Roberto Gerhard, the composer, was born in Valls, near Barcelona, to a Swiss-German father and Alsatian mother.
Historical Context
After the Republican defeat in the Spanish Civil War, Gerhard left his homeland and eventually moved to Cambridge, England, in 1939, where he remained until his death.
Composition History
Gerhard's Fourth Symphony, 'New York', was commissioned by the New York Philharmonic to mark their 125th season.
Composer Biography
Gerhard studied piano with Granados and composition with Felipe Pedrell before becoming a pupil of Arnold Schoenberg, an Austrian composer and the founder of twelve-tone technique.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Gerhard's late works, including the symphonies, incorporate Spanish rhythms and the twelve-note technique he learned from his teacher Schoenberg.
Compositional Technique
The emotional core of the Fourth Symphony features an ancient Catalan song of a condemned man, 'El Cotiló', which Gerhard referenced many times in his compositions.
Compositional Technique
Gerhard's Fourth Symphony, 'New York', is a powerful one-movement structure scored for a very large orchestra, including quadruple woodwind and a massive percussion section requiring four players.
