John Donald Robb
Encyclopedia
John Donald Robb was an American composer, ethnomusicologist, arts administrator, and attorney from New Mexico. He was a professor at the University of New Mexico
in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and served as Dean of the university's College of Fine Arts from 1942 to 1957. In addition, he was responsible for establishing the University of New Mexico Symphony.
Robb studied composition with Horatio Parker
, Darius Milhaud
, Roy Harris
, Paul Hindemith
, and Nadia Boulanger
. He composed a large body of music, including two operas, symphonic and chamber music, and electronic music. His orchestral works have been conducted by Maurice Abravanel
and Leonard Slatkin
.
Among his notable composition students is Halim El-Dabh
.
While at the University of New Mexico, he collected approximately 3,000 field recordings of traditional music from the American Southwest, Nepal, and South America, which formed the core of the John Donald Robb Archive of Southwestern Music at the University of New Mexico.http://econtent.unm.edu/RobbFieldRecordings/http://www.nmculturaltreasures.org/cgi-bin/collview.cgi?_recordnum=75
Robb received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the University of New Mexico.
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and served as Dean of the university's College of Fine Arts from 1942 to 1957. In addition, he was responsible for establishing the University of New Mexico Symphony.
Robb studied composition with Horatio Parker
Horatio Parker
Horatio William Parker was an American composer, organist and teacher. He was a central figure in musical life in New Haven, Connecticut in the late 19th century, and is best remembered as the teacher of Charles Ives....
, Darius Milhaud
Darius Milhaud
Darius Milhaud was a French composer and teacher. He was a member of Les Six—also known as The Group of Six—and one of the most prolific composers of the 20th century. His compositions are influenced by jazz and make use of polytonality...
, Roy Harris
Roy Harris
Roy Ellsworth Harris , was an American composer. He wrote much music on American subjects, becoming best known for his Symphony No...
, Paul Hindemith
Paul Hindemith
Paul Hindemith was a German composer, violist, violinist, teacher, music theorist and conductor.- Biography :Born in Hanau, near Frankfurt, Hindemith was taught the violin as a child...
, and Nadia Boulanger
Nadia Boulanger
Nadia Boulanger was a French composer, conductor and teacher who taught many composers and performers of the 20th century.From a musical family, she achieved early honours as a student at the Paris Conservatoire, but believing that her talent as a composer was inferior to that of her younger...
. He composed a large body of music, including two operas, symphonic and chamber music, and electronic music. His orchestral works have been conducted by Maurice Abravanel
Maurice Abravanel
Maurice Abravanel was aSwiss-American Jewish conductor of classical music. He is remembered as the conductor of the Utah Symphony Orchestra for over 30 years.-Life:...
and Leonard Slatkin
Leonard Slatkin
Leonard Edward Slatkin is an American conductor and composer.-Early life and education:Slatkin was born in Los Angeles to a musical family that came from areas of the Russian Empire now in Ukraine. His father Felix Slatkin was the violinist, conductor and founder of the Hollywood String Quartet,...
.
Among his notable composition students is Halim El-Dabh
Halim El-Dabh
Halim Abdul Messieh El-Dabh is an Egyptian-born American composer, performer, ethnomusicologist, and educator, who has had a career spanning six decades...
.
While at the University of New Mexico, he collected approximately 3,000 field recordings of traditional music from the American Southwest, Nepal, and South America, which formed the core of the John Donald Robb Archive of Southwestern Music at the University of New Mexico.http://econtent.unm.edu/RobbFieldRecordings/http://www.nmculturaltreasures.org/cgi-bin/collview.cgi?_recordnum=75
Robb received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the University of New Mexico.
Books
- Robb, John Donald (1954). Hispanic Folk Songs of New Mexico. (1954)
- Robb, John Donald (1980). Hispanic Folk Music of New Mexico and the Southwest: A Self Portrait of the People.
Discography
- 1978 - New Mexico Landscapes. LP. Greenville, Maine: Opus One 42.
- 1999 - Pictures of New Mexico (Triangulum)