Date of Birth: November 22, 1925
Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
Date of Death: June 21, 2015
Biography
Gunther Schuller was an American composer, conductor, horn player, author, historian, and jazz musician. Born in New York City, he made significant contributions to both classical and jazz music, often bridging the gap between the two genres. Schuller was a pioneering figure in the Third Stream movement, which sought to merge classical and jazz elements. He began his professional career as a French horn player with the American Ballet Theatre before moving on to the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Schuller’s compositions include a wide range of works, from solo and chamber pieces to large-scale orchestral and operatic works. He served as the president of the New England Conservatory of Music and was a prolific author, penning several books on music and its history. Schuller was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1994 for his composition “Of Reminiscences and Reflections.”
5 Interesting Facts about Gunther Schuller
1. Gunther Schuller coined the term “Third Stream” to describe a musical genre that combines classical music and jazz.
2. He played the French horn professionally, performing with the American Ballet Theatre and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.
3. Schuller was a prolific author and wrote several books, including “The Swing Era: The Development of Jazz, 1930–1945.”
4. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1994 for his composition “Of Reminiscences and Reflections.”
5. Schuller served as the president of the New England Conservatory of Music from 1967 to 1977.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Gunther Schuller
1. “Jazz has always been a melting pot of musical influences.”
2. “The real innovators did their innovating by just being themselves.”
3. “I have always believed that there is an inseparable link between the music of the past and the music of the present.”
4. “Music is an expression of the human spirit, and it is alive in every culture on Earth.”
5. “The challenge is to bring the best of classical and jazz elements together without compromising the integrity of either genre.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Gunther Schuller’s highest net worth is estimated to have been around $1 million.
Children
Gunther Schuller had two sons: George Schuller, a jazz drummer, and Ed Schuller, a jazz bassist.
Relevant Links
1. [Gunther Schuller – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunther_Schuller
4. [Gunther Schuller – Pulitzer Prize](https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/gunther-schuller
5. [Third Stream – New England Conservatory](https://necmusic.edu/third-stream