

From the description of Usania : chorus, orchestra, narrator and bass solo : a small oratorio / Ernst Bacon. 1977. (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 43300204

Composed 1926. Originally, the fugue was composed for solo piano. Prelude was added at the time of scoring. First performance Rochester, New York, 23 April 1926, Rochester Philharmonic, Howard Hanson conductor. Revised 1927.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

From the description of Prelude and fugue : "2nd version", for large orchestra / by Ernst Bacon. 1927. (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 43300063

First performed by the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, 29 April, 1927.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

From the description of Der du von dem himmel bist (Goethe) ; Beat! beat! drums! / Ernst Bacon ; poem [for 2nd song] by Walt Whitman with obligato [sic] voice. [1926?]. (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 43300168

Composer and pianist born in Chicago 1898; taught at Eastman School, and later supervised the WPA Federal Music Project in San Francisco; he became professor of music at Syracuse University in 1945, and was named professor emeritus in 1964.

From the description of Ernst Bacon papers, 1926-1987. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 81675791

Commissioned as a college opera by the League of Composers. Text of play by Paul Horgan. First performance Spartanburg, South Carolina, 2 May 1942, at Spartanburg Music Festival. Revised 1961.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

From the description of A tree on the plains : music play in 2 acts / text by Paul Horgan ; music by Ernst Bacon. [19--?] (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 43300146

Originally composed as incidental music for productions of Shakespeare's The Tempest at Converse College, Spartanburg, South Carolina and at Syracuse University. Suite commissioned by the Louisville Symphony. Suite composed 1954. First performance Louisville, Kentucky, 26 June 1954, Louisville Symphony Orchestra, Robert Whitney conductor.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

From the description of The enchanted isle / Ernst Bacon. [195-?] (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 43250092

Sender and recipient are both American composers. They collaborated in composing a 2-piano work, Coal scuttle blues.

From the guide to the Correspondence to Ernst Bacon, 1925 June 9 to 1987 Feb.13, (The New York Public Library. Music Division.)

Also called Cornbelt.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

From the description of [Meadlowland : a few pieces for band from the American soil] / E. Bacon. [19--] (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 145498379

Biographical Sketch

Ernst Bacon, composer, pianist, and conductor was born on May 26, 1898. He was the son of Dr. Charles S. Bacon and Maria von Rosthorn Bacon, herself a Viennese-trained musician. He studied at Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, and the University of California, also privately with Alexander Raab, Glenn Dillard Gunn, Ernest Bloch, and Karl Weigl. Among the numerous awards and grants he received are the Bispham Award, the Ditson and the League of Composers Commission, the Pulitzer fellowship, a Guggenheim fellowship, and grants from the National Institute of Arts and Letters, American Society of Authors, Composers, and Publishers, and The National Endowment for the Arts. A multi-faceted musician, Bacon composed and conducted symphonies, operas, piano concertos, musical theater, ensemble and solo instrumental and vocal works. In addition, he concertized as a pianist in Europe and America, and he conducted the WPA orchestra in California from 1935 to 1937. He taught and administered at Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester(1926-27), Syracuse University's music department (1945-47), and Converse College in South Carolina (1938-45). He distinguished himself as a writer with such works as Notes on the Piano, The Honor of Music, and Words on Music . In Our Musical Idioms Bacon presented a new theory of scale models derived from diatonic scales. He was also music critic for "The Argonaut," the weekly publication of Converse College. Ernst Bacon was respected as a philosopher by close circle of friends who were fortunate enough to get to see his unpublished writings, [i.e. Imaginary Dialogues and his many poems]. He was a highly opinionated man, a fact which can be witnessed by the large volume of letters to the editor written to several major and not so major serials.

Paul Horgan, one of Ernst Bacon's close friends and his sometime collaborator, summarized Ernst Bacon by writing: "...his wonderful variousness of gifts all gather at the center in the name of the art inherent in mankind. With him, to see deeply is to see in a wide-angled vision; and to create is for him to release his full richness of nature in all his work. ...If there is no Grand Duke of Weimar now available to give his genius full patronage and opportunity, I think we may, even as we deplore the lack of comforting recognitions and rewards commensurate with his achievement, safely leave the future the proper recognition of Ernst Bacon as a great man and a great artist."

Bacon was a devoted family man. He married four times and had six children. Ernst Bacon died on March 16, 1990 in Orinda, California.

From the guide to the Ernst Bacon Collection, 1907-1990, (bulk 1930-1980), (Music Division Library of Congress)

Ernst Bacon (1898-1990) was an American composer, pianist, conductor, chamber musician, and teacher. For much of his teaching career he was Director of the School of Music at Syracyse University.

Born in Chicago, May 26, 1898, the son of Dr. Charles S. and Maria von Rosthorn Bacon, he attended Northwestern University and the University of Chicago, but obtained his master's degree from the University of California in 1935. He studied in Vienna for a time. After his return, He was associated with the Rochester Opera Company. Later he became conductor of the San Francisco Orchestra of the Federal Music Project, 1935-1937.

His first academic appointment was as acting professor of music at Hamilton College, in New York. Later he became Dean of the School of Music at Converse College, Spartanburg, South Carolina, 1938-1945. Mr. Bacon was appointed Director of the School of Music at Syracuse University in 1945, where he also taught piano and composition. In 1947 he became composer-in-residence. In Sept. 1964, he became composer-in-residence at the University of California at Berkley.

Mr. Bacon's major compositions were a musical play, A Drumlin Legend, commissioned by the Ditson Fund and premiered at the Columbia University Festival of Contemporary Music; his orchestral suite, From These States, in eleven movements, performed by the NBC Symphony; and his folk opera, A Tree on the Plains, commissioned originally by the League of Composers in 1940, had its premier at the Spartanburg, S.C., Festival, and which received the David Bispham Award for Contemporary Opera, Chicago 1946.

Mr. Bacon was awarded the Pulitzer Fellowship in 1932; Guggenheim Fellowship in 1939, 1942, Campion Citation; Grant-Citation National Institute of Arts and Letters; and he wrote musical criticism for the New York Times as well as musical commentary for the Syracuse Post-Standard and the Berkley Gazette . He is the author of the book Words on Music .

From the guide to the Ernst Bacon Papers, 1928-1990, (Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries)

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Subjects:

  • American literature
  • Musicians
  • Art, American
  • Ballets
  • Band music
  • Brass band music
  • Canons, fugues, etc. (Orchestra)
  • Cantatas
  • Cantatas, Sacred
  • Cantatas, Secular
  • Choruses (Mixed voices) with orchestra
  • Choruses, Sacred (Mixed voices) with orchestra
  • Choruses, Secular (Mixed voices) with orchestra
  • Choruses, Secular (Mixed voices) with orchestra
  • Choruses, Secular, with organ
  • Choruses, Secular, with piano
  • Composers
  • Composers
  • Composers
  • Concertos (Piano)
  • Concertos (Piano)
  • Concertos (String orchestra)
  • Conductors (Music)
  • Fables
  • Incidental music
  • Monologues with music
  • Monologues with music (Instrumental ensemble)
  • Monologues with music (Pianos (2))
  • Music
  • Music
  • Music
  • Music
  • Musical revues, comedies, etc.
  • Musical sketches
  • New York (State)
  • Octets (Horns (2), trombones (2), trumpets (2), tuba, percussion)
  • Octets (Horns (2), trombones (2), trumpets (2), tuba, percussion)
  • Oratorios
  • Orchestral music
  • Orchestral music
  • Orchestral music
  • Organ music
  • Pianists
  • Pianists
  • Piano music
  • Piano music
  • Piano music (4 hands)
  • Piano music (Pianos (2))
  • Piano trios
  • Piano with orchestra
  • Prisoners as artists
  • Radio plays with music
  • Requiems
  • Requiems
  • Revues
  • Sonatas (Violin and piano)
  • Sonatas (Violin and piano)
  • Songs (Low voice) with orchestra
  • Songs (Medium voice) with orchestra
  • Songs (Medium voice) with piano
  • Songs with orchestra
  • Songs with orchestra
  • Songs with orchestra
  • Songs with piano
  • Suites (Band)
  • Suites (Orchestra)
  • Suites (Orchestra)
  • Suites (Violin and piano)
  • Symphonies
  • Symphonies
  • Symphonies
  • Symphonies (Piano with orchestra)
  • Violin and piano music
  • Violoncello and piano music
  • Violoncello and piano music

Occupations:

  • Musicians
  • Collector
  • Composers
  • Composers
  • Conductors (Music)

Places:

  • United States (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • Rio Grande (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • California (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)

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