Morton Gould

Composers

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
Browse 1-25 of 44 Available Recordings
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  • 1.
    The Golden Age Of Light Music: A Glorious Century Of Light Music
    The Golden Age Of Light Music: A Glorious Century Of Light Music
    Label: Guild   Catalog: 5200 Release Date: 04/09/2013   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Jerome Kern,  Vernon Duke,  Ron Goodwin,  Jule Styne  ... 
    Conductor:  Cyril Ornadel,  Paul Mauriat,  Ron Goodwin,  Annuncio Paolo Mantovani  ... 
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  • 2.
    The Golden Age Of Light Music: Melodies For The Starlight Hours
    The Golden Age Of Light Music: Melodies For The Starlight Hours
    Label: Guild   Catalog: 5196 Release Date: 01/08/2013   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Robert Katscher,  Jerome Kern,  Frederick Loewe,  Hubert Giraud  ... 
    Performer:  Steve Race,  Harry Pitch
    Conductor:  Laurie Johnson,  Buddy Bregman,  Percy Faith,  Andre Kostelanetz  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ferrante & Teicher
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  • 3.
    The Golden Age Of Light Music: Nature's Realm
    The Golden Age Of Light Music: Nature's Realm
    Label: Guild   Catalog: 5194 Release Date: 12/11/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Strauss Jr.,  Harold Arlen,  Peter Yorke,  Lothar Olias  ... 
    Performer:  The Wayfarers
    Conductor:  Sidney Torch,  Morton Gould,  Frank Chacksfield,  Ray Martin  ... 
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  • 4.
    The Golden Age Of Light Music: The Art Of The Arranger, Vol. 2
    The Golden Age Of Light Music: The Art Of The Arranger, Vol. 2
    Label: Guild   Catalog: 5193 Release Date: 10/09/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Richard Rodgers,  Jack Strachey,  George Forrest,  George Gershwin  ... 
    Performer:  Gordon Jenkins
    Conductor:  Buddy Bregman,  Angela Morley,  David Rose,  Cyril Ornadel  ... 
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  • 5.
    The Golden Age Of Light Music: Stereo Into The Sixties
    The Golden Age Of Light Music: Stereo Into The Sixties
    Label: Guild   Catalog: 5192 Release Date: 09/11/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  George Gershwin,  Herman Clebanoff,  Annuncio Paolo Mantovani,  Ron Goodwin  ... 
    Performer:  Russ Conway,  Neill Sanders
    Conductor:  Frederick Fennell,  Herman Clebanoff,  Annuncio Paolo Mantovani,  Ron Goodwin  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ferrante & Teicher
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  • 6.
    The Golden Age Of Light Music: The Art Of The Arranger, Vol. 1
    The Golden Age Of Light Music: The Art Of The Arranger, Vol. 1
    Label: Guild   Catalog: 5188 Release Date: 07/10/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Jacques Offenbach,  Con Conrad,  Frederick Loewe,  Ray Henderson  ... 
    Performer:  Jack Laroque
    Conductor:  Hal Mooney,  Buddy Bregman,  Cyril Ornadel,  Morton Gould  ... 
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  • 7.
    Golden Age Of Light Music - The Composer Conducts Vol 1
    Golden Age Of Light Music - The Composer Conducts Vol 1
    Label: Guild   Catalog: 5177 Release Date: 08/09/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Ron Goodwin,  Gérard Calvi,  Angela Morley,  Cedric Dumont  ... 
    Performer:  Ron Goodwin,  His Concert Orchestra,  Gérard Calvi,  Telecast Orchestra  ... 
    Conductor:  Ron Goodwin,  Gérard Calvi,  Angela Morley,  Cedric Dumont  ... 
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  • 8.
    Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue, An American In Paris, The Man I Love / Tilson Thomas, Kostelantz
    Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue, An American In Paris, The Man I Love / Tilson Thomas, Kostelantz
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 64349 Release Date: 06/27/2011   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  George Gershwin
    Performer:  George Gershwin,  Harold Jones,  Sarah Vaughan,  George Gaffney  ... 
    Conductor:  Michael Tilson Thomas,  Morton Gould,  Andre Kostelanetz,  Eugene Ormandy  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Columbia Jazz Band,  Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra,  Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra  ... 
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  • 9.
    The Golden Age Of Light Music: Confetti
    The Golden Age Of Light Music: Confetti
    Label: Guild   Catalog: 5175 Release Date: 06/14/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Bronislaw Kaper,  Joseph Kuhn,  Robert Farnon,  Jascha Heifetz  ... 
    Performer:  Mitch Miller,  Dolores Ventura
    Conductor:  Johnny Green,  Leslie Jones,  Morton Gould,  Hans-Georg Arlt  ... 
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  • 10.
    The Golden Age Of Light Music: The Pianist In The Spotlight
    The Golden Age Of Light Music: The Pianist In The Spotlight
    Label: Guild   Catalog: 5173 Release Date: 03/08/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Francis Craig,  Nicholas Brodszky,  Marvin Fisher,  David Rose  ... 
    Performer:  Roger Williams,  Paul Weston,  George Shearing,  David Rose  ... 
    Conductor:  Roger Williams,  Paul Weston,  Billy May,  David Rose  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Billy Mayerl Rhythm Ensemble,  Pall Mall Revellers,  Carroll Gibbons & His Boy Friends
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  • 11.
    The Golden Age Of Light Music: A First A-Z Of Light Music
    The Golden Age Of Light Music: A First A-Z Of Light Music
    Label: Guild   Catalog: 5169 Release Date: 12/14/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Vivian Ellis,  George Forrest,  David Rose,  Aldo Von Pinelli  ... 
    Performer:  Queen's Hall Light Orchestra,  Warren Barker and His Orchestra,  David & His Orchestra Rose,  Hans-Georg Arlt Orchestra  ... 
    Conductor:  Sidney Torch,  Warren Barker,  David Rose,  Hans-Georg Arlt  ... 
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  • 12.
    The Golden Age Of Light Music: Highly Strung
    The Golden Age Of Light Music: Highly Strung
    Label: Guild   Catalog: 5166 Release Date: 06/08/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Jack Mason,  Steve Race,  George French,  Carlos Rocha  ... 
    Performer:  Johnny Dankworth
    Conductor:  Arthur Fiedler,  Eric Cook,  Eric Jupp,  Philippe Pages  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Knightsbridge Strings,  Music of the Mountains
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  • 13.
    The Golden Age Of Light Music - The Hall Of Fame, Vol. 3
    The Golden Age Of Light Music - The Hall Of Fame, Vol. 3
    Label: Guild   Catalog: 5162 Release Date: 04/13/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Nacio Herb Brown,  Victor Herbert,  Ron Goodwin,  José Belmonte  ... 
    Performer:  William Hill-Bowen
    Conductor:  Buddy Bregman,  Percy Faith,  David Carroll,  Philip Green  ... 
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  • 14.
    Wellness Classics
    Wellness Classics
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 735213 Release Date: 10/28/2008   Number of Discs: 10
    Composer:  Antonio Vivaldi,  Robert Schumann,  Gustav Mahler,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart  ... 
    Performer:  Julian Bream,  Andreas Bach,  Andreas Haefliger,  Philippe Entremont  ... 
    Conductor:  John Eliot Gardiner,  Leonard Bernstein,  George Szell,  Eugene Ormandy  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Benny Goodman Quartet,  Miles Davis Quartet,  Duke Ellington Orchestra  ... 
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  • 15.
    Moon, Wind And Stars / Morton Gould And His Orchestra
    Moon, Wind And Stars / Morton Gould And His Orchestra
    Label: Rca   Catalog: 68479 Release Date: 02/06/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Fela Sowande,  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky,  Fritz Kreisler,  Gustave Goublier  ... 
    Conductor:  Morton Gould
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Morton Gould Orchestra
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  • 16.
    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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  • 17.
    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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  • 18.
    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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  • 19.
    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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  • 20.
    Weber, Nielsen: Clarinet Concertos / Goodman, Gould, Chicago
    Weber, Nielsen: Clarinet Concertos / Goodman, Gould, Chicago
    Label: Rca Victor Red Seal   Catalog: 5890 Release Date: 06/25/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Carl Maria von Weber,  Carl Nielsen
    Performer:  Benny Goodman
    Conductor:  Jean Martinon,  Morton Gould
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Chicago Symphony Orchestra
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  • 21.
    Chicago Symphony Orchestra- The Centennial Collection
    Chicago Symphony Orchestra- The Centennial Collection
    Label: Rca Victor Gold Seal   Catalog: 60206 Release Date: 04/09/2007   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Robert Schumann,  César Franck,  Richard Wagner,  Bedrich Smetana  ... 
    Performer:  Artur Rubinstein,  Leontyne Price,  Sviatoslav Richter,  Jascha Heifetz
    Conductor:  Frederick Stock,  Carlo Maria Giulini,  Desiré DeFauw,  Artur Rodzinski  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Chicago Symphony Orchestra
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  • 22.
    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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  • 23.
    Hall Of Fame Vol 1 - Rose, Ellis, Anderson, Farnon
    Hall Of Fame Vol 1 - Rose, Ellis, Anderson, Farnon
    Label: Guild   Catalog: 5120 Release Date: 05/30/2006   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  David Rose,  Clive Richardson,  Eric Coates,  Irving Berlin  ... 
    Performer:  Clive Richardson,  Stanley Black
    Conductor:  Morton Gould,  Charles Williams,  Robert Farnon,  Eric Coates  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Morton Gould Orchestra,  Columbia Symphony Orchestra,  The Queen's Hall Light Orchestra  ... 
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  • 24.
    Classic Library - Nielsen: Symphonies 2 & 4, Etc
    Classic Library - Nielsen: Symphonies 2 & 4, Etc
    Label: Rca Victor Red Seal   Catalog: 76237 Release Date: 03/28/2006   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Carl Nielsen
    Performer:  Sioned Williams,  James Galway
    Conductor:  Jean Martinon,  Morton Gould
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Chicago Symphony Orchestra
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  • 25.
    Copland, Grofe / Morton Gould
    Copland, Grofe / Morton Gould
    Label: Rca Victor Living Stereo   Catalog: 67904 Release Date: 02/07/2006   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Ferde Grofé,  Aaron Copland
    Conductor:  Morton Gould
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Morton Gould Orchestra
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