Leroy Robertson (December 21, 1896 – July 25, 1971) was an American composer and music educator. Robertson was born in Fountain Green, Utah. One of his earliest instructors was Anthony C. Lund. He graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music with a certificate in public school music and diplomas in composition, violin (after studies with

Harrison Keller Harrison Keller (October 8, 1888 – March 13, 1979) was an American violinist and music educator.''Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians'', Seventh Edition, Revised by Nicolas Slonimsky, Schirmer Books, New York, 1984, page 1178 Keller wa ...

), and piano in 1923, the same year he was awarded the Endicott prize for "Overture in E Minor". Following his graduation, Robertson taught music at North Cache High School in Richmond, Utah and at Pleasant Grove High School in Pleasant Grove, Utah, where he also supervised music in the Alpine School District. Robertson was appointed to the music faculty at Brigham Young University in 1925. He soon became professor and chairman of the music department, a position he held until 1948. In 1930, Robertson studied with

Ernest Bloch Ernest Bloch (July 24, 1880 – July 15, 1959) was a Swiss-born American composer. Bloch was a preeminent artist in his day, and left a lasting legacy. He is recognized as one of the greatest Swiss composers in history. As well as producing music ...

at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He would continue his studies with Bloch in Roveredo Capriasca, Switzerland in 1932, and with Hugo Leichtentritt in Berlin, Germany, in 1933. Robertson received a BA degree and an

MA degree A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...

from Brigham Young University in June 1933. Between 1933-1945, Robertson composed several works for piano and organ, as well as strings, including his "Songs from the Shadow", "Fantasia for the Organ", "String Quartet", and "Punch and Judy Overture". It was also during this period that he began work on the "Oratorio from the Book of Mormon". In 1945, Robertson was awarded the Utah Institute of Fine Arts Award for "Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra". Robertson won the Reichhold Award of $25,000 for "Trilogy for Orchestra" in 1947, which was premiered by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra with Karl Krueger conducting. The following year, he was appointed professor and chairman of the music department at the University of Utah, a position he held until 1962. Robertson's "Concerto for Violin and Orchestra" premiered under Maurice Abravanel during the centennial of the University of Utah in 1950 with Utah Symphony Orchestra's concertmaster Tibor Zelig as soloist. In 1954, he received his Ph.D. from the University of Southern California. Robertson was instrumental in the promotion of the Utah Symphony and of classical music in Salt Lake City. He is best known for his ''Oratorio from the Book of Mormon'', which premiered in 1953. The setting of

the Lord's Prayer The Lord's Prayer, also called the Our Father or Pater Noster, is a central Christian prayer which Jesus taught as the way to pray. Two versions of this prayer are recorded in the gospels: a longer form within the Sermon on the Mount in the Gosp ...

from that oratorio was recorded by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and released as a 45 single on the flip side of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, which hit the top 50 charts. Amongst Robertson's works in the 1948 hymnal of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was the music for "Up! Arouse Thee, O Beautiful Zion", with words by

Emily H. Woodmansee Emily Hill Woodmansee (March 24, 1836 – October 18, 1906) was an English-born American Mormon poet and hymnwriter. Although only one of her hymns "As Sisters In Zion" is included in the 1985 LDS English language edition of the LDS Church's hym ...

. The 1985 edition of the Church's hymnal includes eight of Robertson's hymns, including "On This Day of Joy and Gladness" (hymn #64, both words and music by Robertson), "Let Earth's Inhabitants Rejoice" (hymn #53), ""Great King of Heaven" (hymn #63), "God of Our Fathers, Known of Old" (hymn #80), "I'm A Pilgrim, I'm A Stranger" (hymn #121), "Upon The Cross Of Calvary" (hymn #184), "We Love Thy House, Oh God" (hymn #247) and "Go Ye Messengers of Glory" (hymn #262).

Selected works

Dictionary Of Composers and their music - Eric Gilder Sphere 1985 0517092956 *1923 Endicott Overture *1936 Quintet in A Minor for Piano and String Quartet *1940 Prelude, Scherzo and Ricercare ''for orchestra'' *1940 String Quartet *1944 Rhapsody ''for piano and orchestra'' *1945 Punch and Judy Overture *1947 Trilogy, ''for orchestra'' *1948 Violin Concerto *1953 The Book Of Mormon, ''oratorio'' *1957 American Serenade, ''for string quartet'' *1966 Piano Concerto also *Cello Concerto *Fantasia ''for organ'' *Come, Come, Ye Saints, ''for chorus'' *Hatikva, ''for chorus'' *From The Crossroads, ''for chorus'' *The Lord's Prayer, ''for chorus'' *Passacaglia ''for orchestra''

References

External links

Robertson on Classpedia at Musicweb UK

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Robertson, Leroy 1896 births 1971 deaths 20th-century classical composers American male classical composers American classical composers American Latter Day Saint hymnwriters Brigham Young University faculty People from Fountain Green, Utah USC Thornton School of Music alumni University of Utah alumni University of Utah faculty Musicians from Utah 20th-century American composers Latter Day Saints from Utah 20th-century American male musicians