Rochberg, George (b Paterson, NJ, 1918). Amer. composer. Teacher, Curtis Inst., 1948–54; chairman, mus. dept., Pennsylvania Univ. 1961–8, prof. of mus. 1968–83. Influenced by Schoenberg and Mahler, his mus. developed an individual type of serialism but later returned to tonality. Author of many critical articles. Works incl.:OPERA: The Confidence Man (1982).ORCH.: syms. No.1 (1948–57, in 3 movts.; withdrawn 1977; restored to 5 movts. 1977), No.2 (1955–6), No.3, double ch., chamber ch., soloists, orch. (1966–9), No.4 (1976), No.5 (1984), No.6 (1987); Night Music (1948); Cheltenham Concerto (1958); Time-Span I (1960, withdrawn), II (1962); Zodiac (1965); Music for the Magic Theater (1965–9); Imago Mundi (1973); vn. conc. (1974); Transcendental Variations, str. (based on 3rd movt. of 3rd str. qt.) (1975); ob. conc. (1983).SOLO VOICE & ORCH.: David the Psalmist, ten. (1954); 4 Blake Songs, sop. and ens. (1961); Music for ‘The Alchemist’, sop. and 11 players (1965); Tableaux, sop., 2 actors’ vv., ch., and 12 players (1968); Sacred Song of Reconciliation, bass-bar. (1970); Phaedra, mez. (1973–4).CHAMBER MUSIC: str. qts., No.1 (1952), No.2, with sop. (1959–61), No.3 (1972), No.4 (1977), No.5 (1978), No.6 (1978), No.7, with bar. (1979); Duo Concertante, vn., vc. (1953); Dialogues, cl., pf. (1956); La Bocca della Verità, ob., pf. (1958–9, vn., pf. 1962); pf. trio (1963); Contra Mortem et Tempus, vn., fl., cl., pf. (1965); 50 Caprice-Variations (after Paganini), solo vn. (1970); Electrikaleidoscope, amp. ens. of fl., cl., vc., pf., elec. pf. (1972); Ricordanza, vc., pf. (1972); Ukiyo-e, harp (1973); pf. quintet (1975); Slow Fires of Autumn, fl., hp. (1978); va. sonata (1979); Duo, ob., bn. (orig. version 1946) (1979); Trio, cl., hn., pf. (1980); str. quintet (1982); pf. qt. (1983); To the Dark Wood, ww. quintet (1985); pf. trio (1985); vn. sonata (1988).Also many vocal works and pf. pieces.