Edith Borroff

Full biography Edith Borroff

Edith Borroff (August 2 , 1925 – March 10, 2019) was an American musicologist and composer who was born in New York. She had a distinguished career as a composer, writer, and music critic, and left behind a significant body of work that included over 60 commissioned pieces. Borroff was renowned for her unique and daring compositional style, which often utilized quartal harmonies and serial techniques, and her music was performed by many leading orchestras and ensembles.

In addition to her work as a composer, Borroff was also a respected musicologist and author, publishing numerous books and articles on topics related to music theory, composition, and performance. Among her most notable works was the textbook "Music in Europe and the United States: A History," which was widely used and highly regarded in music departments across North America.

Borroff was also a strong advocate for women in music and worked tirelessly to promote the work of female composers throughout her career. She was actively involved in organizations such as the International Alliance for Women in Music and served as the president of the Society for Music Theory, a highly esteemed academic association.

Throughout her life, Borroff received numerous honors and awards for her contributions to the field of music, including the ASCAP Deems Taylor Award and the Mayor's Award for Art and Culture in Ithaca, New York. She passed away in March of 2019 at the age of 93, but her legacy continues to live on through her groundbreaking music and influential writings.