Theodore Strongin
Encyclopedia
Theodore Strongin was an American music critic, composer
, flautist
, and entomologist
.
. He studied both music and biology at Harvard University
and Bard College
. He specialized in the field of entomology and after graduating from college worked for the American Museum of Natural History
where he identified multiple species of rare beetles. From 1942-1946 he served in the United States Army
. After the end of World War II
he pursued studies in the flute and music composition at the Juilliard School
and the Columbia Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
. During his time at Columbia in the 1950s, several of his compositions were premiered in New York, including his Suite for Unaccompanied Cello and an Oboe Quintet. From 1963-1972 he wrote music criticism for The New York Times
where he was a champion of new music. He died of leukemia
at St. Joseph's Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina
in 1998 at the age of 79.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, flautist
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, and entomologist
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
.
Life and career
Born in New York City, Strongin grew up in Darien, ConnecticutDarien, Connecticut
Darien is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. A relatively small community on Connecticut's "Gold Coast", the population was 20,732 at the 2010 census. Darien was listed at #9 at CNN Money's list of "top-earning towns" in the United States as of 2011...
. He studied both music and biology at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and Bard College
Bard College
Bard College, founded in 1860 as "St. Stephen's College", is a small four-year liberal arts college located in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York.-Location:...
. He specialized in the field of entomology and after graduating from college worked for the American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
where he identified multiple species of rare beetles. From 1942-1946 he served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. After the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he pursued studies in the flute and music composition at the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
and the Columbia Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Columbia Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Columbia University is the branch of the university that grants academic degrees, including M.A.'s and Ph.D.'s., in fields not covered by the university's professional or other schools....
. During his time at Columbia in the 1950s, several of his compositions were premiered in New York, including his Suite for Unaccompanied Cello and an Oboe Quintet. From 1963-1972 he wrote music criticism for The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
where he was a champion of new music. He died of leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
at St. Joseph's Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
in 1998 at the age of 79.