Dello Joio, Norman

Dello Joio, Norman (b NY, 1913). Amer. composer, pianist, and organist. Son of NY organist and choirmaster, was influenced from childhood by Gregorian chant and It. opera. Studied with Hindemith at Tanglewood 1941 and at Yale Univ. 1941–3. Org., St Ann's Church, NY, 1934–40. Mus. dir. Loring Dance Players 1941–3. Prof. of comp., Mannes Coll. 1956–72, prof. of mus., Boston Univ. 1972–9. His mus. is noted for melodic content rather than for adventurous technique, and he displays a natural gift for opera and ballet (several works for Martha Graham). Prin. works incl.: OPERAS: The Triumph of St Joan (1950); The Ruby (1953); The Trial at Rouen (1955–6); The Triumph of St Joan (1958–9, a new version); Blood Moon (1961).BALLETS: Diversion of Angels (1948); Seraphic Dialogue (1951, material from The Triumph of St Joan); Time of Snow (1968).ORCH.: Sinfonietta (1940); To a Lone Sentry (1943); On Stage (1945); Concert Music (1945); Serenade (1948); New York Profiles (1949); The Triumph of St Joan Symphony (1951); Air Power (1957); Five Images (1967); Homage to Haydn (1969); Satiric Dances, band (1975); Colonial Variations (1976); Ballabili (1981); Variants on a Bach Chorale (1985).CONCERTOS: fl., str. (1939), 2 pf. (1941), harmonica (1944), hp. (1945); Ricercari, pf., orch. (1946); concertato, cl. (1949); Fantasy and Variations, pf. (1961); Lyric Fantasies, va., str. (1973); Notes from Tom Paine, pf., band (1975).CHORAL: The Mystic Trumpeter (1943); Psalm of David (1950); Song of Affirmation (1952); Prayers of Cardinal Newman (1960); Songs of Walt Whitman (1966); Mass (1968); Evocations (1970); Mass (1976).CHAMBER MUSIC: vc. sonata (1937); vn. sonata (1938); 3 pf. sonatas (1943, 1944, 1948); trio (1944); str. qt. (1974); tpt. sonata (1979); songs; and incidental mus. for TV.