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November 12-14, 2006
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Biography of Jack Gottlieb
Composer Contact:
Email: theophi@ix.netcom.com
Jack S. Gottlieb is a native of New Rochelle, NY, born on October 12, 1930. He received his BA from Queens College (1953), a MFA from Brandeis University (1955) and a DMA from the University of Illinois (1964). Max Helfman was his first mentor, and the one to inspire him to write sacred music. Dr. Gottlieb studied composition with Aaron Copland and Boris Blacher at Tanglewood, and with Irving Fine at Brandeis, and Burril Phillips and Robert Palmer at the University of Illinois. Gottlieb became assistant at the New York Philharmonic to Leonard Bernstein in 1958, and worked for him until 1966. From there, his professional relationship to the work of Leonard Bernstein became lifelong. Gottlieb was a composer in residence nine times at the MacDowell Colony in Peterborough, NH (between 1962-76) and also went to Yaddo, in Saratoga Springs, NY(1960).
In 1967, Gottlieb's sacred service, Love Songs for Sabbath, was given at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, MN, probably the first time a full-length synagogue service was ever heard under Catholic auspices.
Gottlieb held jobs as music director of Temple Israel in St. Louis and was a composer-in-residence at HUC-JIR in New York from 1973 to 1975.
From 1973-77, he was the first full-time professor of music at the School of Sacred Music, Hebrew Union College. In 1977, he joined the [now called] Leonard Bernstein Office, Inc., as publications director, and currently serves as consultant for the Bernstein estate.
Among artists who have performed his works are Bernstein, members of the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra; singers Jennie Tourel, Adele Addison, Lee Venora and John Reardon; the Gregg Smith Singers, as well as other many other choral groups; and actresses Tovah Feldshuh and Felicia Montealegre.
He is past president of the American Society for Jewish Music (1991-1997) and has received numerous awards for both his sacred and secular music. In 1975 he received an NEA award and in 1993 received the first Ahad Ha'am Award from the Center for Jewish Cultuer and Creativity in Philadelphia. His book: Funny, It Doesn't Sound Jewish: How Yiddish Songs and Synagogue Melodies Influenced Tin Pan Alley, Broadway and Hollywood (Library of Congress and SUNY Press, 2004) continues to receive reviews nationwide (including one here.)
Recent publications include Songs of Godlove, a two-volume set of 51 solos and duets (Hal Leonard 001915-04 & -05) and CD releases: Love Songs for Sabbath and six other choral works (Naxos 8.5509433) and Monkey Biz'nis, A Musical Diversion in One Act (Original Cast Records OC-6016).
Other works of Jack Gottlieb include his opera Tea Party (1955), dramatic works, oratorios, orchestral works, chamber music including the Fantasy on High Holy Day Temes for Cello (1998) and keyboard works for piano and works for organ including Judge of the World (1975) and The Voice of the Lord in the Storm (1985), along with a large number of vocal works. The Library of Congress chose Gottlieb's work Presidential Suite for the website "I Hear America Singing" in 2002.
Baker's Biographical Dictionary describes Gottlieb's style as "distinctly American" and "generally conservative and tonal, but liberally laced with spiky rhythms, and pungent dissonances." A 2005 review of Milken CD release Naxos 559433, in American Record Guide, said of Gottlieb's style: "his music has integrity at the same time as it makes itself accessible to people outside the rarefied circles of high musical art. This, clearly is a skill that a composer of liturgical music needs."
For further reading
Works by Jack Gottlieb:The Music of Leonard Bernstein: A Study of Melodic Manipulations. DMA diss. University of Illinois, 1964. Leonard Bernstein: A Complete Catalogue of His Works. 1978
Leonard Bernstein: A Complete Catalog of his Works Celebrating his 70th Birthday, August 25, 1988. London: Boosey & Hawkes, 1988.
Funny, It Doesn't Sound Jewish Albany, N.Y.: State University of New York in association with The Library of Congress, 2004
Leonard Bernstein's Young People's Concerts, (editor of revised ed.) New York: Anchor, 1992.
"Cantor Arthur Wolfson (1912-1977): In Memoriam" Musica Judaica, Vol. II/1 (1977-78),p103-04.
More Information about Jack Gottlieb:
Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, Centenniel Edition. Nicolas Slonimsky, ed. emeritus, New York: Schirmer, 2001.
Becker, Jules. "Lipchik Memorial Concert to feature operatic maestros,"
Jewish Advocate. Boston: Nov 26, 1998.Vol.188, Iss. 46; pg. 20
Ben-Asher, Jerry. "Music Notes: Yiddish standards elicit hums and tears,"
Jewish News. Whippany: Jun 24, 1999. Vol.LIII, Iss. 25; pg. 40
Davidson, Susie. "Members of Zamir Chorale perform in Israeli concerts,"
Jewish Advocate. Boston: Nov 21, 2002.Vol.193, Iss. 46; pg. 26
Drone, J. "American composer update: the 1982 premieres, performances, publications, recordings, news," Pan Pipes of Sigma Alpha Iota, 1983, Vol. 75 n2, p29.
Kyle, M. K. "AmerAllegro," Pan Pipes of Sigma Alpha Iota. 1976, Vol. 68 n2, p52-53.
Lemmon, Alfred E. "Jack Gottlieb at fifty," The American Organist.
Jun 1981, Vol. 15, p37.
'Light and Splendour;' song for high voices with flute and clarinet; poem by Leonard Cohen, music by J. Gottlieb, Perspectives of New Music. 1980-1981, Vol. 19, n1-2, p22.
Loeffler, James. Review of 'Funny, It Doesn't Sound Jewish: How Yiddish Songs and Synagogue Melodies Influenced Tin Pan Alley, Broadway, and Hollywood', Jewish Book World, Vol. 3, No. 3, Winter 2004.
Quinn. "Gottlieb: 3 Candle Blessings; Shalom Aleikem; Love Songs for Sabbath; Set Me As a Seal; Shout for Joy; Psalmistry; Y'varekh'kha," American Record Guide. May/Jun2005, Vol. 68, n3, p113.
Surrence, Matthew. "Tovah crosses ovah to Broadway in Marin stage show,"
Jewish Bulletin of Northern California. San Francisco: Nov 10, 1995. Vol.144, Iss. 44; pg. 32.
(Go Back to "American Judaism's Lost Legacy" Ten Composers Page)
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