Schuman, << SHOO muhn, >> William (1910-1992), was an American composer and educator. Schuman composed in a nationalistic style that proved popular with audiences. His music features energetic melodies, lively rhythms, and brilliant orchestrations. In 1943, Schuman won the first Pulitzer Prize awarded for music. He received it for his composition A Free Song (1943), written for chorus and orchestra.
Schuman wrote mainly for band, chorus, or orchestra. His Symphony No. 3 (1941) is the most widely performed of his 10 symphonies. His other distinctive symphonies include the 5th (1943), 6th (1948), and 8th (1962). New England Triptych (1956) is an orchestral work adapted from melodies by American composer William Billings. Schuman also wrote several ballets and The Mighty Casey (1953, revised 1976), an opera about a fictional baseball player. His chamber works include five string quartets.
William Howard Schuman was born on Aug. 14, 1910, in New York City. He played in a jazz band and worked as a popular songwriter before turning to classical composition. Schuman served as president of the Juilliard School of Music from 1945 to 1962 and as president of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City from 1962 to 1969. He died on Feb. 15, 1992.
