JAVS Fall 2007

PORTRAIT OF ALAN SHULMAN AND HIS THEME AND ~ARIATIONS

By Paula Krupiczewicz, Winner of 2007 Dalton Research Competition

Shulman and his significant contri butions ro rhe viola repertoire. It will conclude with a comparative analysis, showing the subtleties of textures and colors found in each of the cluee orchestrations of his most successful work, the Th~e and Variations (1940). Shulman was a graduate ofThe JuiUiard School, studying both cello and composition. An active per former, composer, and arranger in classical and commercial music, 1 he played with the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) Symphony Orchestra under Arturo Toscanini from the orchestra's conception in 1937 to irs disbandment in 1954, taking leave to serve in the U.S. Maritime Service during World War II. During his time with the Symphony, he and his violinist brother Sylvan co-founded the Stuyvesant String Quartet, which became known for irs performances and recordings of contemporary works including Ernest Blod1's First Quart~tand Dmitri Shostakovich's Piano Quintet. 2 The quartet then formed a group called the "New Friends of Rhythm," playing jazz, original compositions, and jazzy arrangements of classical melodies by adding a guitar, double bass, and harp. They were affectionately called 'Toscanini's Hep Cars" around NBC, selling over 20,000 records in the first ten months of their existence. 3 Shulman was an avid chamber

The viola repertoire is not as extensive as that for violinists and cellists. Lionel Tertis and William Primrose, forerunners in promot ing the viola as a solo instrument, had many new works composed for them during the early twenti eth century. In addition, Vadim Borisovsky, Wtlliam Primrose, and Emanuel Vardi aided in expanding the literature by transcribing short violin compositions for perform ance. It cannot be said that the viola's repertoire is rrunimal , but many works are still widely unknown. Twentieth century com posers found a new voice in the viola, providing works that demonstrated the instruments characteristics and capabilities. Alan Shulman (1915-2002) was one of these composers who was amacred ro the unique ronal quali ties of the viola. Shulman is lesser known than some of his contem poraries, however his contributions to building a reputation for the viola as a solo instrument are sig nificant. His composition, the Th~m~ and Variations for viola and piano, with irs subsequent versions for full orchestra and strings and harp, is a work of gaining popular icy that exemplifies the instru men r's range and ronal characteris tics. This research wiU provide a biographical sketch ofAlan

Used with p~rmission ofjay Shulman.

musician. In addition to perform ances with the Stuyvesant Quartet and the New Friends of Rhythm, he performed with the Kreiner Quartet, the Philharmonia Trio, the Vardi Trio, and the Haydn Quartet. After the disbandment of the NBC Orchestra in 1954, Shulman helped found the Symphony of the Air, which performed until 1963. He was a founding member of the Violoncello Society of New York in 1956, serving as President from 1967-1972. He held reaching posi tions at Sarah Lawrence College, JuUiard, SUNY-Purchase, Johnson State College (VT), and the Universiry of Maine.

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