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performers, Robb would use his
Wollensak wire recorder, hooked up to his car battery, to record the musicians' impromptu performances. "From the offices in the UNM Music Department to the dance hall across the street from the Rainbow Bar in Cuba, New Mexico, Robb recorded anyone willing to spend the time singing and playing for him". This effort would ultimately result in nearly 3,000 field recordings of traditional music from the American Southwest, Nepal, and South America, which form the core of the John Donald Robb Archive of Southwestern Music at the
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panoramic survey of
Hispanic folk music, including representation of every formal type and dozens of subjects, both secular and religious, from Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. Ethnomusicologists and folklorists will value this comprehensive work both for its unrivaled scope and for its musical emphasis. Those exploring Hispanic cultural heritage will find this book a treasure trove".
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484:. Symposia have changed focus to a more interdisciplinary and theme-oriented format, including "Here Comes Everybody": A Celebration of the New Mexico Centennial was the theme of the 41st annual festival, which featured the contributions of New Mexico composers, both past and present (2012); the centenary of Igor Stravinsky's
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former teacher, Norman
Lockwood, to the campus, where his compositions were performed, along with the works of UNM music composition students. In 1999, the symposium was renamed the John Donald Robb Composers' Symposium. The symposium is now presented jointly by the Trust and the UNM Department of Music.
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The
Composers' Symposium brings internationally acclaimed composers to the UNM campus every spring for four days of concerts, masterclasses, and seminars in one of the longest-running festivals of new music in the world. The symposium began in 1972 when UNM Music Professor William Wood invited his
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for alto saxophone and piano); Marta
Gentilucci (2016: Dance, for flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano and percussion); and Kyong Mee Choi (2018: "Adiós a lo conocido" (Goodbye to the known) for violin, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, piano, and percussion). In addition, the Trust supports a
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At a 1969 concert, he collaborated with the
Albuquerque Symphony Orchestra to present "Transmutation for Orchestra and Electronic Instrument", one of his compositions that involved both the Moog synthesizer and an orchestra. A selection of his electronic works was presented at a 1969 international
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Among its initiatives, the Trust co-sponsors the annual UNM John Donald Robb
Composers' Symposium (see details below). The Trust also supports the biennial UNM John Donald Robb Commission Competition, which is open to composers from around the world. All entries must be built on folk-song source
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Upon the deaths of Robb and his wife, Harriet, in 1989, the Trust was established at the
University of New Mexico College of Fine Arts by a self-supporting endowment. Managed by an all-volunteer board of directors, the Trust in collaboration with UNM works to further his inspiring commitment to
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Four distinct collections make up the John Donald Robb
Archives in the UNM University Libraries' Center for Southwest Research. They are the John Donald Robb Field Recordings, which can be listened to online; the John Donald Robb Photograph Collection, the John Donald Robb Papers, which include
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and indigenous cultures, in particular their distinctive music. On many weekends, he and his wife, Harriet, would travel to the rural communities that dotted the state. Sometimes Robb had fixed appointments, but other times, they simply happened upon community gatherings. With permission of the
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The
University of Oklahoma Press wrote when the book was first published in 1980: "In some 700 songs and melodies, most with English translations and musical transcriptions, the author presents the Hispanic folk music of the Southwestern United States in all its rich variety. This is truly a
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original Robb's original music manuscripts, and the John Donald Robb Musical Trust Records. Also included in the archives are collections preserved by Robb's associates. This list includes Hispanic music, Native American chants, music from South America and Europe, and oral histories.
520:; the 46th annual John Donald Robb Composers' Symposium was a festival of contemporary music that brought together forty-seven composers and numerous ensembles and soloists from around the globe (2017), while the 2019 edition hosted the Society of Composers, Inc. National Conference.
255:. His orchestral works have been played by many major orchestras in the United States and abroad under conductors, such as Hans Lange, Maurice Bonney, Maurice Abravanel, Leonard Slatkin, Gilberto Orellano, Yoshimi Takeda, Guillermo Figueroa, James Richards, and Franz Vote.
169:. One of his first achievements was to establish the University of New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, which continued to thrive in 2013. He played a major role in building the college's Department of Music. Among the many composition students, he influenced are
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Robb died in 1989 at the age of 96, within 10 days of the death of his beloved wife, Harriet. They had been married for 68 years. He was active as a composer well into his 90s and completed his Requiem, which was his last major composition when he was 93.
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music festival in Trieste, Italy. As a pioneer in this new medium, he spoke at conferences around the world. In 2012, Robb was recognized as one of 12 pioneers of electronic music featured in the Moog Foundation's 2012 wall calendar.
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Elegy for our War Dead and Scenes from a New Mexico Mountain Village in addition to works by Michael Mauldin and Hayg Boyadjian; National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Oberg; NEED DATE, Opus
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education, and to advance the understanding of music in the Southwest by supporting the performance of Hispanic folk songs, along with the performance, study, promotion, and dissemination of Robb's own music.
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material from the John Donald Robb Archive of Southwestern Music. The winning composition is performed during the following UNM Composers' Symposium. Past recipients have included Carl Donsbach (2004:
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from 1942 to 1957. He became known as Dean Robb, a title that stayed with him for the rest of his life. In 1986, he received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the University of New Mexico.
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centers around an Anglo-Hispanic couple who fall in love despite opposition from their fathers. Due to lackluster reception, Robb began an unsuccessful collaboration with
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Hispanic Folksongs of New Mexico; John Donald Robb, Art Songs; Leslie Umphrey, Soprano, National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Oberg; 2006; Opus One
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Symphony Number One & Concerto for Viola and Orchestra; Dariusz Korcz, Viola, National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Oberg; 2003; Opus One
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Robb was in his 70s when he discovered an entirely new medium for his musical compositions. In the summer of 1965, he attended a seminar hosted by Robert Moog in
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114:. Despite his passion for music, Robb turned to a career in the law. He attended both the University of Minnesota Law School and Harvard Law School.
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Piano Concerto, Tatiana Vetrinskaya, Piano; Hayg Boyadjian, Second Symphony; National Polish Radio Symphony conducted by David Oberg; 2003; Opus One
304:), a book that presents a selection of songs along with the insightful background of the different genres of music. The book was revised in 2008.
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a one-hour chamber opera that told the true story of women trapped in a cycle of prostitution and slavery across the U.S.-Mexico border (2014);
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129:. It was her encouragement that gave him the confidence to pursue his dream of being a composer. Throughout his life, he made time to study
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Robb's commitment to preserving traditional songs resulted in him using them as inspiration for his own works. His regional
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Van Cleve, Emily. 2013. "Music Leader's Requiem in Concert: Former UNM Dept. Head Recorded 3,000 Hispanic Folk Songs".
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77:(June 12, 1892 – January 6, 1989) was an American composer, ethnomusicologist, arts administrator, and attorney.
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624:, second edition, 2013), edited by Deane L. Root (May 25). Oxford Music Online (accessed November 21, 2017).
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Hiller, Egbert. 2020. "Ein hervorragender Ort, um Kunst zu machen: Die Neue Musik im US-Staat New Mexico".
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904:(PDF). John Donald Robb Trust website. p. 23. (archive from April 1, 2016, accessed November 21, 2017).
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In 1941, after 18 years as a lawyer, Robb left his New York law practice to become a professor at the
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for piccolo, contrabass clarinet, clarinet, piano, vibraphone, violin and cello); Paul Clift (2012:
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Meredith, Scott. 2003. "Many-Sided Man: John Donald Robb and Music in New Mexico, 1892–1989".
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J. D. Robb Rhythmania: Electronic Music from Razor Blades to Moog (1970), Smithsonian Folkways
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Indigenizing Art Music: Experiencing the sound of Native American influences in new music
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when he was a pre-teen inspired Robb to pursue a career as a composer. He began studying
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at Yale University, Robb continued his music education, including a course taught by
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to learn more about the revolutionary new instrument which came to be known as the
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Rhythmania and other Electronic Musical Compositions (1976), Smithsonian Folkways
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graduate assistantship and small grants that advance the mission of the Trust.
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Hispanic Folk Music of New Mexico and the Southwest: A Self-Portrait of a People
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860:. Marta Gentilucci composer’s website (March 26) (accessed June 2, 2020).
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Robb composed a large body of music, including two operas, symphonic and
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that discusses the Symposium in the context of New Music in New Mexico.
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Winner of the John Donald Robb Trust 2018 Commission Competition Winner
753:. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. Blurb inside front dust-jacket.
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Pictures of New Mexico; Tatiana Vetrinskaya, Piano (1998); Triangulum;
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488:(2013); the centerpiece of the 43rd annual Composers' Symposium was
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222:, written in 1947–48, drew from Hispanic folk music. Another work,
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873:". Kyong Mee Choi composer’s website (accessed June 2, 2020).
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In 1954, Robb published Hispanic Folk Songs of New Mexico (
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University of New Mexico - John Donald Robb Musical Trust
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Included among the many distinguished guests have been
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His magnum opus, often referred to as the Big Book, is
275:. In all, Robb composed more than 65 electronic works.
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explored folk and classical music in new ways (2015);
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Smith, Craig. 2008. "A Place for Antique Juvenilia".
938:". Deutschlandfunk (7 April; accessed 22 April 2020).
813:". American Composers Forum (accessed May 29, 2020).
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12, no. 47 (November 20–26) (accessed May 29, 2020).
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Hispanic Folk Music of New Mexico and the Southwest
340:for piano and string quartet); Colin Holter (2010:
348:for restrung classical guitar) ; Luke Dahn (2014:
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616:Barulich, Frances. 2016. "Robb, John Donald".
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841:Music Professor Wins Composers' Competition
764:"International Composers' Competition 2014"
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181:. Robb served as Dean of the university's
1062:University of Minnesota Law School alumni
357:UNM John Donald Robb Composers' Symposium
62:Learn how and when to remove this message
711:Pena, Manual; Robb, John Donald (1983).
523:In 2020, Egbert Hiller, producer at the
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476:and, since 2012, Co-Artistic Directors
1032:Musicians from Albuquerque, New Mexico
622:The Grove Dictionary of American Music
600:Smith, Craig. 2009. "In Other Words".
306:More Hispanic Folk Songs of New Mexico
90:A symphony concert in his hometown of
847:(February 4) (accessed May 29, 2020).
308:was planned for publication in 2014.
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1107:20th-century American male musicians
1102:20th-century American musicologists
635:UNM College of Fine Arts Newsletter
679:". John Donald Robb Trust website.
323:UNM John Donald Robb Musical Trust
34:tone or style may not reflect the
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1077:American male classical composers
882:Anon. 2018. "Awards and Honors".
1072:University of New Mexico faculty
1012:20th-century classical composers
900:University of New Mexico. 2013.
500:(2016) featured guest composers
334:Palomita: Canción for Piano Trio
44:guide to writing better articles
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1097:20th-century American composers
666:" biography. Author's web page.
342:The Recording You Will Now Hear
915:"2019 SCI National Conference"
699:John Donald Robb Musical Trust
197:, Robb became enamored of the
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858:Concert – New Mexico Premiere
845:Northwestern College StandOut
1112:American Conservatory alumni
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992:J. D. Robb Papers, 1915–1989
969:2019 SCI National Conference
824:In the Company of Colleagues
792:Henningsen, Michael. 2003. "
591:, no. 60 (October): §PA:2–5.
1037:American ethnomusicologists
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675:University of New Mexico. "
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193:Not long after arriving in
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589:La Crónica de Nuevo México
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856:Gentilucci, Marta. 2017.
749:Robb, John Donald. 1980.
1052:Pupils of Paul Hindemith
1047:Pupils of Darius Milhaud
1042:Pupils of Horatio Parker
978:The Santa Fe New Mexican
869:Choi, Kyong Mee. 2018. "
830:(accessed May 29, 2020).
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163:University of New Mexico
133:; his teachers included
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650:(Sunday, 19 May): §F:3.
338:Song of the Holy Ground
167:Albuquerque, New Mexico
38:used on Knowledge (XXG)
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822:Holter, Colin. 2011. "
770:. 2014. Archived from
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637:. (Winter/Spring): 2.
228:Joy Comes to Deadhorse
224:Joy Comes to Deadhorse
189:Interest on folk music
42:See Knowledge (XXG)'s
809:Smart, Gary L. n.d. "
336:); Gary Smart (2008:
127:Fontainebleau, France
123:American Conservatory
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183:College of Fine Arts
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102:. While pursuing an
885:Journal of the IAWM
648:Albuquerque Journal
518:Christopher Shultis
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435:Vincent Persichetti
179:Modern Jazz Quartet
618:Grove Music Online
494:Musical Retellings
451:August Read Thomas
157:Professional shift
108:English literature
1092:Minnesota lawyers
774:on March 27, 2016
677:UNM Robb Archives
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175:John Lewis
143:Roy Harris
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