2/2/09

Composer of the Day!

Today’s Composer of the Day is Lukas Foss.

(1922-2009)

Like many European composers, Lukas Foss moved to the United States in the 1930s. He even changed his name—it was originally Lukas Fuchs. He studied with a number of music biggies, including: Louis Moyse (flute), Fritz Reiner and Serge Koussevitsky (conducting), and Paul Hindemith (composition).

Later, he replaced Arnold Schoenberg at UCLA. He was also found hanging around Boston University for some time.

His music is all over the place, stylistically, and it’s darn good.


I couldn’t find a good-sounding YouTube video of his music, but I did find a fun two-part lecture, where he talks about Igor Stravinsky:

Part I
Part II

Also, here’s a link to Art of the States, who is streaming Foss’ Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra (1974).

On a sad note, Lukas Foss died yesterday, February 1st, 2009. You should’ve listened to his music. But now you should listen to his music.

-

Also, Detritus favorite Matthew Guerrieri of Soho the Dog studied with Lukas Foss.
-

2 comments:

Tom Strini said...

I knew Lukas Foss years ago, when he was music director of the Milwaukee Symphony. Here is a link to a little piece I wrote about him for today's MKE Journal Sentinel:
http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/arts/38834882.html

--Strini

Empiricus said...

Very nice piece, Strini. Great stories.