Siegmeister

Elie Siegmeister
My nine year apprenticeship to the American composer Elie Siegmeister (1909 - 1991) were, without a doubt, the most valuable years of my compositional training. I met Elie in 1971 after hearing him give a radio interview on NYC's WQXR with Robert Sherman, then host of a morning talk show. I resonated not only with what Elie had to say about himself and the musical world in general, but with the music played that morning. Here was a man who was 'talking the talk' and 'walking the walk;' I wanted to learn how to do that too! Very soon after the requisite correspondences back and forth, I was in his Great Neck studio eager for the compositional 'makeover' I knew I needed, even though I had had years of prior training in private lessons, community music schools, and four years at a major music college. I was not to be disappointed. Interestingly, I never paid Elie a dime for lessons (which could be hours long and always included a break for lunch or dinner, depending upon the time of day) but worked for him as a copyist as well as assisting him in editing his book, The New Music Lover's Handbook and copying his opera, The Plough and the Stars, to name a few of the larger tasks. Incidentally, 'cut and paste' (literally) was the name of the game in those pre-computer days. Great times; I miss them.
Below is a series of photos taken during the 70's and 80's, including some that were taken on January 16, 1979 at New York's Carnegie Recital Hall (now called Weill Hall). In attendance that night for Elie's 70th birthday bash were a group of his composer buddies, Robert Starer, Ulysses Kay, William Mayer, Morton Gould (not pictured), Irwin Bazelon (not pictured), as well as others whose names have escaped my memory. The battered and stained photograph at the end includes another of Elie's star students, Lenny Lehrman, who, I believe began lessons with Elie when only a young boy. Lenny is a solid composer and a terrific pianist; he did a superlative job as the evening's accompanist.

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