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Building Bridges with Music: Stories from a Composer's Life (Expanded Second Edition) Step into the extraordinary life of Samuel Adler, one of the most celebrated composers and conductors of our time. From a childhood marked by the horrors of Nazi Germany to a career spanning over six decades in music, teaching, and composition, Adler's journey is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the unifying power of music.
"My life has been blessed with a most supportive family, many good friends, and a host of students who have made my teaching years rewarding and colorful. Building bridges with music seems to have been part of my destiny and I have embraced this enthusiastically whenever the opportunity presented itself."
--Samuel Adler
About the author
Samuel Adler, born on March 4, 1928, in Mannheim, Germany, is a distinguished composer and educator whose life and work extend far beyond the realm of music. Emigrating to the United States in 1939, Adler, a survivor of Kristallnacht, has become a towering figure in contemporary classical music and a beacon of resilience and creativity. He has composed over 400 published works, including operas, symphonies, concerti, oratorios, and choral pieces, performed globally. His books, such as
The Study of Orchestration, are essential texts in music education.
Educated at Boston University and Harvard, Adler studied under legendary figures like Aaron Copland and Paul Hindemith and holds honorary doctorates from prestigious institutions. At the Eastman School of Music, he taught from 1966 to 1995, profoundly shaping generations of composers and continued his teaching legacy at the Juilliard School from 1997 to 2017.
Adler's impact reaches far beyond music. As a Jewish immigrant, his life and work have bridged two centuries and multiple cultures. He has been honored with numerous awards, including induction into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. His contributions to music have earned him prestigious commissions and accolades, such as the ASCAP Aaron Copland Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Adler has conducted major orchestras worldwide and his friendships and collaborations with influential artists and thinkers have bridged cultures and eras. His extraordinary journey from a Kristallnacht survivor to a globally celebrated composer and educator embodies the profound impact of art on society. His work continues to inspire and educate, highlighting the enduring power of music to transcend boundaries and connect humanity.
