Robert Walter Moevs (2 December 1920 – 10 December 2007) was an American composer of contemporary classical music. He was known for his highly chromatic music.
Career Moevs was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and served in the United States Army Air Forces as a pilot during World War II. He then received his degree from Harvard University. Moevs was a student of Walter Piston and Nadia Boulanger. He taught at Harvard University and Rutgers University. He received the Rome Prize (1952) and a Guggenheim Fellowship (1962). In 1978 his Concerto Grosso was awarded the Stockhausen International Prize in Composition.Archibald and Wilson 2008.
His music has been performed by the Cleveland Orchestra, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Symphony of the Air. His papers, including unpublished scores and recordings, are held by the Rutgers Music Library. He died in Hillsborough, New Jersey.Papers of Robert MoevsThe Robert Moevs Collection
Music
Discography Title / date Performer Label Catalog no. Piano Sonata (1950) Joseph Bloch New World Records NWCRL136 Musica Da Camera I (1965) Contemporary Chamber Ensemble conducted by Arthur Weisberg New World Records NWCRL223 Variazioni sopra una melodia (1961) Jacob Glick / Robert Sylvester New World Records NWCRL223 A Brief Mass (1968) Kirkpatrick Chamber Choir conducted by David Drinkwater New World Records NWCRL262 Fantasia sopra un motivo (1951) Wanda Maximilien New World Records NWCRL404 Phoenix (1972) Wanda Maximilien New World Records NWCRL404 Una collana musicale (1977) (excerpts) Wanda Maximilien New World Records NWCRL404 Concerto Grosso for Piano, Percussion and Orchestra (1960 / 68) Orchestra of the 20th Century conducted by Arthur Weisberg, Wanda Maximilien soloist New World Records NWCRL457 Una collana musicale (1977) (more excerpts) Wanda Maximilien New World Records NWCRL496 Pan (1951) Karl Kraber Orion Records out of print Saraband (1986) Jory Vinikour Dorian Sono Luminus DSL 92174
Notes
Sources Archibald, Bruce, and Richard Wilson. 2008. "Moevs, Robert (Walter)". Grove Music Online, edited by Dean Roote (accessed 1 October 2013).
Further reading Boros, James. 1990. "The Systematic Chromaticism of Robert Moevs." Perspectives of New Music 28/1 (Winter): 294–323. Boros, James. 1990. "A Conversation with Robert Moevs." Perspectives of New Music 28/1 (Winter): 324–335. Boros, James. 1990. "The Evolution of Robert Moevs's Compositional Methodology." American Music 8/4 (Winter): 383–404. Moevs, Robert. 1966. "Some Observations on Instruction in Music Theory." College Music Symposium 6 (Fall): 69–71. Moevs, Robert. 1969. "Music and the Liturgy." Liturgical Arts 38/1 (November): 4–9. Moevs, Robert. 1969. "Intervallic Procedures in Debussy." Perspectives of New Music 8/1 (Fall/Winter): 82–101. Moevs, Robert. 1971. "Mannerism and Stylistic Consistency in Stravinsky." Perspectives of New Music 9/2 (10/1): 92–103. Moevs, Robert, in conversation with Ellen Rosand. 1980. "Recollections—Nadia Boulanger (1887–1979)." 19th-Century Music 3/3 (March): 276–278. Wilkinson, Carlton. 1997. "Robert Moevs's Heptachronon for solo cello." Perspectives of New Music 35/1 (Winter): 231–261.
External links Robert Moevs, Theodore Presser Company Robert Moevs, bach-cantatas.com "A tribute to Moevs" by Richard Wilson, newmusicbox.org Recordings of some works by Robert Moevs, YouTube Interview with Robert Moevs by Bruce Duffie, December 28, 1988