Leroy Robertson
Encyclopedia
Leroy Robertson was an American composer and music educator.
Robertson was born in Fountain Green
, Utah
. One of his earliest instructors was Anthony C. Lund
. He studied violin, composition, and public school music at the New England Conservatory and in Europe
. He received an MA degree from the University of Utah
and a Ph.D from the University of Southern California
. He was chairman of the music department at Brigham Young University
from 1925 to 1948 and at the University of Utah from 1948 to 1962.
Robertson was instrumental in the promotion of the Utah Symphony and of classical music in Salt Lake City.
He is best known for his Oratorio from the Book of Mormon
. The setting of the Lord's Prayer from that oratorio was recorded by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
and released as a 45 single on the flip side of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, which hit the top 50 charts.
Amongst Robertson's works in the 1948 LDS hymnal was the music for "Up! Arose Thee, O Beautiful Zion", with words by Emily H. Woodmansee
.
In the 1985 edition of the LDS hymnal
there is one hymn with words by Robertson and eight hymns for which he wrote the music. "On This Day of Joy and Gladness" (hymn #64) has both words and music by Robertson, while "Let Earth's Inhabitants Rejoice" (hymn #53), ""Great King of Heaven" (hymn #63), "God of Our Fathers, Know of Old" (hymn #80), "I'm A Pilgrim, I'm A Stranger" (hymn #121), "Upon The Cross Of Calvary" (hymn #184), "We Love Thy House, Oh God" (hymn #247) and "Go Ye Messengers of Glory" (hymn #262) have music by Robertson.
also
Robertson was born in Fountain Green
Fountain Green, Utah
Fountain Green is a city in Sanpete County, Utah, United States. The population was 945 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Fountain Green is located at ....
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. One of his earliest instructors was Anthony C. Lund
Anthony C. Lund
Anthony Canute Lund was the director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City, Utah from 1916 until 1935. Lund was also a professor of music at Brigham Young University....
. He studied violin, composition, and public school music at the New England Conservatory and in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. He received an MA degree from the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
and a Ph.D from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. He was chairman of the music department at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
from 1925 to 1948 and at the University of Utah from 1948 to 1962.
Robertson was instrumental in the promotion of the Utah Symphony and of classical music in Salt Lake City.
He is best known for his Oratorio from the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
. The setting of the Lord's Prayer from that oratorio was recorded by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Mormon Tabernacle Choir
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, sometimes colloquially referred to as MoTab, is a Grammy and Emmy Award winning, 360-member, all-volunteer choir. The choir is part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . However, the choir is completely self-funded, traveling and producing albums to...
and released as a 45 single on the flip side of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, which hit the top 50 charts.
Amongst Robertson's works in the 1948 LDS hymnal was the music for "Up! Arose Thee, O Beautiful Zion", with words by Emily H. Woodmansee
Emily H. Woodmansee
Emily Hill Woodmansee was a nineteenth century Mormon poet and hymnwriter. Although only one of her hymns "As Sisters In Zion" is included in the 1985 LDS English language edition of the LDS Church's hymnbook, previous LDS Church hymnbooks have included more of her works.-Biography:Emily Hill was...
.
In the 1985 edition of the LDS hymnal
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1985 book)
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the official hymn book of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
there is one hymn with words by Robertson and eight hymns for which he wrote the music. "On This Day of Joy and Gladness" (hymn #64) has both words and music by Robertson, while "Let Earth's Inhabitants Rejoice" (hymn #53), ""Great King of Heaven" (hymn #63), "God of Our Fathers, Know of Old" (hymn #80), "I'm A Pilgrim, I'm A Stranger" (hymn #121), "Upon The Cross Of Calvary" (hymn #184), "We Love Thy House, Oh God" (hymn #247) and "Go Ye Messengers of Glory" (hymn #262) have music by Robertson.
Selected works
- 1923 Endicott Overture
- 1938 Piano Quintet
- 1940 Prelude, Scherzo and Ricercare for orchestra
- 1940 String Quartet
- 1944 Rhapsody for piano and orchestra
- 1944 American Seranade, for string quartet
- 1945 Punch and Judy Overture
- 1947 Trilogy, for orchestra
- 1948 Violin Concerto
- 1953 The Book Of Mormon, oratorio
- 1966 Piano Concerto
also
- Cello Concerto
- Fantasia for organ
- Come, Come, Ye Saints, for chorus
- Hatikva, for chorus
- From The Crossroads, for chorus
- The Lord's Prayer, for chorus
- Passacaglia for orchestra