Background
Robertson, Leroy J. was born on December 21, 1896 in Fountain Green, Utah, United States. Son of Jasper Heber and Alice (Adams) Robertson.
Robertson, Leroy J. was born on December 21, 1896 in Fountain Green, Utah, United States. Son of Jasper Heber and Alice (Adams) Robertson.
Diploma, North.E. Conservatory of Music, Boston (studied under Chadwick), 1923. Student of Carl Busch, 1925, Ernest Bloch, 1930, 32, Hugo Leichtentritt, 1933. Master of Arts, Brighman Young University, 1932.
Doctor of Philisophy, University of Southern California, 1954.
Naomi Nelson, September 1, 1925.
One of his earliest instructors was Anthony C. Lund. Following his graduation, Robertson taught music at North Cache High School in Richmond, Utah and at Pleasant Grove High School in Pleasant Grove, Utah, where he supervised music in the Alpine School District. Robertson was appointed to the music faculty at Brigham Young University in 1925.
He soon became Professor and Chairman of the Music Department, a position he held until 1948.
He would continue his studies with Bloch in Roveredo Capriasca, Switzerland in 1932, and with Hugo Leichtentritt in Berlin, Germany, in 1933. Robertson received a Bachelor degree and an Master of Arts degree from Brigham Young University in June 1933.
Between 1933-1945 Robertson composed several works for piano and organ, as well as strings, including "Songs from the Shadow", "Fantasia for the Organ", "String Quartet" and "Punch and Judy". The following year, he was appointed Professor and Chairman of the Music Department at the University of Utah, a position he held until 1962.
Robertson"s "Concerto for Violin and Orchestra" premiered under Maurice Abravanel during the centennial of the University of Utah in 1950 with Utah Symphony Orchestra"s concertmaster Tibor Zelig as soloist.
In 1954, he received his Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Southern California. Robertson was instrumental in the promotion of the Utah Symphony and of classical music in Salt Lake City. Amongst Robertson"s works in the 1948 Latter- Day Saints (Mormons) hymnal was the music for "Up! Arose Thee, O Beautiful Zion", with words by Emily H. Woodmansee.
In the 1985 edition of the Latter- Day Saints (Mormons) hymnal there is one hymn with words by Robertson and eight hymns for which he wrote the music
"On This Day of Joy and Gladness" (hymn #64) has both words and music by Robertson, while "Let Earth"s Inhabitants Rejoice" (hymn #53), ""Great King of Heaven" (hymn #63), "God of Our Fathers, Know of Old" (hymn #80), "I"m A Pilgrim, I"m A Stranger" (hymn #121), "Upon The Cross Of Calvary" (hymn #184), "We Love Thy House, Oh God" (hymn #247) and "Go Ye Messengers of Glory" (hymn #262) have music by Robertson.
Member Phi Beta Kappa, Kappa Gamma Psi, A.S.C.A.P. Minor, 1941. Member Phi Beta Kappa, Kappa Gamma Psi, A.S.C.A.P. Fellow Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters.
Compositions include: (chamber music) Quintet for Piano and Strings in A Minor, String Quartet in East Minor, American Serenade for String Quartet.
Children: Alice Marian, Renee, Karen Naomi, James Leroy Professor.