Ruth Lomon
Encyclopedia
A native of Montreal
, Canada, Ruth Lomon (b Montreal, 7 Nov 1930) attended le Conservatoire de Quebec and McGill University
. She continued her studies with Francis Judd Cooke
at the New England Conservatory of Music
and later with Witold Lutosławski at Dartington College
in England.
Since 1998, Ms. Lomon has been Composer/Resident Scholar at the Women's Studies Research Center, Brandeis University
. She composed an oratorio, Testimony of Witnesses, for vocal soloists, chorus and orchestra. She was the recipient of a grant from the Hadassah International Research Center (now the Hadassah Brandeis Institute) for this work.
She was commissioned by the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, Boston to compose a trumpet concerto, Odyssey, for Charles Schlueter
, principal trumpet of the Boston Symphony Orchestra
. This work was premiered in 1998. Schlueter recorded it in 2010 with the Berkshire Symphony Orchestra directed by Ronald L. Feldman.
Her Requiem for full chorus and soprano solo accompanied by brass and woodwinds
was premiered in Boston (1997) by Coro Allegro
, David Hodgkins, Artistic Director.
During 1995-96, Ms. Lomon was a fellow of the Bunting Institute, Radcliffe
/Harvard where she composed "Songs of Remembrance," a song cycle on poems of the Holocaust
. This hour length work was premiered at Harvard University's John Knowles Paine
Concert Hall, and has since had numerous performances including the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
, Washington, D.C. in April 1998, and the IAWM Congress in London, England, in July 1999 where she received the Miriam Gideon
Composition award for this work. In 2001, she also received the Chicago Professional Musicians Award for the 10th song of the cycle, which is set for mezzo soprano, English horn
and piano. "Songs of Remembrance" is recorded on the CRI
label.
Lomon was composer-in-residence for Boston Secession a professional choral ensemble directed by Jane Ring Frank
. Lomon composed her oratorio Testimony of Witnesses for them and they performed movements of the work from 2000-2008. A full length oratorio based on the poetry of Holocaust victims and survivors, Testimony of Witnesses is scored for chamber orchestra, vocal ensemble, and four vocal soloists. The texts — in Hebrew, French, German, Italian, Polish, English and Yiddish — represent the personal experience of sixteen survivors and victims, including ten individual women and children, and reflect the international impact of the Holocaust and the variety of individuals and communities that were forever changed by it.
Ruth Lomon at the Women's Studies Research Center at Brandeis University
Arsis Press
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada, Ruth Lomon (b Montreal, 7 Nov 1930) attended le Conservatoire de Quebec and McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
. She continued her studies with Francis Judd Cooke
Francis Judd Cooke
Francis Judd Cooke was an American composer, organist, cellist, pianist, conductor, choir director, and professor.-Life:...
at the New England Conservatory of Music
New England Conservatory of Music
The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, is the oldest independent school of music in the United States.The conservatory is home each year to 750 students pursuing undergraduate and graduate studies along with 1400 more in its Preparatory School as well as the School of...
and later with Witold Lutosławski at Dartington College
Dartington College of Arts
Dartington College of Arts was a specialist arts institution near Totnes, Devon, South West England, it specialized in post-dramatic theatre, music, choreography, Performance Writing and visual performance, focusing on a performative and multi-disciplinary approach to the arts. In addition to this,...
in England.
Since 1998, Ms. Lomon has been Composer/Resident Scholar at the Women's Studies Research Center, Brandeis University
Brandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
. She composed an oratorio, Testimony of Witnesses, for vocal soloists, chorus and orchestra. She was the recipient of a grant from the Hadassah International Research Center (now the Hadassah Brandeis Institute) for this work.
She was commissioned by the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, Boston to compose a trumpet concerto, Odyssey, for Charles Schlueter
Charles Schlueter
Charles Schlueter, born in Du Quoin, Illinois, is the retired principal trumpeter of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Schlueter studied with William Vacchiano at the Juilliard School...
, principal trumpet of the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Boston Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1881, the BSO plays most of its concerts at Boston's Symphony Hall and in the summer performs at the Tanglewood Music Center...
. This work was premiered in 1998. Schlueter recorded it in 2010 with the Berkshire Symphony Orchestra directed by Ronald L. Feldman.
Her Requiem for full chorus and soprano solo accompanied by brass and woodwinds
Woodwind instrument
A woodwind instrument is a musical instrument which produces sound when the player blows air against a sharp edge or through a reed, causing the air within its resonator to vibrate...
was premiered in Boston (1997) by Coro Allegro
Coro Allegro
Coro Allegro is a classical music choral group based in Boston, Massachusetts, drawing its members from the LGBT community. It was founded in 1990.-Profile and performances:...
, David Hodgkins, Artistic Director.
During 1995-96, Ms. Lomon was a fellow of the Bunting Institute, Radcliffe
Radcliffe College
Radcliffe College was a women's liberal arts college in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was the coordinate college for Harvard University. It was also one of the Seven Sisters colleges. Radcliffe College conferred joint Harvard-Radcliffe diplomas beginning in 1963 and a formal merger agreement with...
/Harvard where she composed "Songs of Remembrance," a song cycle on poems of the Holocaust
The Holocaust
The Holocaust , also known as the Shoah , was the genocide of approximately six million European Jews and millions of others during World War II, a programme of systematic state-sponsored murder by Nazi...
. This hour length work was premiered at Harvard University's John Knowles Paine
John Knowles Paine
John Knowles Paine , was the first American-born composer to achieve fame for large-scale orchestral music.-Life:He studied organ, orchestration, and composition in Germany and toured in Europe for three years...
Concert Hall, and has since had numerous performances including the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is the United States' official memorial to the Holocaust. Adjacent to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the USHMM provides for the documentation, study, and interpretation of Holocaust history...
, Washington, D.C. in April 1998, and the IAWM Congress in London, England, in July 1999 where she received the Miriam Gideon
Miriam Gideon
Miriam Gideon was an American composer.-Life:She studied organ with her uncle Henry Gideon and piano with Felix Fox. She also studied with Martin Bernstein, Marion Bauer, Charles Haubiel, and Jacques Pillois...
Composition award for this work. In 2001, she also received the Chicago Professional Musicians Award for the 10th song of the cycle, which is set for mezzo soprano, English horn
Cor anglais
The cor anglais , or English horn , is a double-reed woodwind instrument in the oboe family....
and piano. "Songs of Remembrance" is recorded on the CRI
Composers Recordings, Inc.
Composers Recordings, Inc. was an American record label dedicated to the recording of contemporary classical music by American composers. It was founded in 1954 by Otto Luening, Douglas Moore, and Oliver Daniel, and based in New York City....
label.
Lomon was composer-in-residence for Boston Secession a professional choral ensemble directed by Jane Ring Frank
Jane Ring Frank
Jane Ring Frank is a female American Choral Conductor who leads music publisher E. G. Schirmer's Philovox Recording Chorus along with Boston Secession the professional chorus she founded.-Personal life:...
. Lomon composed her oratorio Testimony of Witnesses for them and they performed movements of the work from 2000-2008. A full length oratorio based on the poetry of Holocaust victims and survivors, Testimony of Witnesses is scored for chamber orchestra, vocal ensemble, and four vocal soloists. The texts — in Hebrew, French, German, Italian, Polish, English and Yiddish — represent the personal experience of sixteen survivors and victims, including ten individual women and children, and reflect the international impact of the Holocaust and the variety of individuals and communities that were forever changed by it.
External links
www.ruthlomon.comRuth Lomon at the Women's Studies Research Center at Brandeis University
Arsis Press