Edmund J. Pendleton (1 March 1899 – 31 January 1987) was an American

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

and musician.

Early life

Pendleton was born in Cincinnati on 1 March 1899, and later attended Columbia University in New York. His elder brother was Olympic wrestler and screen actor Nathaniel Greene Pendleton (1895-1967), better known professionally as Nat Pendleton.

Career

In Europe, Pendleton studied under Paul Dukas for composition, Charles Münch,

Pierre Monteux Pierre Benjamin Monteux (; 4 April 18751 July 1964) was a French (later American) conductor. After violin and viola studies, and a decade as an orchestral player and occasional conductor, he began to receive regular conducting engagements in ...

and Igor Markevitch for orchestral direction. He composed many works, including ''Alpine Concerto'' for flute (1943), Concerto for viola (1983), the ''Dream of Yann'' (opera for children, 1970), and the ''Miracle of the Nativity'' (a lyric drama written in 1975). Pendleton was the organist and choir master for the

American Church in Paris The American Church in Paris (formerly the American Chapel in Paris) was the first American church established outside the United States. It traces its roots back to 1814, and the present church building - located at 65 Quai d'Orsay in the 7th ...

from 1935 until 1975. He was also music critic for the ''

New York Herald Tribune The ''New York Herald Tribune'' was a newspaper published between 1924 and 1966. It was created in 1924 when Ogden Mills Reid of the ''New-York Tribune'' acquired the ''New York Herald''. It was regarded as a "writer's newspaper" and competed ...

'' for twenty years. He maintained friendly relations with James Joyce, Ernest Hemingway, and Pablo Picasso.Composer Biography
Music in the Works of James Joyce, Sunphone Records He died in Paris on 31 January 1987 and is buried at Guitrancourt Cemetery in Yvelines.

Selected works

;Stage * ''Le Rêve de Yann'' (Dream of Yann), Opera for children (1970) * ''Le Miracle de la Nativité'' (The Miracle of the Nativity), Lyric Drama (1975) ;Concertante * ''Concerto alpestre'' (Alpine Concerto) for flute and orchestra (1943) * Concerto for viola and orchestra (1983)

Discography (partial)

* The Miracle of the Nativity/La Nativity, with instrumentalist Jean-Walter Audoli, vocalist

Michel Piquemal Michel Piquemal (born 15 April 1947) is a French choir conductor and conductor. He is also an operatic singer ( baritone). Biography Born in Paris, originally from Ariège, his parents were not musicians at all. Michel Piquemal wanted to pl ...

, direction: Jean-Walter Audoli, Cybelia, Paris, 1990 * Bid Adieu to Girlish Days, Musical arrangement by Edmund Pendleton, words by James Joyce

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pendleton, Edmund J. American organists American male organists American male composers 1987 deaths 1899 births 20th-century American composers Musicians from Cincinnati American expatriates in France Columbia University alumni New York Herald Tribune people American male journalists American music critics 20th-century American non-fiction writers Writers from Cincinnati Journalists from Ohio 20th-century American male writers 20th-century organists 20th-century American male musicians 20th-century American journalists