Robert Linn
In memory of his life and music
This page is dedicated to the life and memory of Robert Linn, music composer and educator at the University of Southern California, husband to Virginia, father to Steve, Roger and Stacy. We welcome you to explore his music and legacy.
Here is a transcription of a 1993 interview with Robert Linn by Bruce Duffie, as well as his 1999 obituary in the Los Angeles Times.
If you knew him, please contribute to his Wikipedia page.. For any questions, please contact his son Roger Linn.
Biography
Robert Linn was born in San Francisco in 1925. He studied composition with Halsey Stevens, Darius Milhaud, Roger Sessions and Ingolf Dahl. He was a member of the University of Southern California School of Music faculty beginning in 1957, and served as Chairman of the Music Theory and Composition Department between 1973 and 1990. His published compositions comprise works for symphony orchestra, wind orchestra, chorus and chamber ensembles (Carl Fischer, Lawson-Gould, Shawnee Press, Columbia Music, Theodore Presser, Belwin-Mills, Avant Music, Western International, Walt Disney Music), many of which are recorded (Orion, Crystal, TrueMedia, Golden Crest). He has received numerous awards and commissions, and his music has been performed on six continents by prominent musicians and ensembles. He was past-president of the National Association for American Composers and Conductors, Los Angeles Chapter.
Robert Linn passed away in October, 1999 in Los Angeles.
Notable Compositions and Performances
Linn's orchestral reconstruction of the HEXAMERON by Liszt was performed by the Boston, London and San Francisco Symphonies with Michael Tilson Thomas conducting.
FANTASIA FOR CELLO AND STRING ORCHESTRA featured cellist Nathaniel Rosen at the premiere performance by the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Neville Mariner.
In 1990, the CONCERTO FOR PIANO AND ORCHESTRA #2, written for pianist John Perry, was chosen as a semifinalist entry in the Kennedy Center Friedheim Awards Competition and a finalist in the 1991 National Orchestra Association New Music Project.
CONCERTINO FOR OBOE, HORN, PERCUSSION AND STRING ORCHESTRA, commissioned by the Pasadena Symphony, was given the first performance by that organization with Daniel Lewis conducting.
PROPAGULA, published by Carl Fischer, has been performed by every major wind orchestra in this country.
CONCERTO FOR SOPRANO SAXOPHONE AND WIND ENSEMBLE, commissioned by the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors, was first performed in April, 1992 at the MENC Biennial in New Orleans by Kenneth Fischer, saxophone soloist, and the University of Georgia Wind Ensemble, Dwight Satterwhite conducting.
CONCERTO GROSSO FOR OBOE, HARPSICHORD AND STRING ORCHESTRA, commissioned by the Baroque Music Festival of Corona del Mar for the Festival's opening concert, June 6, 1993, featured oboist Donald Leake, harpsichordist Malcolm Hamilton and conductor Burton Karson.
LOVE SONG CYCLE for chorus and chamber orchestra was commissioned by Chapman University which presented the work for the first time in April, 1994 with William Hall conducting.
Notable Recordings
CONCERTINO FOR VIOLIN AND WIND OCTET featuring violinist Eudice Shapiro and conductor William Kraft.
DITHYRAMB FOR EIGHT CELLOS performed by "I Cellisti" and commissioned by the American String Teachers Association in honor of Pablo Casals.
QUINTET FOR WOODWINDS played by the Westwood Wind Quintet, who gave the premiere performance on the celebrated Monday Evening Concerts series.
QUARTET FOR SAXOPHONES featuring the Eugene Rousseau Saxophone Quartet.
QUINTET FOR BRASS INSTRUMENTS played by the Fine Arts Brass Quintet.
VINO for violin and piano interpreted by Harris Goldman and Carolyn Brown.
SAXIFRAGE BLUE for baritone saxophone and piano, commissioned and performed by Mark Watters.
DIVERTIMENTO for oboe, two horns, and string quintet, commissioned by the Southwest Chamber Music Society in 1996, was premiered and featured on several programs, and is included on a new CD of works commissioned by the society.
CONCERTO FOR SOPRANO SAXOPHONE AND WIND ENSEMBLE features Paul Bro, saxophonist, and the Indiana State University Faculty Winds conducted by John Boyd.
Listen / CDs
The follow is a list of all existing recordings of Robert Linn's compostions. Click the links below to hear them
Or they can be purchased on CD. The cost is $15 per CD (plus $1 shipping for each CD) or $200 for the entire 15-CD set (plus $10 shipping). These prices cover our cost of production only. The following is a list of the recordings on each CD. To purchase CDs, contact Roger Linn.
The Linn family welcomes performances of Robert Linn's music. Scores and parts for most of his compositions are available for rental for the copying costs only. If interested, please contact Mr. Claude Zachary of the USC Archives at 213-740-2587 or czachary@usc.edu.
CD #1: CHAMBER MUSIC, STRING INSTRUMENTS
Suite for Violin and Cello, 1962 [6:21]
1. 1st movement [1:28]
2. 2nd movement [1:37]
3. 3rd movement [1:31]
4. 4th movement [1:45]
5. Dithyramb for Cello Choir, 1965 [9:30]
Duo for Cello and Piano, 1971 [19:59]
6. 1st movement [1:46]
7. 2nd movement [3:47]
8. 3rd movement [5:46]
9. Vino for Violin and Piano, 1975 [10:54]
Forward, Inward, Afterward for Two guitars, 1987 [6:54]
10. 1st movement [:57]
11. 2nd movement [3:36]
12. 3rd movement [2:21]
13. Fantasia for Two Violas, 1992 [10:19]
CD #2: CHAMBER MUSIC: WIND INSTRUMENTS, PART 1
Five Pieces for Flute and Clarinet, 1950 [7:09]
1. 1st movement [1:15]
2. 2nd movement [2:01]
3. 3rd movement [1:09]
4. 4th movement [1:33]
5. 5th movement [1:11]
Quartet for Saxophones, 1953 [8:10]
6. Allegro con brio [2:26]
7. Poco adagio [3:40]
8. Vivo [2:04]
Quintet for Brass Instruments, 1963 [9:47]
9. Rhythmic [1:44]
10. Broad [4:15]
11. Spirited [3:48]
Woodwind Quintet, 1964 [10:58]
12. Allegro [3:06]
13. Adagio con Espressione [3:40]
14. Allegro Vivace [4:12]
Fanfares for Three Clarinets, 1972 [5:41]
15. 1st movement [1:52]
16. 2nd movement [1:51]
17. 3rd movement [2:38]
CD #3: CHAMBER MUSIC: WIND INSTRUMENTS, PART 2
Seven Canons for Solo Clarinet, 1974 [7:31]
1. 1st movement [ :32]
2. 2nd movement [2:18]
3. 3rd movement [ :35]
4. 4th movement [1:24]
5. 5th movement [ :40]
6. 6th movement [ :54]
7. 7th movement [ :58]
Saxifrage Blue for Baritone Saxophone & Piano, 1977 [10:37]
8. 1st movement [1:30]
9. 2nd movement [ :42]
10. 3rd movement [1:24]
11. 4th movement [1:24]
12. 5th movement [1:19]
13. 6th movement [1:10]
14. 7th movement [1:26]
15. Trompe L'oeil for Bass Trombone and Piano, 1978 [12:14]
Diversions for Six Bassoons, 1979 [10:46]
16. 1st movement [2:39]
17. 2nd movement [2:11]
18. 3rd movement [2:24]
19. 4th movement [2:32]
20. Trombosis for Twelve Trombones, 1979 [9:48]
CD #4: CHAMBER MUSIC: WIND INSTRUMENTS, PART 3
Residuum for Bass Clarinet and Piano, 1986 [11:08]
1. Fast [2:29]
2. Less Fast [2:33]
3. Not Fast [4:03]
4. Faster [2:04]
Duo for Soprano Saxophone and Vibraphone, 1987 [6:54]
5. Chase [1:51]
6. Reflection [2:53]
7. Recrudescence [2:10]
8. Variegations for Clarinet and Piano, 1988 [9:16]
Concerto for Soprano Saxophone and Wind Ensemble (12 players), 1992 [18:34]
9. Broad [2:20]
10. Moderate [2:14]
11. Slow [3:32]
12. Quick [3:36]
13. Leisurely [3:03]
14. Fast [4:49]
CD #5: CHAMBER MUSIC: WINDS AND STRINGS TOGETHER, PART 1
1. Adagio and Allegro for Eleven Instruments, 1951 [6:49]
Duo for Clarinet and Cello, 1959 [11:06]
2. 1st movement [4:23]
3. 2nd movement [6:37]
Concertino for Violin and Wind Octet, 1965 [14:09]
4. Lento, Allegro Scherzando [6:41]
5. Allegro [7:28]
Twelve, 1977 for woodwind quartet, brass trio, stg. trio, pno., perc. [26:06]
6. 1st movement [1:41]
7. 2nd movement [1:34]
8. 3rd movement [2:50]
9. 4th movement [1:29]
10. 5th movement [1:40]
11. 6th movement [2:02]
12. 7th movement [1:49]
13. 8th movement [1:02]
14. 9th movement [2:32]
15. 10th movement [1:57]
16. 11th movement [2:57]
17. 12th movement [2:47]
CD #6: CHAMBER MUSIC: WINDS AND STRINGS TOGETHER, PART 2
Serenade for Flute, Clarinet, Cello and Guitar, 1982 [8:13]
1. Lento [2:16]
2. Allegretto [1:33]
3. Adagio [2:23]
4. Allegro [2:11]
Splay for Flute, Alto Saxophone and Guitar, 1983 [11:03]
5. Moderately Fast [3:01]
6. Not So Fast [4:58]
7. Faster [3:04]
8. Antipasto for Clarinet and Violin, 1987 [10:34]
Tri-Fling for Flute, Cello and Guitar, 1992 [9:37]
9. 1st movement [2:56]
10. 2nd movement [3:46]
11. 3rd movement [2:55]
CD #7: CHAMBER MUSIC: WINDS AND STRINGS TOGETHER, PART 3
Concerto Grosso for Oboe, Harpsichord and Strings, 1993 [15:30]
1. Allegro [3:40]
2. Adagio [3:58]
3. Andante [2:08]
4. Allegretto [5:44]
Divertimento for Oboe, 2 Horns and String Quintet, 1996 [21:07]
5. 1st movement [3:56]
6. 2nd movement [3:53]
7. 3rd movement [4:18]
8. 4th movement [3:21]
9. 5th movement [5:39]
Interventions for Oboe, Violin, Viola and Cello, 1997 [7:39]
10. Allegro [1:11]
11. Moderato [1:50]
12. Adagio [3:18]
13. Allegro [1:20]
Suite for Oboe, Violin, Viola and Cello, 1997 [10:27]
14. Prelude [1:51]
15. Dance [2:59]
16. Arietta [2:42]
17. Fugue [1:55]
18. Interlude and Chaconne [3:32]
CD #8: MUSIC FOR SOLO PIANO / FILM SCORE
Piano Sonata # 1, 1955 [9:29]
1. Allegro [2:55]
2. Adagio [3:59]
3. Presto [3:15]
Piano Sonata # 2, 1964 [13:20]
4. Fantasy [5:07]
5. Variations-Fugue [8:13]
6. Piano Variations, 1997 [17:27]
The Story Tellers of the Canterbury Tales (Film score, 1952) [9:11]
7. 1st movement [2:55]
8. 2nd movement [1:13]
9. 3rd movement [ :28]
10. 4th movement [ :47]
11. 5th movement [ :46]
12. 6th movement [ :30]
13. 7th movement [ :49]
14. 8th movement [ :30]
15. 9th movement [1:01]
16. 10th movement [1:54]
CD #9: VOCAL MUSIC, PART 1
Three Madrigals, 1951; poems form "Chamber Music" by James Joyce [3:48]
1. 1st movement [ :53]
2. 2nd movement [1:35]
3. 3rd movement [1:20]
Five Children's songs, 1954; contralto with piano accompaniment [5:40]
4. 1st movement [1:18]
5. 2nd movement [1:09]
6. 3rd movement [ :56]
7. 4th movement [ :47]
8. 5th movement [1:30]
9. Anthem of Wisdom, 1958 [6:40]
Home From the Sea, Poems by Robert Lewis Stevenson, 1976 [9:10]
10. 1st movement [2:05]
11. 2nd movement [3:51]
12. 3rd movement [3:14]
CD #10: VOCAL MUSIC, PART 2
Love Song Cycle, 1995 [23:09]
1. 1st movement [8:58]
2. 2nd movement [2:27]
3. 3rd movement [3:14]
4. 4th movement [8:30]
Cantata Jovialis, 1997 SATB Solo Voices, String Quartet, Harpsichord [24:39]
5. 1st movement [1:02]
6. 2nd movement [1:54]
7. 3rd movement [ :28]
8. 4th movement [2:56]
9. 5th movement [ :39]
10. 6th movement [1:06]
11. 7th movement [1:00]
12. 8th movement [ :49]
13. 9th movement [1:11]
14. 10th movement [ :32]
15. 11th movement [1:45]
16. 12th movement [2:00]
17. 13th movement [ :55]
18. 14th movement [1:02]
19. 15th movement [1:03]
20. 16th movement [1:17]
21. 17th movement [2:55]
22. 18th movement [2:05]
CD #11: ORCHESTRAL MUSIC, PART 1
1. Overture for Symphony Orchestra, 1952 [8:05]
2. Hexameron, 1963 (score reconstructed from piano version by Liszt) [21:16]
3. Pied Piper of Hamelin, 1968 [21:33]
CD #12: ORCHESTRAL MUSIC, PART 2
Sinfonia for String Orchestra, 1967-72 (with piano and harp) [16.36]
1. 1st movement [3:00]
2. 2nd movement [7:26]
3. 3rd movement [3:20]
4. 4th movement [2:50]
Concerto for Oboe, Horn, Percussion and String Orchestra, 1972 [20:19]
5. Prelude [3:05]
6. Fanfare [3:34]
7. Aria [6:17]
8. Dance [7:23]
9. Fantasia for Cello and String Orchestra, 1976 [17:38]
CD #13: ORCHESTRAL MUSIC, PART 3
Concerto for Woodwind Quartet and String Orchestra, 1982 [13:05]
1. 1st movement [6:04]
2. 2nd movement [7:01]
3. Concerto for Piano and Symphony Orchestra, 1990 [29:27]
CD 14: SYMPHONIC WINDS, PART 1
1. March of the Olympians, 1959 [4:36]
2. Concerto Grosso for Trumpet, Horn, Trombone and Wind Ensemble, 1961 [10:38]
3. Elevations for Wind Orchestra, 1964 [9:37]
4. Propagula for Wind Orchestra, 1970 [12:41]
CD 15: SYMPHONIC WINDS, PART 2
Concerto for Flute and Wind Orchestra, 1980 [19:42]
1. 1st movement [5:23]
2. 2nd movement [7:02]
3. 3rd movement [7:17]
4. Partita for Wind Orchestra, 1980 [6:55]
5. Concerto for Piano and Wind Ensemble, 1985 [13:01]
Compositions
The following is list of all of Robert Linn's compositions. Click the Download/CDs link to hear all existing recordings of them.
The Linn family welcomes performances of Robert Linn's music. Scores and parts for most of his compositions are available for rental for the copying costs only. If interested, please contact Mr. Claude Zachary of the USC Archives at 213-740-2587 or czachary@usc.edu.
CHAMBER MUSIC: STRING INSTRUMENTS
String Trio, 1950 [12']
String Quartet, 1951 [17']
Suite for Violin and Cello, 1962 [9']
Dithyramb for eight Cellos, 1965 [10']
Ayre and Ground for Solo Cello, 1968 [7']
Duo for Cello and Piano, 1971 [13']
Caprice for Solo Violin, 1974 [8']
Vino for Violin and Piano, 1975 [9']
Forward, Inward, Afterward for Two guitars, 1987 [6']
Fantasia for Two Violas, 1992 [11']
Epigrams for String Quartet, 1998 [9']
CHAMBER MUSIC: WIND INSTRUMENTS
Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, 1949 [12']
Five Pieces for Flute and Clarinet, 1950 [7']
Quartet for Saxophones, 1953 [8']
Quartet for Horns, 1957 [9']
Prelude and Dance for Saxophone Quartet, 1960 [6']
Quintet for Brass Instruments, 1963 [10']
Woodwind Quintet, 1964 [12']
Fanfares for Three Clarinets, 1972 [8']
Variations on a Familiar Tune for Two Bassoons, 1974 [6']
Seven Canons for Solo Clarinet, 1974 [7']
Miniatures for Unaccompanied Oboe, 1974 [5']
Bedpostludes for Bassoon Alone, 1974 [9']
Saxifrage Blue for Baritone Saxophone and Piano, 1977 [10']
Trompe L'oeil for Bass Trombone and Piano, 1978 [11']
Diversions for Six Bassoons, 1979 [12']
Trombosis for Twelve Trombones, 1979 [10']
Residuum for Bass Clarinet and Piano, 1986 [13']
Duo for Soprano Saxophone and Vibraphone, 1987 [9']
Variegations for Clarinet and Piano, 1988 [10']
Folie a Deux for Trumpet and Marimba, 1989 [8']
Concerto for Soprano Saxophone and Wind Ensemble (12 players), 1992 [22']
CHAMBER MUSIC: WINDS AND STRINGS TOGETHER
Adagio and Allegro for Eleven Instruments, 1951 [9']
Duo for Clarinet and Cello, 1959 [11']
Concertino for Violin and Wind Octet, 1965 [16']
Twelve, 1977 for woodwind quartet, brass trio, stg. trio, pno., perc. [25']
Serenade for Flute, Clarinet, Cello and Guitar, 1982 [9']
Splay for Flute, Alto Saxophone and Guitar, 1983 [11']
Antipasto for Clarinet and Violin, 1987 [8']
Tri-Fling for Flute, Cello and Guitar, 1992 [10']
Concerto Grosso for Oboe, Harpsichord and Strings, 1993 [18']
Quartet for Violin, Clarinet, Cello and Piano, 1996 [15']
Divertimento for Oboe, 2 Horns and String Quintet, 1996 [18']
Interventions for Oboe, Violin, Viola and Cello, 1997 [7']
Suite for Oboe, Violin, Viola and Cello, 1997 [16']
MUSIC FOR SOLO PIANO
Piano Sonata # 1, 1955 [12']
Piano Sonata # 2, 1964 [13']
Five Preludes, 1973 [10']
Lude, 1974 after Chopin Preludes [6']
Albumen for the Young, 1974; a dozen easy piano pieces [12']
Piano Variations, 1997 [9']
8tudes, 1998; eight studies [8']
ORGAN MUSIC
Toccatina, 1973
VOCAL MUSIC
Three Madrigals, 1951; poems form "Chamber Music" by James Joyce [5']
Five Children's songs, 1954; contralto with piano accompaniment [10']
Anthem of Wisdom, 1958; SATB with piano four hands [6']
Three German Folk Songs, 1959; TB with piano [4']
John Burns of Gettysburg, 1976; ballad for chorus, narrator and piano [12']
Home From the Sea, 1976; four choral pieces, SATB with piano [10']
Songs of William Blake, 1982; 10 poems from "Songs of Innocence", SATB [25']
Love Song Cycle, 1995 (SATB, piano) [25'] Version for small orchestra below
Cantata Jovialis, 1997 [26'] SATB Solo Voices, String Quartet, Harpsichord
ORCHESTRAL MUSIC
Overture for Symphony Orchestra, 1952 (3333,4331, stgs., pno., hp., perc.) [10']
Anthem of Wisdom, 1958 (SATB, 2222,4331, strings, hp., perc.) Proverbs [6']
Symphony In One Movement, 1956-61 (3333,4331, stg., pno., hp., perc.) [15']
Hexameron, 1963 (score reconstructed from piano version by Liszt) [22']
Pied Piper of Hamelin, 1968 (SATB, solo Ten., Narrator, 3333,4331, stgs.) [25']
Sinfonia for String Orchestra, 1967-72 (with piano and harp) [12']
Concerto for Oboe, Horn, Percussion and String Orchestra, 1972 [18']
Fantasia for Cello and String Orchestra, 1976 [17']
Concerto for Woodwind Quartet and String Orchestra, 1982 [12']
Concerto for Piano and Symphony Orch., 1990 (3333,4331, stgs., hp., perc.) [30']
Concerto Grosso for Oboe, Harpsichord and String Orchestra, 1993 [18']
Love Song Cycle, 1995 (SATB, ob, 2 hns, bsn., stgs., pno., hp., perc.) [25']
SYMPHONIC WINDS
March of the Olympians, 1959 [5']
Concerto Grosso Trumpet, Horn, Trombone and Wind Ensemble, 1961 [10']
Elevations for Wind Orchestra, 1964 [12']
Propagula for Wind Orchestra, 1970 [17']
Concerto for Flute and Wind Orchestra, 1980 [20']
Partita for Wind Orchestra, 1980 [6']
Concerto for Piano and Wind Ensemble, 1985 [12']
Concerto for Soprano Saxophone and Wind Ensemble (12 players), 1992 [22']
FILM SCORE
The Story Tellers of the Canterbury Tales, 1952 (USC Educational Film)