Morton Gould

Most Popular Works
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Biography

Born: December 10, 1913; Richmond Hill, NY   Died: February 21, 1996; Orlando, FL  
Morton Gould was an important American composer, generally overshadowed by Copland, Barber, and Bernstein. Like Bernstein, he wrote in both popular and classical styles and often mixed the two. Many record collectors around the middle of the twentieth century knew him primarily as a conductor of popular music, as well as of newer works in the realm of serious music. His "classical" style in composition generally offered few challenges to Read more listeners and often featured well-known themes of a patriotic or folk origin, or were based on melodies from American composers out of the past. Foster Gallery (1939) and American Ballads (1976) fall into this realm.

Gould was born in Richmond Hill, Long Island, New York. He was a musical prodigy of a rare order, playing the piano and composing by age four. His parents were strongly supportive of their young son and helped to get his first work, a waltz entitled Just Six, both performed and published when he was still only six years old.

By age eight, he was performing regularly on radio broadcasts. Later, he studied at the Institute of Musical Arts in New York and in New York University, where he was instructed in composition by Vincent Jones. He also studied piano with Abby Whiteside. In his late teens, Gould played piano in vaudeville and radio in various freelancing assignments, but also held positions with Radio City Music Hall and NBC. At age 21, (1934) he landed a conducting post with WOR Radio, regularly leading an orchestra in popular music fare. He recorded for RCA beginning in the 1930s and made piano rolls for Ampico.

One of Gould's first successes in composition was his Chorale and Fugue in Jazz (1935), which received a prestigious premiere on January 2, 1936, with Leopold Stokowski leading the Philadelphia Orchestra. Gould was beginning to turn out many significant compositions now: his Piano Concerto came in 1937 and his Violin Concerto in 1938. The following year, he wrote the aforementioned work based on popular Stephen Foster themes, Foster Gallery, which was subsequently recorded by Arthur Fiedler and The Boston Pops Orchestra.

Gould became music director of the popular radio programs "The Chrysler Hour" and "Cresta Blanca Carnival" in the 1940s. He composed three symphonies (of four) in that decade, as well as a spate of other works, including his Viola Concerto (1943) and Fall River Legend (1947).

Gould also wrote for Broadway, turning out Billion Dollar Baby in 1945 and Arms and the Girl in 1950. In 1944, he appeared in the film Delightfully Dangerous, for which he wrote the score. His career scoring films continued with other efforts including Cinerama Holiday (1955) and Windjammer (1958). He also composed numerous scores for television shows in the 1960s and 1970s. His last important effort here was for the mini-series Holocaust (1978), which starred Meryl Streep. In 1966, Gould received a Grammy award for his recording with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra of Ives' First Symphony.

Gould continued to write concert music, as well, though one might assert that the film world may ultimately have sabotaged his chances somewhat to attain a higher level of art. Still, his Symphony of Spirituals and American Ballads, both premiered in 1976, demonstrated his undiminished talent. From 1986 until 1994 he served as president of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). In 1995, Gould received a Pulitzer Prize for his composition Stringmusic. Read less

Featured Morton Gould CDs & DVDs:

Gould: Spirituals, Fall River Legend; Barber / Hanson
Gould: Spirituals, Fall River Legend; Barber / Hanson
Release Date: 02/08/1991   Label: Mercury Living Presence  
Catalog: 432016   Number of Discs: 1
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Gould: West Point Symphony; Hovhaness, Giannini / Fennell
Gould: West Point Symphony; Hovhaness, Giannini / Fennell
Release Date: 08/11/1992   Label: Mercury Living Presence  
Catalog: 434320   Number of Discs: 1
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American Saxophone - Gould, Ward, Peck / James Houlik
American Saxophone - Gould, Ward, Peck / James Houlik
Release Date: 12/03/1996   Label: Koch International Classics  
Catalog: 7390   Number of Discs: 1
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Jungle Drums / Morton Gould And His Orchestra
Jungle Drums / Morton Gould And His Orchestra
Release Date: 05/17/2005   Label: Rca Victor Living Stereo  
Catalog: 68173   Number of Discs: 1
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Gould: Fall River Legend, Interplay, Etc. / Morton Gould
Gould: Fall River Legend, Interplay, Etc. / Morton Gould
Release Date: 08/20/2007   Label: Rca Victor Gold Seal  
Catalog: 61651   Number of Discs: 1
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Browse 51-75 of 144 Available Recordings
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  • 51.
    Ceremonial Music / United States Air Force Heritage Of America Band
    Ceremonial Music / United States Air Force Heritage Of America Band
    Label: Altissimo   Catalog: ALT06124 Release Date: 01/01/2008   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Traditional,  Morton Gould,  James Sanderson,  Philip Phile  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  United States Air Force Heritage of America Band
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  • 52.
    Wind Band Masterworks Vol 4 / Texas A&M Symphonic Band
    Wind Band Masterworks Vol 4 / Texas A&M Symphonic Band
    Label: Mark Masters   Catalog: 7264 Release Date: 12/15/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  George Gershwin,  Richard Strauss,  Leonard Bernstein,  Percy Aldridge Grainger  ... 
    Conductor:  Timothy Rhea
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Texas A&M University Symphonic Band
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  • 53.
    Bolero / Felix Slatkin, Hollywood Bowl SO
    Bolero / Felix Slatkin, Hollywood Bowl SO
    Label: Emi Studio   Catalog: 63738 Release Date: 11/27/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Emil Waldteufel,  Jules Massenet,  Maurice Ravel,  Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov  ... 
    Conductor:  Felix Slatkin
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra
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  • 54.
    Liberty For All! / United States Coast Guard Band
    Liberty For All! / United States Coast Guard Band
    Label: Altissimo   Catalog: ALT70882 Release Date: 11/27/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Morton Gould,  Beckel, James A., Jr.,  John Philip Sousa,  Roger Nixon  ... 
    Performer:  Lisa Taylor
    Conductor:  Lewis J. Buckley
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  United States Coast Guard Band
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  • 55.
    Copland: Billy The Kid; Gould, Bernstein / Joseph Levine
    Copland: Billy The Kid; Gould, Bernstein / Joseph Levine
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 66549 Release Date: 11/13/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Aaron Copland,  Morton Gould,  Leonard Bernstein
    Conductor:  Joseph Levine
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ballet Theatre Orchestra
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  • 56.
    Gould: Apple Waltzes, Burchfield Gallery / American So
    Gould: Apple Waltzes, Burchfield Gallery / American So
    Label: Rca Victor Red Seal   Catalog: 5019 Release Date: 08/29/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Morton Gould
    Conductor:  Morton Gould
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  American Symphony Orchestra
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  • 57.
    Gould: Fall River Legend, Interplay, Etc. / Morton Gould
    Gould: Fall River Legend, Interplay, Etc. / Morton Gould
    Label: Rca Victor Gold Seal   Catalog: 61651 Release Date: 08/20/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Morton Gould
    Conductor:  Morton Gould,  Howard Mitchell
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Morton Gould Orchestra,  National Symphony, Washington, D. C.
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  • 58.
    Musical Christmas Tree - Morton Gould
    Musical Christmas Tree - Morton Gould
    Label: Rca Victor Red Seal   Catalog: 7931 Release Date: 08/06/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Franz Xaver Gruber,  Traditional,  Katherine K. Davis,  William J. Kirkpatrick  ... 
    Conductor:  Morton Gould
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  New Philharmonia Orchestra,  Morton Gould Orchestra,  American Symphony Orchestra  ... 
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  • 59.
    The Age Of Living Stereo - A Tribute To John Pfeiffer
    The Age Of Living Stereo - A Tribute To John Pfeiffer
    Label: Rca Victor Living Stereo   Catalog: 68524 Release Date: 08/06/2007   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Léo Delibes,  Hector Berlioz,  Richard Strauss,  Ludwig van Beethoven  ... 
    Performer:  Martial Singher,  David Poleri,  Artur Rubinstein,  Carl Poole  ... 
    Conductor:  Pierre Monteux,  Charles Munch,  Fritz Reiner,  Leopold Stokowski  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Symphony Orchestra members,  Boston Symphony Orchestra,  Harvard Glee Club  ... 
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  • 60.
    Masters And Commanders - Music From Seafaring Film Classics
    Masters And Commanders - Music From Seafaring Film Classics
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80682 Release Date: 07/24/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Luigi Boccherini,  John Debney,  Morton Gould,  Franz Waxman  ... 
    Performer:  Timothy Lees
    Conductor:  Erich Kunzel
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cincinnati Pops
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  • 61.
    Dirty Little Secret / Andrew Russo
    Dirty Little Secret / Andrew Russo
    Label: Endeavour Classics   Catalog: 1019 Release Date: 03/13/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Aaron Jay Kernis,  Marc Mellits,  Amonte Parsons,  William Bolcom  ... 
    Performer:  Andrew Russo
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  • 62.
    Liberty For All - A Musical Journey Vol 2 / Us Army Band
    Liberty For All - A Musical Journey Vol 2 / Us Army Band
    Label: Altissimo   Catalog: ALT55832 Release Date: 01/01/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  John Stafford Smith,  Randall Thompson,  Traditional,  Joseph Wilcox Jenkins  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  United States Army Chorus,  United States Army Band
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  • 63.
    Milken Archive - Deluxe 50 CD Boxed Set
    Milken Archive - Deluxe 50 CD Boxed Set
    Label: Naxos   Catalog: 51 Release Date: 11/21/2006   Number of Discs: 51
    Composer:  Joseph Rumshinsky,  David Schiff,  Raymond Goldstein,  Hugo Chaim Adler  ... 
    Performer:  Robert Bloch,  Nell Snaidas,  Simon Spiro,  Zhou Jin  ... 
    Conductor:  Elli Jaffe,  Neil Levin,  Timothy Koch,  Rodney Winther  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Vienna Chamber Orchestra,  Coro Hebraeico,  Carolina Chamber Chorale  ... 
    CD: $349.99
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  • 64.
    Gould: Housewarming, Etc /Smith, Louisville Orchestra, Et Al
    Gould: Housewarming, Etc /Smith, Louisville Orchestra, Et Al
    Label: Albany Records   Catalog: 13/14 Release Date: 10/24/2006   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Morton Gould
    Performer:  Leon Rapier,  Robert Glazer
    Conductor:  Lawrence Leighton Smith,  Jorge Mester,  Morton Gould
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Louisville Orchestra
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  • 65.
    Duty, Honor, Country / Us Army Field Band & Soldiers' Chorus
    Duty, Honor, Country / Us Army Field Band & Soldiers' Chorus
    Label: Altissimo   Catalog: 225584 Release Date: 05/02/2006   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Philip Egner,  Brown, Dane, Jr.,  Morton Gould,  Walter Kittredge  ... 
    Performer:  H. Norman Schwarzkopf
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  United States Army Field Band,  United States Army Soldiers' Chorus
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  • 66.
    American Piano Music / Michel Legrand
    American Piano Music / Michel Legrand
    Label: Apex   Catalog: 49576 Release Date: 03/21/2006   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Amy Marcy Beach,  John Cage,  Louis Moreau Gottschalk,  Samuel Barber  ... 
    Performer:  Michel Legrand
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  • 67.
    American Classics - Gould: Fall River Legend, Etc
    American Classics - Gould: Fall River Legend, Etc
    Label: Naxos   Catalog: 8559242 Release Date: 11/15/2005   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Morton Gould
    Performer:  James F. Neal
    Conductor:  Kenneth Schermerhorn
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Nashville Symphony Orchestra
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  • 68.
    Tango In Blue - Stravinsky, Etc / Serebrier, Farley, Et Al
    Tango In Blue - Stravinsky, Etc / Serebrier, Farley, Et Al
    Label: Bis   Catalog: 1175 Release Date: 09/27/2005   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Matos Rodríguez,  Jacob Gade,  Fernando Condon,  Astor Piazzolla  ... 
    Performer:  Enrique Telleria,  Damian Martinez,  Carole Farley,  Molly Judson
    Conductor:  José Serebrier
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Barcelona Symphony Orchestra
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  • 69.
    Jungle Drums / Morton Gould And His Orchestra
    Jungle Drums / Morton Gould And His Orchestra
    Label: Rca Victor Living Stereo   Catalog: 68173 Release Date: 05/17/2005   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Ernesto Lecuona,  Ray Noble,  Edward "Duke" Ellington,  Manuel de Falla  ... 
    Performer:  Laura Newell
    Conductor:  Morton Gould
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Morton Gould Orchestra
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  • 70.
    We The People / United States Military Bands
    We The People / United States Military Bands
    Label: Altissimo   Catalog: 220103 Release Date: 04/19/2005   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Traditional,  Morton Gould,  William Steffe,  Terry F. Vosbein  ... 
    Performer:  Daisy Jackson,  Robert [Bass-Baritone Vocal] McDonald
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  United States Army Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps,  United States Military Academy Band,  United States Air Force Band  ... 
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  • 71.
    Classical Cuisine - American Barbeque
    Classical Cuisine - American Barbeque
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 92988 Release Date: 04/05/2005   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Aaron Copland,  Morton Gould,  Samuel Barber,  William Schuman  ... 
    Performer:  Leonard Bernstein
    Conductor:  Aaron Copland,  Eugene Ormandy,  Thomas Schippers,  Andre Kostelanetz  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  London Symphony Orchestra,  Philadelphia Orchestra,  New York Philharmonic  ... 
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  • 72.
    Marches In Hi-fi / Arthur Fiedler, Boston Pops Orchestra
    Marches In Hi-fi / Arthur Fiedler, Boston Pops Orchestra
    Label: Jvc Xrcd   Catalog: 24020 Release Date: 09/21/2004   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Meredith Willson,  George Gershwin,  Morton Gould,  Daniel Emmett  ... 
    Conductor:  Arthur Fiedler
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Pops
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  • 73.
    Liberty for All - A Musical Journey Vol 1 / US Marine Band
    Liberty for All - A Musical Journey Vol 1 / US Marine Band
    Label: Altissimo   Catalog: 225578 Release Date: 09/07/2004   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  John Stafford Smith,  Arthur Phillips,  John Philip Sousa,  William Francis Mcbeth  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  United States Marine Band
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  • 74.
    Howard Hanson Conducts American Masterworks
    Howard Hanson Conducts American Masterworks
    Label: Mercury Living Presence   Catalog: 4756274 Release Date: 09/01/2004   Number of Discs: 5
    Composer:  Douglas Moore,  John Alden Carpenter,  Burrill Phillips,  Bernard Rogers  ... 
    Performer:  Joseph Mariano,  James Austin,  Francis Tursi,  Sidney Mear  ... 
    Conductor:  Howard Hanson
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Eastman-Rochester Symphony Orchestra
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  • 75.
    Golden Age Of Light Music - An Introduction
    Golden Age Of Light Music - An Introduction
    Label: Guild   Catalog: 5101 Release Date: 06/29/2004   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Robert Farnon,  Sidney Torch,  Richard Rodgers,  Warren  ... 
    Performer:  Robert Farnon,  Queen's Hall Light Orchestra,  Sidney Torch,  Andre & His Orchestra Kostelanetz  ... 
    Conductor:  Robert Farnon,  Sidney Torch,  Andre Kostelanetz,  Ray Martin  ... 
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