Bassett, Leslie, 1923-....

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Composer, professor of music at the University of Michigan.

From the description of Leslie Bassett photographs. 1977-2003. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 85778860

From the description of Leslie Bassett papers, 1946-2005. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 85778856

Leslie Bassett is a composer and professor of music at the University of Michigan. He was born in Hanford, California on January, 23, 1923 and was exposed to music when he first learned to play the piano as a child. In high school, he continued piano and also picked up the trombone. After a few semesters at Fresno State University, he served in World War II in the 13th Armored Division Band of the US Army as a trombonist, but also composed and arranged music.

He earned his Bachelor's degree from Fresno State University in 1947 and then received both his master's degree (1949) and his doctorate (1956) in music composition at the University of Michigan, studying under Ross Lee Finney. In 1950, he was a Fulbright Fellow, studying at the École Normale de Musique in Paris. Bassett began teaching at the University of Michigan in 1952, remaining there until he retired in 1991. While at the University of Michigan, he helped to found the Electronic Music Studio and also headed the Composition Department.

Bassett earned many prizes and awards for his composing and his teaching. Most notably, he won the Pulitzer Prize in Music for Variations for Orchestra in 1966 and in 1984 was named the Henry Russel Lecturer, "the highest honor to be awarded a senior faculty member and the first time that the lectureship had gone to a musician or artist." (Johnson, p.3).

He composed his music for a variety of different instruments and genres including music for orchestra, wind ensemble, chamber music, choral music, brass, solo voice, instrumental solos, organ, piano as well as electronic music.

From the guide to the Leslie Bassett Papers, 1946-2005, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Society for the Publication of American Music. Papers of the Society for the Publication of American Music, 1924-1974 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
creatorOf Bassett, Leslie, 1923-. Sonata for violin and piano / Leslie Bassett. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
referencedIn The Papers of the Society for the Publication of American Music, 1924-1974 Irving S. Gilmore Music Library
creatorOf Bassett, Leslie, 1923-. Leslie Bassett papers, 1946-2005. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Ross, Gilbert, 1903-1993. Gilbert Ross papers, 1911-1975. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Bassett, Leslie, 1923-. Fourth string quartet / Leslie Bassett. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Finney, Ross Lee, 1906-1997. Ross Lee Finney sound recording series, ca. 1982. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Bassett, Leslie Raymond, 1923-. The lamb : for S.A.T.B. / Leslie Bassett. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Finney, Ross Lee, 1906-1997. Ross Lee Finney papers, ca. 1960-1980s. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn William Albright Papers, 1962-1998 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Boston Symphony Orchestra. Correspondence with Eugene Ormandy, 1962-1983. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Philadelphia Orchestra. Transcription of WFLN radio broadcast [sound recording], 1976 March 2. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Leslie Bassett Papers, 1946-2005 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Bassett, Leslie Raymond, 1923-. Out of the depths / Leslie Bassett. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Philadelphia Orchestra. Transcription of WFLN radio broadcast [sound recording], 1976 October 7, 8, 9. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Bassett, Leslie Raymond, 1923-. Follow now that bright star : (Natale) / [words by] Anne Sanders ; [music by] Leslie Bassett. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Albright, William. William Albright papers, 1962-1998. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Leslie Bassett collection, [ca. 1997-ongoing]. Museum of Performance & Design
creatorOf Bassett, Leslie, 1923-. [Musical signature] 1971 Oct. 14 / Leslie Bassett. Texas Tech University Libraries, Academic Library
creatorOf Bassett, Leslie, 1923-. Quintet / Leslie Bassett. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Bassett, Leslie, 1923-. Concerto for orchestra / Leslie Bassett. Library of Congress
referencedIn Ross Lee Finney collection : sound and video recordings, 1938-1986 The New York Public Library. Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound.
referencedIn Gilbert Ross Papers, 1911-1975 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Bassett, Leslie, 1923-. Leslie Bassett photographs. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Fromm Music Foundation scores and recordings, 1943-2011. Houghton Library
creatorOf Bassett, Leslie, 1923-. Correspondence with Eugene Ormandy, 1976-1984. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Henry Russel Lectureship Committee (University of Michigan) records, 1925-2005 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf ONYX Contemporary Ensemble. ONYX Contemporary Ensemble [sound recording]. University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Semans Library
creatorOf Albright, William. William Albright sound recordings [sound recording]. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Society for the Publication of American Music. Papers of the Society for the Publication of American Music, 1924-1974 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
referencedIn University of Michigan Faculty and Staff Portraits, ca. 1860-ca. 1960 Bentley Historical Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Albright, William. person
associatedWith Albright, William. person
associatedWith Bassett, Anita Denniston. person
associatedWith Blake, William, 1757-1827 person
associatedWith Boston Symphony Orchestra. corporateBody
associatedWith Finney, Ross Lee, 1906-1997. person
associatedWith Fromm Music Foundation corporateBody
associatedWith Library of Congress. Serge Koussevitzky Music Foundation. corporateBody
associatedWith Michigan Historical Collections corporateBody
associatedWith ONYX Contemporary Ensemble. corporateBody
associatedWith Philadelphia Orchestra. corporateBody
associatedWith Ross, Gilbert, 1903- person
associatedWith Ross, Gilbert, 1903-1993. person
associatedWith Sanders, Anne. person
associatedWith Society for the Publication of American Music. corporateBody
associatedWith The Society for the Publication of American Music person
associatedWith University of Michigan corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. Henry Russel Lectureship Committee. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. School of Music. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
United States
Subject
Choruses, Sacred (Mixed voices, 4 parts), Unaccompanied
Choruses, Sacred (Mixed voices, 4 parts) with organ
Choruses, Sacred (Mixed voices, 4 parts) with piano
Christmas music
Composers
Composers
Concertos (Orchestra)
Concerts
Concerts
Music
Psalms (Music)
Sonatas (Violin and piano)
String quartets
String quintets (Violins (2), viola, violoncello, double bass)
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1923-01-22

Americans

English

Information

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