John Boda
Encyclopedia
John Boda was a professor of music theory, composition and piano at Florida State University
in Tallahassee, Florida
between 1947 and 2001. His papers and collection are at the Warren D. Allen Music Library.
He was born in Wisconsin on August 2, 1922. His musical education was at the Eastman School of Music
in Rochester, NY. In the late 1940's, Boda served as assistant conductor to George Szell
at the Cleveland Orchestra
. During Boda's tenure with the orchestra, he met Igor Stravinsky
who made a guest appearance with the orchestra. Boda played the piano part of Petrushka
under the baton of Stravinsky. The visit had great impact on the burgeoning neoclassicism of the young Boda. His composition Sinfonia
was the product of a large Ford grant in 1960. He often composed in a neo-Classical
framework. Boda composed many chamber pieces, including sonatas for most common orchestral instruments. He suffered a stroke in late 1995 that interrupted his compositional activity for a time; however, he soon resumed and produced a number of highly imaginative, profoundly mature works in his final years. Notable students of his include Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, David Ward Steinman, and Jason Overall.
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
in Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
between 1947 and 2001. His papers and collection are at the Warren D. Allen Music Library.
He was born in Wisconsin on August 2, 1922. His musical education was at the Eastman School of Music
Eastman School of Music
The Eastman School of Music is a music conservatory located in Rochester, New York. The Eastman School is a professional school within the University of Rochester...
in Rochester, NY. In the late 1940's, Boda served as assistant conductor to George Szell
George Szell
George Szell , originally György Széll, György Endre Szél, or Georg Szell, was a Hungarian-born American conductor and composer...
at the Cleveland Orchestra
Cleveland Orchestra
The Cleveland Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is one of the five American orchestras informally referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1918, the orchestra plays most of its concerts at Severance Hall...
. During Boda's tenure with the orchestra, he met Igor Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
who made a guest appearance with the orchestra. Boda played the piano part of Petrushka
Petrushka
Petrouchka or Petrushka is a ballet with music by Russian composer Igor Stravinsky, composed in 1910–11 and revised in 1947....
under the baton of Stravinsky. The visit had great impact on the burgeoning neoclassicism of the young Boda. His composition Sinfonia
Sinfonia
Sinfonia is the Italian word for symphony. In English it most commonly refers to a 17th- or 18th-century orchestral piece used as an introduction, interlude, or postlude to an opera, oratorio, cantata, or suite...
was the product of a large Ford grant in 1960. He often composed in a neo-Classical
Neoclassicism
Neoclassicism is the name given to Western movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that draw inspiration from the "classical" art and culture of Ancient Greece or Ancient Rome...
framework. Boda composed many chamber pieces, including sonatas for most common orchestral instruments. He suffered a stroke in late 1995 that interrupted his compositional activity for a time; however, he soon resumed and produced a number of highly imaginative, profoundly mature works in his final years. Notable students of his include Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, David Ward Steinman, and Jason Overall.
External links
- http://music.fsu.edu/Quicklinks/Music-Library/Research-Resources/Special-Collections/Personal-Collections/John-Boda-Collection John Boda Collection at Florida State University
- http://music.fsu.edu/content/download/16405/106848 List of compositions by John Boda (PDF file)
- http://music.fsu.edu/Quicklinks/Music-Library Warren D. Allen Music Library at Florida State University