Background
Elwell, Herbert was born on May 10, 1898 in Minneapolis. Son of George Herbert and Belle (Horn) Elwell.
Elwell, Herbert was born on May 10, 1898 in Minneapolis. Son of George Herbert and Belle (Horn) Elwell.
Student of University Minnesota, 1916-1919. Private study in composition with Ernest Bloch, New York City, 1919-1921, Nadia Boulanger, Paris, France, 1922-1927. Doctorate (honorary), Western Reserve University, 1946, U. Rochester, 1954.
Head composition department Cleveland Institute Music, 1928-1945. Music critic Cleveland Plain Dealer 1932-1965. Program note editor Cleveland Orchestra, 1930-1936.
Teacher composition Oberlin Conservatory Music 1945-1974, Eastman Summer School, Rochester, New York, 1940-1974.
Performance of principal compositions. Ballet Suite, Happy Hypocrite, Charles Weidman, Dance Repertory Theatre, New York City, 1931.
Introduction and Allegro, New York Philharmonic, 1942. Quintet for strings and piano, Paris, 1925.
String Quartet, New York City, 1944.
Blue Symphony, New York City, 1946. Lincoln Requiem, Oberlin (international radio broadcast North.B.C.), 1946. Pastorale for voice and orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, under Szell, 1948.
Violin and Piano Sonata, Chgo, 1948.
Ode for Orchestra, under Stokowski, Houston, 1953. The Forever Young for voice and orchestra, under Stokowski, Saint Louis, under Szell, Cleveland, 1954.
Suite for Violin and Orchestra, Louisville, 1957. Chairman 1952 Yaddo Festival, member Yaddo Corporation.
Fellow American Academy in Rome, 1923-1926. Member Phi Delta Theta, Pi Kappa Lambda.
Married Maria Cecchini, July 27, 1927.