Short bio John La Montaine
Full biography John La Montaine
John La Montaine (1920-2013) was an American composer and pianist , born in Oak Park, Illinois. He initially pursued a degree in engineering at Northwestern University, but after being introduced to the music of Chopin and Brahms, he decided to become a composer. He went on to study composition with Leo Sowerby and orchestration with Bernard Rogers at the Eastman School of Music.
La Montaine's music is known for being tonal and largely accessible, with influences ranging from the romantic composers to the music of contemporary American composers such as Aaron Copland. He won the Pulitzer Prize in Music in 1959 for his Piano Concerto No. 1 and is also noted for his other orchestral works, including the Symphony No. 2 and the Days of Wine and Roses Suite. In addition to his work for orchestra, La Montaine composed chamber music, choral works, and music for piano.
Throughout his career, La Montaine received numerous accolades for his work, including multiple awards and fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. He was also a professor of composition at the Manhattan School of Music for over forty years and was a mentor to many young composers.
Despite his success, La Montaine remained modest about his achievements and focused on his love for composing. In an interview, he once said, "I love to compose. That's about all I think of when I'm awake. I suppose it's because I enjoy it so much. It's a mystery to me, the process of composing, but I love it." He passed away in April 2013 at the age of 93, leaving behind a legacy of beautiful and accessible music.
Compositions featuring John La Montaine
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quartet, for 4 trombones | 9:56 min | Chamber Music | 2002 |
| 2 | Sonata for piccolo & piano, Op. 61 | 14:14 min | Chamber Music | 1993 |
| 3 | Piano Concerto No. 4, Op. 59 | 28:53 min | Concerto | 1989 |
| 4 | Conversations, for trombone & piano, Op. 44 | 15:28 min | Chamber Music | 1977 |
| 5 | Sonata for piano, 4 hands, Op. 25 | 10:08 min | Keyboard | 1965 |
| 6 | Concerto for piano & orchestra, Op 9 | 25:22 min | Concerto | 1958 |
| 7 | Piano Sonata, Op. 3 | 12:56 min | Keyboard | 1942 |
| 8 | Birds of Paradise, for piano & orchestra, Op.34 | 13:07 min | Concerto | - |
| 9 | Evensong, for organ | 4:28 min | Keyboard | - |
| 10 | Flute Concerto | 28:08 min | Concerto | - |
| 11 | From Sea to Shining Sea, overture for orchestra | 7:34 min | Orchestral | - |
| 12 | Songs of the Nativity, for choir | Choral | - | |
| 13 | Stopping By the Woods On A Snowy Evening, for voice & piano | 2:04 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 14 | Toccata, Op. 1 | 2:18 min | Keyboard | - |
Albums featuring John La Montaine
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Donald Wheelock, Lewis Spratlan, John LaMontaine, Daniel Asia, Matthew St. Laurent, David Sanford (3), Dana Muller, Gary Steigerwalt – In Your Head: New Music For Piano Four Hands(CD, Album) | 2018 | Navona Records |
| 2 |  |
Rudolph Ganz, John La Montaine, Ramon Salvatore, Chicago Sinfonietta, Slovak Radio Symphony, Paul Freeman (3) – Chicago Concertos(CD, ) | 1996 | Cedille Records |
| 3 |  |
Doriot Anthony Dwyer, John La Montaine, Susan Almasi – Flute Works by John La Montaine(LP, Stereo) | 1980 | Fredonia Discs |
| 4 |  |
John La Montaine With Polly Jo Baker, Thomas Tatton – The Whittier Concerts Volume 1(LP) | 1978 | Fredonia Discs |
| 5 |  |
Incantation For Jazz Band, Opus 39(LP, Album, Stereo) | 1976 | Fredonia Discs |
| 6 |  |
Wilderness Journal Opus 41 Symphony for Bass-Baritone, Organ And Orchestra(LP) | 1972 | Fredonia Discs |
| 7 |  |
Howard Hanson / John La Montaine – Hanson Piano Concerto / Mosaics • La Montaine Birds Of Paradise | 1965 | Mercury |
| 8 |  |
Gene Gutché / John La Montaine – Fifth Symphony For Strings Op. 34 / Concerto For Piano And Orchestra Op. 9(LP) | 1965 | Composers Recordings Inc. (CRI) |
| 9 |  |
John La Montaine / Halsey Stevens - Karen Keys With The Oklahoma City Symphony Orchestra, Guy Fraser Harrison / London Philharmonic Orchestra, George Barati – Concerto For Piano And Orchestra / Symphonic Dances(LP, Mono) | 1963 | Composers Recordings Inc. (CRI) |
| 10 |  |
Eleanor Steber, Samuel Barber, John La Montaine – Knoxville:Summer Of 1915; Songs Of The Rose Of Sharon(LP, Album) | 1962 | St/And Company Inc. |
| 11 |  |
Chopin, La Montaine – Sonata In B Flat Minor / Sonata For Piano - A Child's Picture Book - Toccata(LP, Mono) | 1951 | Dorian Records (3) |
| 12 |  |
John La Montaine, Paul Sifler – Teaching Pieces For Budding Pianists(LP, Album) | - | Fredonia Discs |
| 13 |  |
John La Montaine, Arnold Brostoff, Sheldon Shkolnik – La Montaine: Conversations For Violin And Piano, Opus 42, Twelve Relationships, Opus 10, Fuguing Set, Opus 12(LP) | - | Fredonia Discs |
| 14 |  |
John La Montaine, Polly Jo Baker, Dabid Griffith, The Fredonia Singers, Carol Baum, Scott Shepherd (8) – The Nine Lessons Of Christmas, Opus 44(LP) | - | Fredonia Discs |
Videos featuring John La Montaine
John LaMontaine: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra. Oklahoma City Symphony Orchestra/Karen Keys -1965
Previously I posted this work by John La Montaine, featuring Jorge Bolet and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. That recording was by Voice of America - and it was a live recording, mono, and not particularly well recorded. This LP, on the other hand, has a
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