The composer speaks: Jerome N. Margolis.
«I’ve composed a great deal of music in different musical genres and tried to adhere to the very same principles and standards I applied to my so-called “serious” works.» American composer Jerome N. Margolis, who donated his unpublished music scores and archival recordings of his works to the ICAMus Special Collections, shares his wide-ranging vision of music.
I’ve composed a great deal of music in different musical genres and tried to adhere to the very same principles and standards I applied to my so-called “serious” works.
Rather than being one-more frustrated want-to-be film composer I was fascinated, early on as a child, by the music scores I heard in films. Beginning in the 1970s I began to compose imaginary film cues, but with the focus upon creating short dramatic cues that were complete in and of themselves. Some of these I collected on eight long CDs entitled “Synthesizer Sketches” or “Dramatic film cue sketches.”
Additionally, I was involved in composing scores for plays at the college where I taught in the 1960s, small theaters, etc. These generally included opening cues, scene setting and bows. One of the wonderful complications in this genre was the fact that some cues, if played during action onstage, had to be created so as to be adaptable to “real time” rather than a specific number of minutes or seconds as in film music.
As for jazz compositions I have loved jazz since I was very young and have followed the art diligently in addition to playing in jazz groups, clubs, etc. I composed my first jazz tune at the age of fourteen and over the next sixty years always found time to write jazz compositions.
Jerome N. Margolis, American composer, to ICAMus, July 6, 2020.
In the photo below, a look at some of Jerome N. Margolis’ archival recordings at the ICAMus Studio, that also reflect areas of his work beyond the classical medium.
The Jerome N. Margolis Collection of music scores, recordings and audio files is accessible for study and research at The ICAMus Studio in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. Inquiries welcome!
Find out more about Dr. Jerome N. Margolis: his Biography, Catalogue of Works, and major donation of scores and recordings to ICAMus HERE.
The Jerome N. Margolis Collection at The ICAMus Studio is constantly enlarged and updated. Thank you, Dr. Margolis, for your generosity and guidance!
