Morton Gold American pianist, composer Date of Birth: 10.12.1913 Country: USA

1. Biography of Morton Gould
2. Early Career
3. World War II and Post-war Career

Biography of Morton Gould

Morton Gould, an American pianist and composer, was born in 1913 in Queens, New York, to a Russian immigrant and a former Australian citizen. At the age of four, he began playing the piano by ear, and by six, he had composed his first piece, titled "Just Six". At the young age of eight, Gould received a degree from the School of Fine Arts and prepared to continue his musical studies at the University. As a teenager, he already gave lectures on music and offered the audience a selection of variations for his improvisations.

Early Career

At the age of 18, Morton Gould published his first work, a suite called "3 Conservative Sketches". During the Great Depression, Gould worked in vaudeville, improvising with popular hit songs. In 1932, at the age of 21, he joined the radio program "Music Hall" as an arranger and composer, and after eight years, he became the director of the "Chrysler Hour". Working in radio proved to be extremely beneficial for Gould. In addition to his speed, discipline, and expertise, Gould learned how to accurately listen to his audience, understanding and capturing what they desired.

World War II and Post-war Career

The Second World War ignited a patriotic spirit in the young composer, leading him to create his famous compositions such as "American Salute", "American Legion Forever", and "Fanfare for Freedom". After the war, Gould, accustomed to self-discipline and extensive workload, contributed extensively to Broadway theaters. When television became a part of American life, Gould was already there. He brilliantly scored documentaries, which prominently featured war films.

Throughout his long and illustrious career, Morton Gould composed and arranged a vast number of melodies and compositions, with his themes being performed by orchestras in America, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Australia, and even Japan. In 1966, he received the Grammy Award, followed by the Gold Baton Award in 1983 and the Kennedy Center Honor in 1994 for his contributions to American culture. In 1995, he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, highlighting his significant role in the history of American music.

From 1986 to 1994, Gould served as the president of the American Composers' Union. "Composition is my essence," Gould confessed in one of his interviews. "No matter what I do in life, composing is my main purpose."

Morton Gould passed away at the age of 82 in Orlando, Florida, in 1996.