Rodriguez, Robert Xavier

Rodriguez, Robert Xavier , American composer; b. San Antonio, June 28, 1946. He studied with Hunter Johnson and Kent Kennan at the Univ. of Tex. in Austin (B.M., 1967; M.M., 1969), Stevens and Dahl at the Univ. of Southern Calif, in Los Angeles (D.M.A., 1975), Druckman at the Berkshire Music Center in Tangle-wood, and Boulanger in Paris; also attended master classes given by Maderna and Carter. He taught at the Univ. of Southern Calif. (1973–75) and at the Univ. of Tex. in Dallas (from 1975); held a Guggenheim fellowship (1976); was composer-in-residence of the Dallas Sym. Orch. (1982–85).

Works

DRAMATIC: Opera: Le Diable amoureux (1978; orch. suite, 1978); Suor Isabella (1982; Boston, May 3, 1984); Tango, chamber opera (1985); Monkey See, Monkey Do, children’s opera (1986); Frida (1990); The Old Majestic (1991). Ballet: Estampie (1980); Meta-4 (1993). ORCH.: Adagio for 7 Winds and Strings (1967); 3 piano concertos (1968; 1972; 1973–74); Lyric Variations for Oboe, 2 Horns, and Strings (1970); Sinfonia concertante for Saxophone, Harpsichord, and Chamber Orch. (1974); Favola concertante for Violin, Cello, and Strings (1975); Frammenti musicali for Flute or Violin and Strings (1978); Favola Boccaccesca (1979); Oktoechoes, concerto for Octet and Orch. (1983; Dallas, May 4, 1984); Trunks: A Circus Story for Narrator and Orch. (1983); 7 Deadly Sins for Wind Ensemble and Percussion (1984); A Colorful Symphony for Narrator, Orch., and Optional Visual Effects, for children (1987; Indianapolis, May 3, 1988); Invocation of Orpheus, trumpet concerto (1989); A Gathering of Angels, bolero (1989); Ursa: 4 Seasons for Double Bass and Strings (San Antonio, Nov. 29, 1990); Pinata (1990); Mascaras for Cello and Orch. (1994). CHAMBER: 2 piano trios (1970, 1971); Sonata for Soprano Saxophone or Clarinet and Piano (1972); Toccata for Guitar Quartet (1975); Variations for Violin and Piano (1975); Quodlibet on Medieval Tunes for Instruments (1978); Semi-suite for Violin and Piano (1980–81; originally for Piano, 4-Hands; also for Violin and Orch., or Violin, Clarinet, Piano, and Percussion, 1984); Les Niais Amoureux for Quartet (1989); 3 Lullabies for Guitar (1993). Piano : For Piano I-II (1972); Serbelloni Birthday Rag (1976; arranged for Orch., 1977); Fantasia Lussuriosa (1989). VOCAL: Cantata for Soprano, Chorus, and Orch. (1972); Canto, cantata for Soprano, Tenor, Piano, Cello, and Orch. (1973); Transfigurationis mysteria for 3 Solo Voices, Narrator, Chorus, and Orch. (1978); Praline and Fudge for Baritone and Piano, to texts from cookbooks (1979); AdoraciÓn Ambulante, folk mass for Tenor, Bass, Chorus, Children’s Chorus, Mariachi Band, Dancers, Puppets, Slides, Fireworks, Orch., and Audience Participation (1994); Scrooge, concert scene from “A Christmas Carol” for Bass-baritone, Chorus, and Orch. (El Paso, Tex., Dec. 9, 1994).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire