![Nordoff-Robbins-1967](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/Nordoff-Robbins-1967.jpg)
Paul Nordoff (June 6, 1909 in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...
– January 18, 1977 in
Herdecke
Herdecke () is a town in the district of Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis, North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. It is located south of Dortmund in the Ruhr Area. Its location between the two Ruhr reservoirs Hengsteysee and Harkortsee has earned it the nickname ...
,
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia (german: Nordrhein-Westfalen, ; li, Noordrien-Wesfale ; nds, Noordrhien-Westfalen; ksh, Noodrhing-Wäßßfaale), commonly shortened to NRW (), is a States of Germany, state (''Land'') in Western Germany. With more tha ...
,
West Germany
West Germany is the colloquial term used to indicate the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG; german: Bundesrepublik Deutschland , BRD) between its formation on 23 May 1949 and the German reunification through the accession of East Germany on 3 O ...
) was an American composer and music therapist,
anthroposophist
Anthroposophy is a spiritualist movement founded in the early 20th century by the esotericist Rudolf Steiner that postulates the existence of an objective, intellectually comprehensible spiritual world, accessible to human experience. Followers ...
and initiator of the
Nordoff-Robbins method of music therapy. His music is generally tonal and neo-Romantic in style.
Career
Born in Philadelphia, he studied the piano at the
Philadelphia Conservatory, receiving a
B.M. degree in 1927 and an
M.M. degree in 1932. He later studied with
Rubin Goldmark
Rubin Goldmark (August 15, 1872 – March 6, 1936) was an American composer, pianist, and educator.Perlis, ''New Grove Dictionary of American Music'', v. II, p. 239 Although in his time he was an often-performed American nationalist composer, hi ...
at the
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Established in 1905, the school trains about 850 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama, and music. It is widely regarded as one of the most el ...
and in 1960 he received a Bachelor of Music Therapy from the
Combs College of Music
Combs College of Music was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, in 1885 as Combs Broad Street Conservatory of Music by Gilbert Raynolds Combs, celebrated pianist, organist and composer.
The faculty included famous musicians such ...
in Philadelphia. He served as head of composition at the
Philadelphia Conservatory (1938–1943), a teacher at
Michigan State College
Michigan State University (Michigan State, MSU) is a public land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, the first of its kind in the United States. It i ...
(1945–1949), and professor of music at
Bard College
Bard College is a private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. The campus overlooks the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains, and is within the Hudson River Historic ...
(1948–1959). While still a student he encountered the work of
Rudolf Steiner
Rudolf Joseph Lorenz Steiner (27 or 25 February 1861 – 30 March 1925) was an Austrian occultist, social reformer, architect, esotericist, and claimed clairvoyant. Steiner gained initial recognition at the end of the nineteenth century as a ...
and became a member of the
Anthroposophical Society
The General Anthroposophical Society is an "association of people whose will it is to nurture the life of the soul, both in the individual and in human society, on the basis of a true knowledge of the spiritual world." As an organization, it is d ...
in 1943, visiting its centre in
Dornach
: ''Dornach is also a quarter of the French city of Mulhouse and the Scots name for Dornoch in the Scottish Highlands, and Dòrnach is the Gaelic name for Dornoch in the Scottish Highlands.''
Dornach (Swiss German: ''Dornech'') is a municipalit ...
to lecture at the conferences held there on Music after 1954.
His work as a composer was acknowledged by two
Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowships are grants that have been awarded annually since by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to those "who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the ar ...
s (in 1933 and 1935) and the Pulitzer Traveling Fellowship for music. In 1958 he gave up his academic career, convinced of the power of music as therapy for disabled children. Encouraged by colleagues in research and psychology, he began his explorations with disabled children in Great Britain and Europe, teaming up with Dr Clive Robbins, a special educator committed to music as a medium of therapy.
From 1958 to 1960 Paul Nordoff worked in
Sunfield Homes together with
Michael Wilson and Dr Herbert Geuter, the son of founder
Fried Geuter, both accomplished musicians conversant with the field of music therapy themselves. Thereafter he visited 26 institutions offering
Special Needs
In clinical diagnostic and functional development, special needs (or additional needs) refers to individuals who require assistance for disabilities that may be medical, mental, or psychological. Guidelines for clinical diagnosis are given in ...
education, introducing his methods in England, Scotland, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany.
Thereafter, they worked together in a research programme beginning in 1961 for two years, in which they treated children with severe handicap in public schools in Philadelphia by means of music therapy, with astonishing results on their ability to learn. Also autistic children were activated and enlivened through their therapy sessions with music.
He was married to the American
Eurythmist
Eurythmy is an expressive performing art, movement art originated by Rudolf Steiner in conjunction with Marie Steiner-von Sivers, his wife, Marie, in the early 20th century. Primarily a performance art, it is also used in pedagogy, education, esp ...
Sabina Nordoff.
He composed the score to three of
Martha Graham
Martha Graham (May 11, 1894 – April 1, 1991) was an American modern dancer and choreographer. Her style, the Graham technique, reshaped American dance and is still taught worldwide.
Graham danced and taught for over seventy years. She wa ...
's ballets: ''Praeludium'' (1935),
''Every Soul Is a Circus'' (1939) and ''
Salem Shore
''Salem Shore'' is a solo modern dance work choreographed by Martha Graham to original music by Paul Nordoff. The piece premiered on December 26, 1943 at the 46th Street Theater in New York City. The ballet featured costumes by Edythe Gilfond and a ...
'' (1943).
Nordoff's music was published by Associated, Carl Fischer,
Theodore Presser
The Theodore Presser Company is an American music publishing and distribution company located in Malvern, Pennsylvania, formerly King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, and originally based in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. It is the oldest continuing music publ ...
, and G. Schirmer.
Two films featuring their work were broadcast on BBC Television. In 1976, musicians and managers in the British music industry formed the Silver Clef fund-raising organization to support all the activities of the Centre.
Nordoff-Robbins music therapy
Clive Robbins joined Sunfield as a teacher in 1954 and it was here that he met Paul Nordoff when he came to visit. Encouraged by Dr Herbert Geuter to play to one of the boys and observe the results, Paul Nordoff quickly became inspired by the potential of music to communicate something to severely disabled children. Clive Robbins, equally inspired, teamed up with him to research and develop what is known today as the
Nordoff-Robbins method of music therapy, pioneered and still practiced at Sunfield today.
Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy is an improvisational and compositional approach to individual and group therapy that resulted from the pioneering teamwork of Paul Nordoff and Clive Robbins over a period of 17 years. The early development of Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy resulted from Nordoff and Robbins' similar philosophical background, the supportive environment of Sunfield Children's Home, the guidance of Herbert Geuter, M.D., and their courage. Since the 1959-1960 academic year, the application and practice of Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy has undergone many changes. However, the pioneering spirit of Nordoff and Robbins manifested in that watershed year remains strong among contemporary Nordoff-Robbins music therapy practitioners.
Nordoff died in
Herdecke
Herdecke () is a town in the district of Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis, North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. It is located south of Dortmund in the Ruhr Area. Its location between the two Ruhr reservoirs Hengsteysee and Harkortsee has earned it the nickname ...
,
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia (german: Nordrhein-Westfalen, ; li, Noordrien-Wesfale ; nds, Noordrhien-Westfalen; ksh, Noodrhing-Wäßßfaale), commonly shortened to NRW (), is a States of Germany, state (''Land'') in Western Germany. With more tha ...
,
West Germany
West Germany is the colloquial term used to indicate the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG; german: Bundesrepublik Deutschland , BRD) between its formation on 23 May 1949 and the German reunification through the accession of East Germany on 3 O ...
in 1977 at the age of 67.
Books
Together with P. Grabbe
* ''Minute Stories of the Opera'', N. Y. 1932;
* ''Five Melodies of Foster, F. C. transcribed for piano'', N. Y. 1934;
* ''Variationen über einen Schuhplattler.'' Piano, Mainz 1935;
* ''Songs for Pianoforte Accompaniment'', N. Y. 1938;
with Franklin Brewer
* ''I was born to be attractive: a one-act opera'', Philadelphia 1941;
* ''Did Matisse find peace? A one-act opera'', Philadelphia 1941;
* ''Art and the heart'', Philadelphia 1941;
* ''Anthony’s Song Book'': Ten Songs, o. O. 1950;
* ''Winter symphony'', Louisville
957
* ''Songs and Poems of Robert Burns. New accompaniments for thirty songs'', N. Y.
959
Year 959 ( CMLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar.
Events
By place
Byzantine Empire
* April - May – The Byzantines refuse to pay the yearly tribute. A Hungari ...
* ''Spirituals for children to sing and play'', Bryn Mawr o. J.;
* ''Songs for children with resonator bells and piano'', Bryn Mawr, 1962
with Clive Robbins
* ''Music Therapy for Handicapped Children: Investigations and Experience''. New York, 1965.
* ''Music Therapy in Special Education''. New York, 1971.
* ''Therapy in Music for Handicapped Children''. New York, 1971.
* ''Creative Music Therapy: Individualized Treatment for the Handicapped Child''. New York, 1977.
* ''The Story of Artaban'', Bryn Mawr 1964
* ''The Children’s Christmas Play'' Clive Robbins and Paul Nordoff Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
* ''Children’s Play Songs'' 5 Books by Paul Nordoff and Clive Robbins Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
* ''A Message For The King'', Paul Nordoff and Clive Robbins, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
* ''The Three Bears'' by Paul Nordoff and Clive Robbins, Theodore Presser Company
Discography
* ''Five Songs'' by
Dia DiCristino he only recording known for Nordoff's ''White Nocturne''* ''Winter Symphony''
Louisville Orchestra
The Louisville Orchestra is the primary orchestra in Louisville, Kentucky. It was founded in 1937 by Robert Whitney (1904–1986) and Charles Farnsley, Mayor of Louisville. The Louisville Orchestra employs salaried musicians, and offers a wide ...
,
Robert Whitney, conductor
ommissioned by the Louisville Orchestra, recorded in 1955 and released on Louisville Records LOU-571
References
External links
Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Video PortraitNordoff Robbins websiteEEUU: Nordoff - Robbins Center For Music Therapy''History of Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy'', The Steinhardt School, New York University''Osbournes win Silver Clef honour'', BBC News, June 16, 2006
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nordoff, Paul
1909 births
1977 deaths
20th-century American composers
20th-century classical composers
American classical composers
American male classical composers
Anthroposophists
Music therapists
Musicians from Philadelphia
Michigan State University faculty
University of the Arts (Philadelphia) alumni
20th-century American male musicians