Berger, Arthur, 1912-2003

Arthur Berger was an established music composer and critic who served on the Brandeis University faculty from 1953 to 1980.

From the description of Arthur Berger papers, 1948-2004 (Brandeis University Library). WorldCat record id: 61455403

Arthur Berger (1912-2003) was a critically acclaimed composer, music critic, and professor.

He began writing short newspaper reviews while still a student at New York University, where he studied composition and music education. During this period, Berger joined the Young Composers Group, established by Aaron Copland. He would maintain a strong relationship with Copland throughout his life, and, in 1953, he published the first monograph on the composer. Berger continued his studies in Boston and later in France, where he spent two years under the tutelage of Nadia Boulanger and became increasingly interested in the work of Igor Stravinsky. Throughout his schooling, Berger wrote articles for various periodicals. He also edited the journal, Musical Mercury, from 1934-1937. In the 1940s and early 1950s, Berger was a music critic for the New York Herald Tribune, but in 1953 he left the paper to accept a full-time teaching position at Brandeis University, where he was an instrumental figure in the founding of that school?s music department. Berger?s output as a composer was steady, although not prolific. Many of his works were composed during the 1940s and 1950s; later works from the 1970s-1990s revised these earlier pieces in a process that he called "collages," a term inspired by his friendship with the artist Robert Motherwell.

From the description of Arthur Berger papers, 1905-2004 (bulk 1930-2003). (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 60537937

Arthur Berger (1912-2003) was a critically acclaimed composer, music critic, and professor. He began writing short reviews for the New York Daily Mirror while attending New York University, where he studied composition and music education. After graduating in 1934, he won a fellowship to study at the Longy School of Music (Cambridge, MA). During this time he simultaneously completed a Masters degree in music from Harvard. Berger furthered his studies in France, spending two more years under the tutelage of Nadia Boulanger.

Throughout his schooling Berger wrote articles for various periodicals. These include the Boston Evening Transcript, New York Sun, and Trend . He also edited Musical Mercury from 1934-1937. In the 1940s and early 1950s he was a well-known music critic for the New York Herald Tribune, a fact supported by the press coverage of his resignation in the summer of 1953. He left the paper to accept a full-time teaching position at Brandeis University, and was an instrumental figure in the founding of this school’s music department.

Berger’s output as a composer was steady, although not prolific. Many of his works were composed during the 1940s and 1950s; later works from the 1970s-1990s revised these earlier pieces in a process that he called “collages,” a term inspired by his friendship with the artist Robert Motherwell.

From the guide to the Arthur Berger papers, 1905-2004, 1930-2003, (The New York Public Library. Music Division.)