Ben Weber

Biography

William Jennings Bryan "Ben" Weber (July 23, 1916 in St. Louis – June 16, 1979 in New York) was an American composer.

Weber was largely self-taught. He worked initially as a copyist and only came to recognition in the 1950s. Weber used the twelve-tone technique but, rather than avoid tonality, he worked with it and achieved a virtuoso Romantic style. He composed chamber music for various combinations of instruments, orchestral music including concertos for violin and piano, piano music, and songs.

Among those who admired Weber's music were Aaron Copland, Virgil Thomson, John Cage, Elliott Carter, Milton Babbitt, and David Diamond.

Weber received the Thorne Music Award in 1965. He authored his own memoirs, How I Took 63 Years to Commit Suicide, the year he died.

ACE Publications

30 title(s)
Composer Title SCORING/INSTRUMENTATION Year
Ben Weber AUBADE fl,hp,vcl
Ben Weber BALLADE FOR CELLO & ORCHESTRA (or PIANO REDUCTION) solo vc, orch: 222/bcl2/cbsn; 2200, hp, pf, str
pf, vc
Ben Weber BALLET, op26 (The Pool of Darkness) fl,bsn,tpt,pf,vln,vcl
Ben Weber BIRD CAME DOWN THE WALK mez-sop, pf
Ben Weber CAPRICCIO,op 67,nos 1-3 vcl,pf
Ben Weber CHAMBER FANTASIE, op 51 Solo vln,2cl,bcl,hp,2vcl,cb
Ben Weber CONCERT ARIA AFTER SOLOMON, Op 29 Soprano, flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon, violin, cello, piano
Sop, pf reduced version also available
Ben Weber CONCERTINO FOR VIOLIN, CLAR & CELLO, op 11b
Ben Weber CONCERTO op. 32 Piano Solo pf,vcl obl,winds:1/picc-1-1/bcl-1,hn
Ben Weber DANCE op 31 vcl
Ben Weber ENCHANTED MIDNIGHT op 60 orch:2-2-ehn- 2-bcl-2-cbsn,4-3-2-btbn-1,hp,cel,perc,str
Ben Weber EPISODES,op 26a pf
Ben Weber FANTASIA (VARIATIONS)
Ben Weber FIVE SONGS FOR SOPRANO & PIANO sop,pf
Ben Weber IMAGE IN THE SNOW (film score) tbn, cel, vcl
Ben Weber INTERMEZZO, op 64 pf
Ben Weber LYRIC PIECE op7
STR QUARTET
Ben Weber PIANO CONCERTO op. 52 orch:pic-2-2-ehn- 2-bcl-2-cbsn,4-2-2-btbn-tb,timp(2),3perc,str
Ben Weber POOL OF DARKNESS, THE
Ben Weber PRELUDE AND PASSACAGLIA Op. 42 2/pic-2/eh-2-2; 4-2-3-1; timp, perc(2), hp, pf/cel; strings
Ben Weber SERENADE, op 39 fl, ob, vcl, hpschd OR vln, vla, vcl, pf
Ben Weber SINFONIA, op 21, for Cello & Orch vcl&orch:2-2-2-2, 4-2-3-1,timp,perc,hp,str(or w/pf)
Ben Weber SONATA FOR CELLO & PIANO op17 vcl,pf
Ben Weber SONATA NO.1 FOR VIOLIN & PIANO op5 vln,pf
Ben Weber SONATA NO.2 FOR VIOLIN & PIANO op16 vln,pf

Additional Works

Publ by Round Hill/E. B. Marks:

Fantasia Variations Op 25

Enchanted Midnight Op. 60

Mourn Mourn

Dolmen for Winds and Strings, Op. 58