BLITZSTEIN, Marc
b Philadelphia, 2 March 1905
d Martinique, 22 January 1964, aged fifty-eight

He began to study music at the age of three, made his first public appearance as a pianist at the age of five and began composing aged seven. At sixteen he entered Pennsylvania University, then studied with Boulanger in Paris and Schoenberg in Berlin. He became music critic in Modern Music, his particular interest being in the sociological aspects of music. In 1940 and again in 1941 he received Guggenheim Fellowships, and from 1942 to 1945 he was in the US Air Force in England. As a composer he worked chiefly for the theatre. He was killed while on holiday after what appeared to be a political argument.

1926 (21)

Sarabande, for orchestra

1928 (23)

Triple Sec, opera-farce

1929 (24)

Parabola and Circula, opera-ballet

1930 (25)

Cain, ballet

Romantic Piece, for orchestra

1931 (26)

The Harpies, opera

Piano Concerto

1932 (27)

The Condemned, choral opera

1933 (28)

Surf and Seaweed, orchestral suite

1934 (29)

Variations for orchestra

1935 (30)

Send for the Militia, theatre sketch

1936 7 (31-2)

The Cradle Will Rock, play in music

1937 (32)

I've Got a Tune, radio song-play

Plowed Under, theatre sketch

1938-40 (33 35)

No for an Answer, opera

1942 (37)

Labor for Victory, radio series

1943 (38)

Freedom Morning, symphonic poem

1944 6 (39-41)

The Airborne, for tenor, bass, narrator, male chorus and orchestra

1945 (40)

Galoopchik, musical play

1946 (41)

Show, ballet

Native Land, orchestral suite

Regina, opera

1948 (43)

The Guests, ballet

1955 (50)

Reuben, Reuben, musical play

1957 (52)

This is the Garden, for chorus and orchestra

1957-9 (52-4)

Juno, musical play

1958 (53)

Lear, orchestral study

1959-64 (54 9)

Sacco and Vanzetti, opera

1963 (58)

Thc Magic Barrel, opera

Idiots First, opera

Blitzstein also wrote incidental music to plays of Shakespeare, Shaw and Hellman; film scores; other choral and vocal works; two string quartets and works for piano.