Palmer, Robert (Moffat)

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Palmer, Robert (Moffat)

Palmer, Robert (Moffat), American composer and teacher; b. Syracuse, N.Y., June 2,1915. He studied at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., with Hanson and Rogers (B.M., 1938; M.M., 1940), and also studied with Harris (1939), Copland (1940), and Porter. He held 2 Guggenheim fellowships (1952–53; 1960–61) and a Fulbright Senior fellowship for study in Italy (1960–61). From 1940 to 1943 he was on the faculty at the Univ. of Kans., and from 1943 to 1980 he taught at Cornell Univ. In his music, he generally adhered to neo-Classical principles while producing works of a distinctive originality.

Works

orch.:Poem for Violin and Chamber Orch. (1938); Concerto for Small Orch. (1940); K 19, symphonic elegy for Thomas Wolfe (1945); Chamber Concerto for Violin, Oboe, and Strings (1949); Variations, Chorale and Fugue (1947; rev. 54); 2 syms. (1953,1966); Memorial Music (1960); Centennial Overture (1965); Choric Songs and Toccata for Band (1968); Piano Concerto (1971); Overture on a Southern Hymn for Symphonic Band (1979); Concerto for 2 Pianos, 2 Percussion, Strings, and Brass (1984). chamber: 4 string quartets (1939; 1943, rev. 1947; 1954; 1959); 2 piano quartets (1947,1973); Piano Quintet (1950); Viola Sonata (1951); Quintet for Clarinet, Strings, and Piano (1952; rev. 1953); Violin Sonata (1956); Piano Trio (1958); Organon I for Flute and Clarinet (1962) and // for Violin and Viola (1975); Trumpet Sonata (1972); Sinfonia Concertante for 9 Instruments (1972); 2 cello sonatas (1978, 1983). Piano: 3 sonatas (1938, rev. 1946; 1942, rev. 1948; 1979); Sonata for 2 Pianos (1944); Sonata for Piano, 4-Hands (1952); Evening Music (1956); 7 Epigrams (1957–59); Morning Music (1973). vocal:Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight for Chorus and Orch. (1948); Carmina amoris for Soprano, Clarinet, Violin, and Piano (1951; also for Soprano and Chamber Orch.); Of Night and the Sea, chamber cantata (1956); Nabuchodonosor, dramatic oratorio (1964); Portents of Aquarius (Visions and Prophecies) for Narrator, Chorus, and Organ (1975).