“Richard ‘Dick’ Allan Robinson, composer, longtime Atlanta Symphony Orchestra violinist and electronic music pioneer, died Jan. 23 at age 93,” writes Nancy Badertscher in Thursday’s (2/23) Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Robinson was born July 12, 1923 in Chicago…. After earning master’s degrees in composition and violin at Chicago’s American Conservatory, Robinson moved to Atlanta in 1951 to work with the ASO. Throughout his 35 years with the orchestra, he composed music…. Robinson was given summers off during Robert Shaw’s tenure as ASO conductor so he could work on his compositions.… In 1965, he attended a workshop given by synthesis pioneer Robert Moog in New York, which sparked in him a creative shift and inspired him to open the Atlanta Electronic Music Center. ‘Dick’s revolutionary compositions challenge listeners to rethink the function and nature of music,’ said Jo Lynn Sancomb, his friend for 35 years…. Robinson was still composing and teaching himself new computer languages up until July…. Robinson’s wife, the artist Lucy Stovall, died in 2014. Her print and wood sculpture was exhibited in gallery settings and at events presenting Robinson’s electroacoustic music.… Robinson’s survivors include his nephews, Russell Robinson and David Robinson.”
Posted February 23, 2017
