Morton Gould (1913-1996)

American Ballads (1976); Foster Gallery (1939); American Salute (1947)

Morton Gould was a phenomenally talented composer, pianist, conductor, arranger and orchestrator. A prodigy who grew up writing music at his family's kitchen table in New York, he eventually became one of the most influential and prolific American composers, writing in a wide variety of musical forms, from ballet to Broadway, classical orchestral works to film and television scores. The legacy he left has yet to be fully appreciated.

Gould was born in Richmond Hill, Long Island New York, on 10th December 1913 to James H and Frances R (Arkin) Gould. His fantastic musical gifts became apparent at an early age At the age of four he was playing the piano and composing; at six he had his first composition, a waltz called Just Six, published and performed at The Academy of Music in Brooklyn. By the time he was eight he was playing on New York radio station W