“Elliott Schwartz, one of Maine’s most influential classical music composers and a longtime Bowdoin College music professor known for inspiring students during a 43-year career, died Wednesday. He was 80,” writes Ray Routhier in Thursday’s (12/8) Portland Press Herald. “ ‘To classical music listeners outside the state, (Schwartz) was unquestionably Maine’s best-known composer, but it’s not until you look closely at Maine’s own musical life that you understand how influential he was,’ said Allan Kozinn, a former New York Times music critic who now reviews classical music for the Portland Press Herald…. Schwartz’s compositions have been performed by symphonies around the country, and books he wrote or co-wrote are used in many college music programs. In 2006, his years of notes, sketches, files, sheet music, correspondence and recordings were acquired by the Library of Congress.” Born in New York City, Schwartz “studied composition with well-known composers Otto Luening and Jack Beeson…. Besides his long career at Bowdoin, Schwartz had residencies or visiting professorships at Ohio State University, the University of California and Harvard, as well as Cambridge University in England…. The Bowdoin International Music Festival held during the summer featured his music as part of a performance in July.”
Posted December 13, 2016
