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.

  • concerto
  • 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