Murray Boren Explained

Murray Boren (born 1950) is a composer of opera, symphonic, chamber, and vocal works. He has written nine operas and over 100 songs and chamber compositions. He also contributed to the Joseph Sonnets. Among his operas are Book of Gold and Emma; both are based on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) history. In 2007, he retired from his position as composer-in-residence at the College of Music of the College of Fine Arts and Communications of Brigham Young University (BYU).

Education and career

Murray Boren received his BM and MA in composition from Brigham Young University (BYU) in 1975 and 1977 respectively.[1] [2] He received a DMA in composition from the City University of New York in 2002. Boren began his academic career as department head at the College of Education in Uyo, Nigeria, from 1970 to 1980. He became a professor of composition and theory at BYU in 1980, a position he held for four years. After this, he worked in administrative positions at the City University of New York and New York University from 1984 to 1994. He returned to teach composition and theory at BYU in 1994 where he served as composer in residence until he retired in 2007.[3] [4]

Boren has written nine operas, adapting them from religious texts and LDS Church history, as well as medieval mystery plays.[5] Orson Scott Card was the librettist for Boren's opera Abraham and Isaac based on Genesis 22 in the Bible.[6] Boren wrote the opera Emma about Emma Smith, wife of the founder of the LDS Church, Joseph Smith. Emma received mixed reviews.[7] It was praised for its freshness, but criticized for being overly chromatic. Allan Kozinn of The New York Times praised the vocal performances and the unique orchestral music; however, he criticized the opera's slow pace stating that, "the sustained slow-motion caterwauling of the first five minutes was ample warning that this would be a very, very long evening."[8] Boren has collaborated with librettist Glen Nelson on three operas.[9] The Dead was a one-act opera adaptation of James Joyces Dubliners, first staged in New York in 1993.[10] They also collaborated on The Singer's Romance, a three-act opera inspired by a Willa Cather short story.[11] In 2005, Boren and Nelson collaborated to create The Book of Gold, an opera about Joseph Smith.[12] [13] In addition to opera, Boren has written over 100 songs and chamber compositions. He wrote the music for the Joseph Sonnets, which were created in co-operation with Sally Taylor.[14] Several of Boren's pieces were first performed by orchestras directed by Kory Katseanes.[15]

Boren is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Satins and is married to Susan Alexander Boren, a soprano with whom he has performed.[16] [17] [18] They have three children.[19]

Operas

External links

opera about the Book of Mormon with music by Boren, at L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Brigham Young University

Notes and References

  1. News: 2007-08 Faculty Retirees . 17 January 2020 . BYU Magazine . Brigham Young University . Fall 2008.
  2. Lindsay Weaver . Murray Boren full-size orchestral scores . MSS 7772 Series 2 . L. Tom Perry Special Collections . 2012 . 17 January 2020.
  3. News: Rust . Brian . BYU Barlow Endowment hosts performance of four new works honoring Joseph Smith Nov.18 . 15 January 2020 . BYU News . Brigham Young University . November 9, 2005.
  4. McBaine . Neylan . Seeds of Faith in City Soil: Growing Up Mormon in New York City . Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought . Winter 2007 . 40 . 4 . 155 . 10.5406/dialjmormthou.40.4.0149 . 10.5406/dialjmormthou.40.4.0149 . 246621851 . free .
  5. Web site: Nelson . Glen . Glimpses: Mormon, Opera, and Mormon Operas . Mormon Artists Group . 22 January 2020.
  6. News: Bliss . Frederick . Gump . P.Q. . Mormon Shakefpears: A Study of Contemporary Mormon Theatre . 22 January 2020 . Sunstone Magazine . Sunstone Education Foundation.
  7. Book: Hicks . Michael . Mormonism and Music: A History . 2003 . University of Illinois Press . Urbana . 0252071476 . 184 . 3 February 2020.
  8. News: Kozinn . Allan . Review/Opera; Mormons in Crisis After Their Founder's Death . 22 January 2020 . The New York Times . July 14, 1992.
  9. Nelson . Glen . Out of Angola . Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought . Fall 2018 . 51 . 3 . 279–294 . 10.5406/dialjmormthou.51.3.0279 . 246626887 . . free .
  10. Book: Fargnoli . A. Nicholas . Gillespie . Michael P. . James Joyce A to Z: The Essential Reference to the Life and Work . 1995 . Oxford University Press . New York . 0195110293 . 245 . 22 January 2020.
  11. News: Schoenfeld . Marissa . New opera, 'The Singers Romance' debuts at BYU . 22 January 2020 . The Daily Universe . Brigham Young University . September 21, 1998.
  12. News: Astle . Randy . Glen Nelson . 22 January 2020 . Mormon Artist . Mormon Artist . May 2010.
  13. News: Reichel . Edward . "Book of Gold" is a shining opera . 15 January 2020 . Deseret News . Deseret News Publishing Company . November 9, 2005.
  14. News: Rust . Brian . "The Joseph Sonnets" to premiere at BYU recitals Oct. 6 . 15 January 2020 . BYU News . Brigham Young University . September 26, 2005.
  15. News: Rust . Brian . "Book of Gold" to premiere at BYU's de Jong Concert Hall Nov. 4 . 15 January 2020 . BYU News . Brigham Young University . October 23, 2005.
  16. Web site: Collection: Murray Boren scores BYU Library - Special Collections . archives.lib.byu.edu . BYU Library . 11 April 2023.
  17. Web site: 2005 Annual Report . BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications . Brigham Young University . 15 January 2020.
  18. News: Howard . Rebecca Cline . Boren concert thought-provoking . 15 January 2020 . Deseret News . Deseret News Publishing Company . November 13, 2000.
  19. News: Howard . Rebecca Cline . Borens will blend music, poetry for "families together" concert . 15 January 2020 . Deseret News . Deseret News Publishing Company . November 5, 2000.

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