Robert Greenberg

Robert M. Greenberg (April 18, 1954[1]–), is an American composer, pianist, and musicologist who was born in Brooklyn, NY. He has composed more than 45 works for a variety of instruments and voices, and has recorded a number of lecture series on music history and music appreciation for The Teaching Company.

Contents

Biography

Greenberg earned a B.A. in music, magna cum laude, from Princeton University and received a Ph.D. in music composition, from the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied with Olly Wilson.[2] He has served on the faculties of UC Berkeley, California State University, East Bay, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he was chairman of the Department of Music History and Literature and Director of the Adult Extension Division. Dr. Greenberg is currently Music Historian-in-residence with San Francisco Performances.

He has received numerous awards, including three Nicola De Lorenzo Prizes[3] in composition, and three Meet the Composer grants. Additionally, he has received commissions from the Koussevitzky Foundation[4] of the Library of Congress, the Alexander String Quartet, XTET, and the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players.

A number of his works have been performed across the globe in locations such as New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Greece, and The Netherlands. His music was published by the now defunct[5] Fallen Leaf Press and CPP/Belwin (now part of Alfred Publishing Company[6]) and is recorded on the Innova Recordings label.[7]

Greenberg has lectured for some of the most prestigious musical and arts organizations in the United States, and is the resident composer and music historian for National Public Radio’s “Weekend All Things Considered.” He is also the Music Historian in Residence at San Francisco Performances, and hosts their "Saturday Morning Series" (a lecture combined with performances) with the Alexander String Quartet.

Dr. Greenberg has recorded a number of lecture series for The Teaching Company on music history and the appreciation of music. He often relates the musical topics to other areas such as history, politics as well as to other music from different periods. Referring to Greenberg's lively style and sense of humor, The Bangor Daily News has described him as "the Elvis of music history and appreciation."[8]

He is an artistic adviser at Composers, Inc.[9]

List of compositions

References

  1. ^ "Robert Greenberg". Classical Composer Database. http://www.classical-composers.org/comp/greenberg. 
  2. ^ Understanding the Fundamentals of Music. 2. Chantilly, Virginia: The Teaching Company. 2007. pp. i. ISBN 1-59803-287-9. 
  3. ^ "Nicola De Lorenzo Prizes in Music Composition". University of California, Berkeley. http://students.berkeley.edu/finaid/undergraduates/prizemusic.htm. Retrieved 2010-November-27. . Although the prize was established in 1958, unfortunately this page only list winners 1997 to 2010.
  4. ^ a b "Alexander String Quartet (Chamber Instrumental Ensemble)". http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/ASQ.htm. "Among the most recently permièred are ... Among Friends, a Koussevitzky commission by Robert Greenberg." 
  5. ^ "Fallen Leaf Press". http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Fallen+Leaf+Press.-a061640638. 
  6. ^ "Directory of Music Publishers: CPP/Belwin Music". http://mpa.org/directories/music_publishers/show/68. 
  7. ^ a b "Alexander String Quartet, Sur Pointe, Innova 111, Tracks 1-3 Child's Play". http://www.innova.mu/artist1.asp?skuID=319.  Out of print in both physical and online formats. Extant copies seem to be quite rare and very expensive. However, there is a streaming version available at Rhapsody/Yahoo! Music Unlimited (first 25 plays are free).
  8. ^ "Flyer for Alexander String Quartet concert". http://www.mondaviarts.org/events/supplemental/09-10/probio_2009_ASQ_Jan_31.pdf. "In 2003, the Bangor (Maine) Daily News referred to Greenberg as "the Elvis of music history and appreciation," an appraisal that has given him more pleasure than any other." 
  9. ^ "Artistic Advisors: Robert Greenberg". http://www.composersinc.org/robertgreenberg.html. 
  10. ^ a b c d e f "San Francisco Contemporary Music Players: Program Notes, World Premiere February 18, 2002.". http://www.sfcmp.org/programnotes/02_February_SFCMP_Program_Notes.pdf. 
  11. ^ "WorldCat: Breaths, voices, and cadenze : for string quartet pub 1982". http://www.worldcat.org/title/breaths-voices-and-cadenze-for-string-quartet/oclc/23136067. 
  12. ^ "WorldCat: By various means : for clarinet quartet". http://www.worldcat.org/title/by-various-means-for-clarinet-quartet/oclc/22997585. 
  13. ^ "WorldCat: Quasi un madrigale : four Italian songs : for soprano and piano". http://www.worldcat.org/title/quasi-un-madrigale-four-italian-songs-for-soprano-and-piano/oclc/24550909. 
  14. ^ "WorldCat: Child's play : for string quartet". http://www.worldcat.org/title/childs-play-for-string-quartet/oclc/57044750. 
  15. ^ "Robert Greenberg Lecture—Philip Glass". http://www.performances.org/performances/1011/RobertGreenberg.html. "...his Child's Play for String Quartet was performed at the Concertgebouw of Amsterdam." 
  16. ^ "Alexander String Quartet: Sur Pointe, back cover of CD". Innova Recordings. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B000BS4LQA/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=5174&s=music. 
  17. ^ "WorldCat: The Passing Years: five songs for baritone and piano (1989?)". http://www.worldcat.org/title/passing-years-five-songs-for-baritone-and-piano/oclc/57405882. 
  18. ^ "WorldCat: It don't mean a thing : an original percussion sextet based on Taiko drumming, 1990". http://www.worldcat.org/title/it-dont-mean-a-thing-an-original-percussion-sextet-based-on-taiko-drumming-1990/oclc/30127675. 
  19. ^ "WorldCat: In shape : concerto in three movements for two pianos and marimba pub 1991". http://www.worldcat.org/title/in-shape-concerto-in-three-movements-for-two-pianos-and-marimba/oclc/83133973. 
  20. ^ "WorldCat: In shape : concerto in three movements for two pianos and marimba pub 1991". http://www.worldcat.org/title/in-shape-concerto-in-three-movements-for-two-pianos-and-marimba/oclc/25155097. 
  21. ^ "WorldCat: Dude 'tudes : for piano pub. 1995". http://www.worldcat.org/title/dude-tudes-for-piano/oclc/34057194. 
  22. ^ "WorldCat: Iron balconies and lilies : for soprano, piano, and chamber ensemble : 1992". http://www.worldcat.org/title/iron-balconies-and-lilies-for-soprano-piano-and-chamber-ensemble-1992/oclc/57669926. 
  23. ^ "WorldCat: Iron balconies and lilies : for soprano, piano, and chamber ensemble". http://www.worldcat.org/title/iron-balconies-and-lilies-for-soprano-piano-and-chamber-ensemble/oclc/28810549. 
  24. ^ "WorldCat: On trial : concerto for vibraphone and chamber ensemble". http://www.worldcat.org/title/on-trial-concerto-for-vibraphone-and-chamber-ensemble/oclc/35892309. 
  25. ^ "WorldCat: On trial : concerto for vibraphone and chamber ensemble (1994)". http://www.worldcat.org/title/on-trial-concerto-for-vibraphone-and-chamber-ensemble-1994/oclc/55985134. 
  26. ^ "WorldCat: Among friends : string quartet no. 3 (1995)". http://www.worldcat.org/title/among-friends-string-quartet-no-3-1995/oclc/37836278. "For the Serge Koussevitzky Music Foundation in the Library of Congress, and dedicated to the memory of Serge and Natalie Koussevitzky" 
  27. ^ "San Francisco Contemporary Music Players: Complete Repertoire List". http://www.sfcmp.org/pdfs/SFCMP_Rep_by_Composer.pdf. 

External links