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{{short description|Composer and conductor}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
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'''Jacob Avshalomov''' (March 28, 1919 – April 25, 2013) was an American [[composer]] and [[Conducting|conductor]].
'''Jacob Avshalomov''' (March 28, 1919 – April 25, 2013) was a [[composer]] and [[Conducting|conductor]].


==Early life and education==
==Early life and education==
[[Image:Eastman School of Music - general view.jpg|thumb|right|alt=|The [[Eastman School of Music]]]]
[[Image:Eastman School of Music - general view.jpg|thumb|right|alt=|The [[Eastman School of Music]]]]


Jacob Avshalomov was born on March 28, 1919 in [[Qingdao|Tsingtao]], China.<ref name=1959Avshalomov51>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Avshalomov|1959|p=51}} Note: Profile by David Campbell.</ref> His father was [[Aaron Avshalomov]], the Siberian-born composer known for "oriental musical materials cast in western forms and media"; his mother was from San Francisco.<ref name=1959Avshalomov51/> Jacob received musical instruction from his father starting at a young age.<ref name=1959Avshalomov51/> At eight years old Avshalomov visited Portland from China with his parents and were guests of [[Jacques Gershkovitch]] for several months in 1927.<ref name=1959Avshalomov49>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Avshalomov|1959|p=49}} Note: Profile by David Campbell.</ref> Aaron Avshalomov had become friends with Gershkovitch in the Orient (Jacob was three years old when the two met).<ref name=1959Avshalomov49/><ref name=1959Avshalomov47>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Avshalomov|1959|p=47}}</ref> However, because they did not hold permanent visas the family returned to China.<ref name=1959Avshalomov49/>
Jacob Avshalomov was born on March 28, 1919, in [[Qingdao|Tsingtao]], China.<ref name=1959Avshalomov51>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Avshalomov|1959|p=51}} Note: Profile by David Campbell.</ref> His father was [[Aaron Avshalomov]], the Siberian-born composer known for "oriental musical materials cast in western forms and media"; his mother was from San Francisco.<ref name=1959Avshalomov51/> Jacob received musical instruction from his father starting at a young age.<ref name=1959Avshalomov51/> At eight years old Avshalomov visited Portland from China with his parents and were guests of [[Jacques Gershkovitch]] for several months in 1927.<ref name=1959Avshalomov49>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Avshalomov|1959|p=49}} Note: Profile by David Campbell.</ref> Aaron Avshalomov had become friends with Gershkovitch in the Orient (Jacob was three years old when the two met).<ref name=1959Avshalomov49/><ref name=1959Avshalomov47>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Avshalomov|1959|p=47}}</ref> However, because they did not hold permanent visas the family returned to China.<ref name=1959Avshalomov49/>


Avshalomov graduated from British and American schools before age fifteen, then worked as a factory supervisor in Tientsin, [[Shanghai]] and [[Beijing]] over a span of four years.<ref name=1959Avshalomov51/> Avshalomov was also active in sports and won the [[diving]] championship of North China.<ref name=1959Avshalomov51/> In 1937, Avshalomov assisted his father in Shanghai with ballet production and working on [[Sheet music|scores]]. He then enlisted with a British volunteer corps following Japan's invasion of China during the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]], and eventually returned to the United States with his mother in December 1937.<ref name=1959Avshalomov51/> Avshalomov spent a year in Los Angeles studying with [[Ernst Toch]], followed by two years in Portland, Oregon to attend [[Reed College]] (1939–1941).<ref name=OEPYP>{{cite web|url=http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/portland_youth_philharmonic/|title=Portland Youth Philharmonic|first=James|last=McQuillen|accessdate=November 19, 2010|publisher=[[The Oregon Encyclopedia]]}}</ref><ref name=NWR>{{cite web|url=http://www.newworldrecords.org/uploads/filelGbd5.pdf|title=NWCR664: Portland Youth Philharmonic|publisher=New World Records|accessdate=September 30, 2011|format=[[Portable Document File|PDF]]}}</ref> During this time he studied with Gershkovitch and participated in the [[Portland Junior Symphony]].<ref name=NWR/> He then spent two years at the [[Eastman School of Music]] to study composition and orchestration with [[Bernard Rogers]].<ref name=NWR/> During [[World War II]] he lived in London, where he conducted a performance of [[Johann Sebastian Bach]]'s ''[[St John Passion]]''.<ref name=1959Avshalomov51/>
Avshalomov graduated from British and American schools before age fifteen, then worked as a factory supervisor in Tientsin, [[Shanghai]] and [[Beijing]] over a span of four years.<ref name=1959Avshalomov51/> Avshalomov was also active in sports and won the [[Diving (sport)|diving]] championship of North China.<ref name=1959Avshalomov51/> In 1937, Avshalomov assisted his father in Shanghai with ballet production and working on [[Sheet music|scores]]. He then enlisted with a British volunteer corps following Japan's invasion of China during the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]], and eventually returned to the United States with his mother in December 1937.<ref name=1959Avshalomov51/> Avshalomov spent a year in Los Angeles studying with [[Ernst Toch]], followed by two years in Portland, Oregon to attend [[Reed College]] (1939–1941).<ref name=OEPYP>{{cite web|url=http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/portland_youth_philharmonic/|title=Portland Youth Philharmonic|first=James|last=McQuillen|access-date=November 19, 2010|publisher=[[The Oregon Encyclopedia]]}}</ref><ref name=NWR>{{cite web|url=http://www.newworldrecords.org/uploads/filelGbd5.pdf|title=NWCR664: Portland Youth Philharmonic|publisher=New World Records|access-date=September 30, 2011|format=[[Portable Document File|PDF]]|archive-date=April 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402225640/http://www.newworldrecords.org/uploads/filelGbd5.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> During this time he studied with Gershkovitch and participated in the [[Portland Junior Symphony]].<ref name=NWR/> He then spent two years at the [[Eastman School of Music]] to study composition and orchestration with [[Bernard Rogers]].<ref name=NWR/> During [[World War II]] he lived in London, where he conducted a performance of [[Johann Sebastian Bach]]'s ''[[St John Passion]]''.<ref name=1959Avshalomov51/>


==Career==
==Career==
Following the war, Avshalomov received the Ditson Fellowship and joined faculty of the music department at [[Columbia University]], where he taught from 1946 to 1954.<ref name=NWR/> Here he conducted American premier performances of [[Anton Bruckner]]'s [[Mass No. 1 (Bruckner)|Mass No. 1]] and [[Michael Tippett]]'s ''[[A Child of Our Time]]''.<ref name=NWR/> He served on the National Humanities Council from 1968 to 1974 and the Music Planning Section of the National Arts Endowment from 1977 to 1979.<ref name=Metro>{{cite web|url=http://news.oregonmetro.gov/1/post.cfm/pcpa-foundation-to-honor-three-community-leaders-at-walk-of-stars-june-8|title=PCPA Foundation to honor three community leaders at Walk of Stars, June 8|date=May 20, 2011|accessdate=September 29, 2011|publisher=[[Metro (Oregon regional government)|Metro]]|location=Portland, Oregon}}</ref>
Following the war, Avshalomov received the Ditson Fellowship and joined faculty of the music department at [[Columbia University]], where he taught from 1946 to 1954.<ref name=NWR/> Here he conducted American premier performances of [[Anton Bruckner]]'s [[Mass No. 1 (Bruckner)|Mass No. 1]] and [[Michael Tippett]]'s ''[[A Child of Our Time]]''.<ref name=NWR/> He served on the National Humanities Council from 1968 to 1974 and the Music Planning Section of the National Arts Endowment from 1977 to 1979.<ref name=Metro>{{cite web|url=http://news.oregonmetro.gov/1/post.cfm/pcpa-foundation-to-honor-three-community-leaders-at-walk-of-stars-june-8|title=PCPA Foundation to honor three community leaders at Walk of Stars, June 8|date=May 20, 2011|access-date=September 29, 2011|publisher=[[Metro (Oregon regional government)|Metro]]|location=Portland, Oregon}}</ref>


===Portland Youth Philharmonic===
===Portland Youth Philharmonic===
Following Gershkovitch's death in 1953, guest conductors lead the Portland Junior Symphony (now known as the [[Portland Youth Philharmonic]]) for its thirtieth season—one was Avshalomov.<ref name=OEPYP/> Avshalomov was appointed the orchestra's second conductor in 1954. During his forty-year tenure Avshalomov encouraged international tours and produced several recordings, some of which included pieces commissioned by the orchestra, making the Portland Junior Symphony the first known recording orchestra in the [[Pacific Northwest]].<ref name=OEPYP/> He led the ensemble on their first international tour in 1970.{{citation needed|date=July 2011}} The orchestra became known as the Portland Youth Philharmonic (PYP) in 1978.<ref name=OEPYP/><ref name=Cullivan>{{cite news|url=http://thetribonline.com/features/story.php?story_id=118655113957947600|title=East County musicians travel with youth orchestra to Taiwan and Korea|first=Rob|last=Cullivan|date=August 7, 2007|accessdate=April 20, 2013|work=[[The Outlook (Gresham)|The Outlook]]|location=Gresham, Oregon|pages=1–2|publisher=[[Pamplin Media Group]]}}</ref> The year 1984 marked the orchestra's sixtieth anniversary as well as Avshalomov's thirtieth year as conductor.<ref name=60Years>{{cite news|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1243&dat=19840822&id=eYRTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9YYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5181,4276788|title=Portland Youth Philharmonic 60 years old|date=August 22, 1984|accessdate=September 21, 2011|page=5|number=224|work=[[The Bulletin (Bend)|The Bulletin]]|location=Bend, Oregon}}</ref> Avshalomov retired in 1995 after an estimated 640 concerts and 10,000 auditions.<ref name=OEPYP/>
Following Gershkovitch's death in 1953, guest conductors lead the Portland Junior Symphony (now known as the [[Portland Youth Philharmonic]]) for its thirtieth season—one was Avshalomov.<ref name=OEPYP/> Avshalomov was appointed the orchestra's second conductor in 1954. During his forty-year tenure Avshalomov encouraged international tours and produced several recordings, some of which included pieces commissioned by the orchestra, making the Portland Junior Symphony the first known recording orchestra in the [[Pacific Northwest]].<ref name=OEPYP/> He led the ensemble on their first international tour in 1970.{{citation needed|date=July 2011}} The orchestra became known as the Portland Youth Philharmonic (PYP) in 1978.<ref name=OEPYP/><ref name=Cullivan>{{cite news|url=http://thetribonline.com/features/story.php?story_id=118655113957947600|title=East County musicians travel with youth orchestra to Taiwan and Korea|first=Rob|last=Cullivan|date=August 7, 2007|access-date=April 20, 2013|work=[[The Outlook (Gresham)|The Outlook]]|location=Gresham, Oregon|pages=1–2|publisher=[[Pamplin Media Group]]}}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The year 1984 marked the orchestra's sixtieth anniversary as well as Avshalomov's thirtieth year as conductor.<ref name=60Years>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1243&dat=19840822&id=eYRTAAAAIBAJ&pg=5181,4276788|title=Portland Youth Philharmonic 60 years old|date=August 22, 1984|access-date=September 21, 2011|page=5|number=224|work=[[The Bulletin (Bend)|The Bulletin]]|location=Bend, Oregon}}</ref> Avshalomov retired in 1995 after an estimated 640 concerts and 10,000 auditions.<ref name=OEPYP/>


==Compositions==
==Compositions==
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==Recognitions==
==Recognitions==
[[Image:Jacob Avshalomov star, Portland, Oregon.JPG|thumb|right|upright|Granite star along Portland's Main Street Walk of Stars recognizing Jacob Avshalomov]]
[[Image:Jacob Avshalomov star, Portland, Oregon.JPG|thumb|right|Granite star along Portland's Main Street Walk of Stars recognizing Jacob Avshalomov]]

Avshalomov received the Ditson Fellowship in Composition following World War II and a [[Guggenheim Fellowship]] in [[List of Guggenheim Fellowships awarded in 1951|1951]]. In 1953 he was recognized by the New York Music Critics Circle for his choral work ''Tom o' Bedlam''.<ref name=NWR/> Other awards include a [[Ernest Bloch|Bloch]] Award, Naumburg Recording Award, [[Ditson Conductor's Award]] in 1965, Governor's Arts Award, and [[League of American Orchestras|American Symphony Orchestra League]] Award. In 1994 Avshalomov was named a Portland First Citizen, an honor established by the Portland Realty Board (now the Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors) in 1928 to recognize "civic achievements and business leadership within the community".<ref name=Metro/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pmar.org/pmar-resources/Consumer-Resources/Realtors-and-the-Community/firstcitizen|title=2011 Portland First Citizen|accessdate=September 30, 2011|publisher=Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors}}</ref> In 2011 Avshalomov was one of three honorees to be recognized by the [[Portland Center for the Performing Arts]] Foundation for outstanding contributions to Portland's art community. Awards recipients had a granite star placed on Main Street by [[Antoinette Hatfield Hall]] and were presented with a bronze folly bollard.<ref name=Metro/>
Avshalomov received the Ditson Fellowship in Composition following World War II and a [[Guggenheim Fellowship]] in [[List of Guggenheim Fellowships awarded in 1951|1951]]. In 1953 he was recognized by the New York Music Critics Circle for his choral work ''Tom o' Bedlam''.<ref name=NWR/> Other awards include a [[Ernest Bloch|Bloch]] Award, Naumburg Recording Award, [[Ditson Conductor's Award]] in 1965, Governor's Arts Award, and [[League of American Orchestras|American Symphony Orchestra League]] Award. In 1994 Avshalomov was named a Portland First Citizen, an honor established by the Portland Realty Board (now the Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors) in 1928 to recognize "civic achievements and business leadership within the community".<ref name=Metro/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pmar.org/pmar-resources/Consumer-Resources/Realtors-and-the-Community/firstcitizen|title=2011 Portland First Citizen|access-date=September 30, 2011|publisher=Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727180839/http://www.pmar.org/pmar-resources/Consumer-Resources/Realtors-and-the-Community/firstcitizen|archive-date=July 27, 2011}}</ref> In 2011 Avshalomov was one of three honorees to be recognized by the [[Portland Center for the Performing Arts]] Foundation for outstanding contributions to Portland's art community. Awards recipients had a granite star placed on Main Street by [[Antoinette Hatfield Hall]] and were presented with a bronze folly bollard.<ref name=Metro/>


==Death==
==Death==
He died in his sleep at his Portland, Oregon home in 2013.<ref name="oregonlive">{{cite web|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/performance/index.ssf/2013/04/jacob_avshalomov_longtime_dire.html#incart_river|title=Jacob Avshalomov, longtime director of Portland Youth Philharmonic, dies &#124; OregonLive.com|publisher=oregonlive.com|accessdate=2014-01-25}}</ref>
He died in his sleep at his Portland, Oregon home in 2013.<ref name="oregonlive">{{cite web|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/performance/index.ssf/2013/04/jacob_avshalomov_longtime_dire.html#incart_river|title=Jacob Avshalomov, longtime director of Portland Youth Philharmonic, dies &#124;OregonLive.com|date=27 April 2013 |publisher=oregonlive.com|access-date=2014-01-25}}</ref>


==Recordings==
==Recordings==
*''Avshalomov: Fabled Cities'' (1998, Albany), contains re-issues of "City Upon a Hill" (1965), "Inscriptions at the City of Brass" (1957), ''Symphony: The Oregon'' and "Up at Timberline" (1987)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/album/avshalomov-fabled-cities-w77465|title=Avshalomov: Fabled Cities|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=November 28, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The sounds of Oregon: 10 good — and serious — CDs from '98|work=The Oregonian|date=December 20, 1998|publisher=Advance Publications|location=Portland, Oregon|issn=8750-1317|first=David|last=Stabler}}</ref>
*''Avshalomov: Fabled Cities'' (1998, Albany), contains re-issues of "City Upon a Hill" (1965), "Inscriptions at the City of Brass" (1957), ''Symphony: The Oregon'' and "Up at Timberline" (1987)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/album/avshalomov-fabled-cities-w77465|title=Avshalomov: Fabled Cities|publisher=Allmusic|access-date=November 28, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The sounds of Oregon: 10 good — and serious — CDs from '98|work=The Oregonian|date=December 20, 1998|publisher=Advance Publications|location=Portland, Oregon|issn=8750-1317|first=David|last=Stabler}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
Line 55: Line 57:


;Works cited
;Works cited
*{{cite book|title=Music Is Where You Make It: A Panoramic View of the Portland Junior Symphony|first=Jacob|last=Avshalomov|publisher=The Portland Junior Symphony Association|year=1979|id={{LCC|ML200.8.P82 J8}}|location=Portland, Oregon|year=1959|ref=harv}} Note: Profile for Jacob Avshalomov (pp.&nbsp;49–52) by David Campbell.
*{{cite book|title=Music Is Where You Make It: A Panoramic View of the Portland Junior Symphony|first=Jacob|last=Avshalomov|publisher=The Portland Junior Symphony Association|id={{LCC|ML200.8.P82 J8}}|location=Portland, Oregon|year=1959}} Note: Profile for Jacob Avshalomov (pp.&nbsp;49–52) by David Campbell.


==External links==
==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.avshalomovmusic.com/}}
*{{Official website|http://www.avshalomovmusic.com/}}
*{{Oregon Encyclopedia|avshalomov_jacob|Jacob Avshalomov (1919-2013)|author=Shotola, Marilyn}}
*{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=jacob-avshalomov-q268}}
*{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=jacob-avshalomov-q268}}
*[http://composers.com/jacob-avshalomov Jacob Avshalomov] at the [[American Composers Alliance]]
*[http://composers.com/jacob-avshalomov Jacob Avshalomov] at the [[American Composers Alliance]]
*[http://www.nypl.org/archives/2610 Jacob Avshalomov scores, 1928–2001], [[New York Public Library]]
*[http://www.nypl.org/archives/2610 Jacob Avshalomov scores, 1928–2001], [[New York Public Library]]
*[http://www.bruceduffie.com/avshalomov.html Interview with Jacob Avshalomov], March 3, 1986


{{Portland Youth Philharmonic}}
{{Portland Youth Philharmonic}}
⚫
{{Authority control}}


⚫
{{Authority control|VIAF=97638898}}

{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Avshalomov, Jacob
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Jewish-American composer and conductor
| DATE OF BIRTH = March 28, 1919
| PLACE OF BIRTH = Tsingtao, China
| DATE OF DEATH = April 25, 2013
| PLACE OF DEATH = Portland, Oregon, United States
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Avshalomov, Jacob}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Avshalomov, Jacob}}
[[Category:1919 births]]
[[Category:1919 births]]
[[Category:2013 deaths]]
[[Category:2013 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American composers]]
[[Category:20th-century classical composers]]
[[Category:20th-century classical composers]]
[[Category:20th-century conductors (music)]]
[[Category:20th-century American conductors (music)]]
[[Category:21st-century American composers]]
[[Category:21st-century classical composers]]
[[Category:21st-century American conductors (music)]]
[[Category:Albany Records artists]]
[[Category:American classical composers]]
[[Category:American classical composers]]
[[Category:American conductors (music)]]
[[Category:American male conductors (music)]]
[[Category:American male classical composers]]
[[Category:American people of Russian-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:American people of Russian-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:Classical musicians from Oregon]]
[[Category:Columbia University faculty]]
[[Category:Columbia University faculty]]
[[Category:Eastman School of Music alumni]]
[[Category:Eastman School of Music alumni]]
[[Category:Guggenheim Fellows]]
[[Category:Jewish American classical composers]]
[[Category:Jewish American classical composers]]
[[Category:Musicians from Portland, Oregon]]
[[Category:Musicians from Portland, Oregon]]
[[Category:People from Qingdao]]
[[Category:Musicians from Qingdao]]
[[Category:Portland Youth Philharmonic alumni]]
[[Category:Portland Youth Philharmonic alumni]]
[[Category:Portland Youth Philharmonic conductors]]
[[Category:Portland Youth Philharmonic conductors]]
[[Category:Pupils of Ernst Toch]]
[[Category:Reed College alumni]]
[[Category:Reed College alumni]]

Latest revision as of 06:12, 24 September 2024

Jacob Avshalomov
BornMarch 28, 1919
Tsingtao, China
DiedApril 25, 2013(2013-04-25) (aged 94)
Portland, Oregon, United States
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Composer, conductor, musician
SpouseDoris

Jacob Avshalomov (March 28, 1919 – April 25, 2013) was a composer and conductor.

Early life and education

[edit]
The Eastman School of Music

Jacob Avshalomov was born on March 28, 1919, in Tsingtao, China.[1] His father was Aaron Avshalomov, the Siberian-born composer known for "oriental musical materials cast in western forms and media"; his mother was from San Francisco.[1] Jacob received musical instruction from his father starting at a young age.[1] At eight years old Avshalomov visited Portland from China with his parents and were guests of Jacques Gershkovitch for several months in 1927.[2] Aaron Avshalomov had become friends with Gershkovitch in the Orient (Jacob was three years old when the two met).[2][3] However, because they did not hold permanent visas the family returned to China.[2]

Avshalomov graduated from British and American schools before age fifteen, then worked as a factory supervisor in Tientsin, Shanghai and Beijing over a span of four years.[1] Avshalomov was also active in sports and won the diving championship of North China.[1] In 1937, Avshalomov assisted his father in Shanghai with ballet production and working on scores. He then enlisted with a British volunteer corps following Japan's invasion of China during the Second Sino-Japanese War, and eventually returned to the United States with his mother in December 1937.[1] Avshalomov spent a year in Los Angeles studying with Ernst Toch, followed by two years in Portland, Oregon to attend Reed College (1939–1941).[4][5] During this time he studied with Gershkovitch and participated in the Portland Junior Symphony.[5] He then spent two years at the Eastman School of Music to study composition and orchestration with Bernard Rogers.[5] During World War II he lived in London, where he conducted a performance of Johann Sebastian Bach's St John Passion.[1]

Career

[edit]

Following the war, Avshalomov received the Ditson Fellowship and joined faculty of the music department at Columbia University, where he taught from 1946 to 1954.[5] Here he conducted American premier performances of Anton Bruckner's Mass No. 1 and Michael Tippett's A Child of Our Time.[5] He served on the National Humanities Council from 1968 to 1974 and the Music Planning Section of the National Arts Endowment from 1977 to 1979.[6]

Portland Youth Philharmonic

[edit]

Following Gershkovitch's death in 1953, guest conductors lead the Portland Junior Symphony (now known as the Portland Youth Philharmonic) for its thirtieth season—one was Avshalomov.[4] Avshalomov was appointed the orchestra's second conductor in 1954. During his forty-year tenure Avshalomov encouraged international tours and produced several recordings, some of which included pieces commissioned by the orchestra, making the Portland Junior Symphony the first known recording orchestra in the Pacific Northwest.[4] He led the ensemble on their first international tour in 1970.[citation needed] The orchestra became known as the Portland Youth Philharmonic (PYP) in 1978.[4][7] The year 1984 marked the orchestra's sixtieth anniversary as well as Avshalomov's thirtieth year as conductor.[8] Avshalomov retired in 1995 after an estimated 640 concerts and 10,000 auditions.[4]

Compositions

[edit]

Avshalomov has composed several symphonic pieces. The cantata "How Long Oh Lord" was recorded by Composers Recordings, Inc. (CRI) in the late 1960s, along with two of his father's works. Other pieces by Avshalomov recorded by CRI are "Phases of the Great Land" (CRI 194), "Inscriptions at the City of Brass" (CRI 117), "The Taking of T'ung Kuan" (CRI 117), and "Prophesy" (CRI 191). Avshalomov also wrote "The Oregon", a symphony commemorating the centennial anniversary of the U.S. state of Oregon, in 1959. One main characteristic of Avshalomov's compositions are the radical change of time-signatures from measure to measure (bar to bar).[citation needed] Other commissioned works include "The Thirteen Clocks", "Glorious th'Assembled Fires", and "Symphony of Songs".[6]

Recognitions

[edit]
Granite star along Portland's Main Street Walk of Stars recognizing Jacob Avshalomov

Avshalomov received the Ditson Fellowship in Composition following World War II and a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1951. In 1953 he was recognized by the New York Music Critics Circle for his choral work Tom o' Bedlam.[5] Other awards include a Bloch Award, Naumburg Recording Award, Ditson Conductor's Award in 1965, Governor's Arts Award, and American Symphony Orchestra League Award. In 1994 Avshalomov was named a Portland First Citizen, an honor established by the Portland Realty Board (now the Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors) in 1928 to recognize "civic achievements and business leadership within the community".[6][9] In 2011 Avshalomov was one of three honorees to be recognized by the Portland Center for the Performing Arts Foundation for outstanding contributions to Portland's art community. Awards recipients had a granite star placed on Main Street by Antoinette Hatfield Hall and were presented with a bronze folly bollard.[6]

Death

[edit]

He died in his sleep at his Portland, Oregon home in 2013.[10]

Recordings

[edit]
  • Avshalomov: Fabled Cities (1998, Albany), contains re-issues of "City Upon a Hill" (1965), "Inscriptions at the City of Brass" (1957), Symphony: The Oregon and "Up at Timberline" (1987)[11][12]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Avshalomov 1959, p. 51 Note: Profile by David Campbell.
  2. ^ a b c Avshalomov 1959, p. 49 Note: Profile by David Campbell.
  3. ^ Avshalomov 1959, p. 47
  4. ^ a b c d e McQuillen, James. "Portland Youth Philharmonic". The Oregon Encyclopedia. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "NWCR664: Portland Youth Philharmonic" (PDF). New World Records. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 2, 2012. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
  6. ^ a b c d "PCPA Foundation to honor three community leaders at Walk of Stars, June 8". Portland, Oregon: Metro. May 20, 2011. Retrieved September 29, 2011.
  7. ^ Cullivan, Rob (August 7, 2007). "East County musicians travel with youth orchestra to Taiwan and Korea". The Outlook. Gresham, Oregon: Pamplin Media Group. pp. 1–2. Retrieved April 20, 2013.[permanent dead link‍]
  8. ^ "Portland Youth Philharmonic 60 years old". The Bulletin. No. 224. Bend, Oregon. August 22, 1984. p. 5. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
  9. ^ "2011 Portland First Citizen". Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
  10. ^ "Jacob Avshalomov, longtime director of Portland Youth Philharmonic, dies |OregonLive.com". oregonlive.com. 27 April 2013. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  11. ^ "Avshalomov: Fabled Cities". Allmusic. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  12. ^ Stabler, David (December 20, 1998). "The sounds of Oregon: 10 good — and serious — CDs from '98". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon: Advance Publications. ISSN 8750-1317.
Works cited
  • Avshalomov, Jacob (1959). Music Is Where You Make It: A Panoramic View of the Portland Junior Symphony. Portland, Oregon: The Portland Junior Symphony Association. LCC ML200.8.P82 J8. Note: Profile for Jacob Avshalomov (pp. 49–52) by David Campbell.
[edit]
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