
Morton Gould (1913-1996) Rag-Blues-Rag for piano (1964) Robert Helps, piano Morton Gould (1913-1996) was active throughout his life as a composer, arranger, conductor, and pianist. In addition to his prolific output of orchestral, band, chamber, and choral music, he composed for musical theater, ballet, film, television, and radio. Much of his work includes elements of American popular music including jazz, blues, gospel, country, and folk music. Born in Richmond Hill, New York, Gould was recognized as a musical prodigy early in his childhood, composing and publishing his first work, Just Six, at the age of six. Two years later he began studies at the Institute of Musical Art in New York (now Juilliard School of Music) and New York University, studying piano with Abby Whiteside and theory and composition with Vincent Jones. During his teenage years in the Great Depression, he supported his family by performing in vaudeville acts, movie theaters, dance studios, and a piano duo with Bert Shefter. Gould became nationally known for his work in radio. He was house pianist for Radio City Music Hall when it opened in 1932; he conducted, arranged, and composed for the weekly program "Music for Today" on WOR Mutual Radio, New York; and he appeared on the "Cresta Blanca Carnival" program and "The Chrysler Hour" on CBS. These programs featured a number of well-known musical figures including Frank Sinatra, Benny Goodman, and Duke Ellington. One of radio's early commercial jingles <b>...</b>
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