William Ashbrook
Encyclopedia
William Ashbrook was an American musicologist, writer, journalist, and academic.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, Ashbrook earned a BA in English literature from the University of Pennsylvania
in 1946 and a MA in the same field from Harvard University
in 1947. From 1949 to 1955 he taught humanities at Stephens College
and from 1955 to 1974 he was a member of the English department at Indiana State University
. From 1974 to 1984 he was professor of opera at the Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts
(now the University of the Arts).
Although Ashbrook trained to be an English professor, he had a lifelong interest in Italian opera and his scholarly publications in the field of music far outshown his contributions in other areas. He is best remembered for his 1965 biographical work on Gaetano Donizetti
and for the books The Operas of Puccini (1968; rev. 1985) and Donizetti and His Operas (1982). Ashbrook was also a regular contributor to several classical music journals, magazines, and other publications, including Opera News
, Opera
, and the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
. He was also a former editor of The Opera Quarterly. He died in Denver, Colorado
at the age of 87.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, Ashbrook earned a BA in English literature from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in 1946 and a MA in the same field from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1947. From 1949 to 1955 he taught humanities at Stephens College
Stephens College
Stephens College is a women's college located in Columbia, Missouri. It is the second oldest female educational establishment that is still a women's college in the United States. It was founded on August 24, 1833 as the Columbia Female Academy. In 1856, David H. Hickman turned it into a college,...
and from 1955 to 1974 he was a member of the English department at Indiana State University
Indiana State University
Indiana State University is a public university located in Terre Haute, Indiana, United States.The Princeton Review has named Indiana State as one of the "Best in the Midwest" seven years running, and the College of Education's Graduate Program was recently named as a 'Top 100' by U.S...
. From 1974 to 1984 he was professor of opera at the Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts
University of the Arts (Philadelphia)
The University of the Arts is one of the United States' oldest universities dedicated to the arts. Its campus makes up part of the Avenue of the Arts in Center City, Philadelphia...
(now the University of the Arts).
Although Ashbrook trained to be an English professor, he had a lifelong interest in Italian opera and his scholarly publications in the field of music far outshown his contributions in other areas. He is best remembered for his 1965 biographical work on Gaetano Donizetti
Gaetano Donizetti
Domenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti was an Italian composer from Bergamo, Lombardy. His best-known works are the operas L'elisir d'amore , Lucia di Lammermoor , and Don Pasquale , all in Italian, and the French operas La favorite and La fille du régiment...
and for the books The Operas of Puccini (1968; rev. 1985) and Donizetti and His Operas (1982). Ashbrook was also a regular contributor to several classical music journals, magazines, and other publications, including Opera News
Opera News
Opera News is an American classical music magazine. It has been published since 1936 by the Metropolitan Opera Guild, a non-profit organization located at Lincoln Center which was founded to support the Metropolitan Opera of New York City...
, Opera
Opera (magazine)
Opera is a monthly British magazine devoted to covering all things related to opera.Based in London, the magazine was founded in 1950 by George Lascelles, 7th Earl of Harewood. It was launched at the house of Richard Buckle, under the imprint 'Ballet Publications Ltd'...
, and the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians is an encyclopedic dictionary of music and musicians. Along with the German-language Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart, it is the largest single reference work on Western music. The dictionary has gone through several editions since the 19th century...
. He was also a former editor of The Opera Quarterly. He died in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
at the age of 87.