Robert Helps

Full biography Robert Helps

Robert Helps (1928-2001) was an American composer and concert pianist known for his wide-ranging compositions that encompassed contemporary styles and techniques. He was considered by many to be a true musical pioneer and innovator.

Helps was born in the Bronx, New York in 1928 and began his musical education at the age of four. He studied composition with legendary composer Roger Sessions and piano with Irma Wolpe Rademacher and Mieczyslaw Munz. He was also fortunate enough to receive lessons from renowned pianist Rudolf Serkin, which had a significant impact on his career.

As a concert pianist, Helps was known for his virtuosity and technical proficiency, which were matched only by his deep musical sensibility and his ability to bring out the emotional depth in the music he performed. He was equally at home playing the works of classical masters such as Bach and Brahms as he was interpreting contemporary music by the likes of Pierre Boulez and Milton Babbitt.

As a composer, Helps was fearless in his exploration of new musical ideas and techniques. His extensive body of work includes chamber music, orchestral works, solo works, and vocal compositions. He was particularly interested in exploring new compositional and performance techniques, such as the use of extended techniques for instruments and the integration of electronics into his works.

Helps was highly regarded by his peers in the music world, and many of his works continue to be performed and recorded by musicians around the globe. His legacy as a composer and pianist remains a significant influence on the contemporary music landscape, and his work serves as an inspiration to a new generation of composers and performers.