Murray Boren

Murray Boren (born 1950) is a composer of opera, symphonic, chamber, and vocal works. Among his operas are Book of Gold and Emma; both are based on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) history. In 2007, he retired from his position as composer-in-residence at the College of Music of the College of Fine Arts and Communications of Brigham Young University (BYU).

Education and career

Murray Boren received his B.M. and M.A. in composition from Brigham Young University (BYU) in 1975 and 1977 respectively.[1][2] He received a Doctor of Musical Arts in composition from the City University of New York in 2002.[2] Boren began his academic career as department head at the College of Education in Uyo, Nigeria from 1970 to 1980.[2] He became professor of composition and theory at BYU in 1980, a position he held for four years.[2] After this he worked in administrative positions at the City University of New York and New York University from 1984 to 1994.[2] He returned to teach composition and theory at BYU in 1994 where he served as composer in residence until he retired in 2007.[3][4][2]

Boren has written nine operas, adapting them from religious texts and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) history as well as medieval mystery plays.[5] Orson Scott Card was the librettist for Boren's opera Abraham and Isaac based on Genesis 22 in the Bible.[5][6] Boren wrote the opera Emma about Emma Smith wife of the founder of the LDS Church, Joseph Smith. Emma received mixed reviews.[7] It was praised for its freshness but criticized for being overly chromatic. Allan Kozinn of The New York Times praised the vocal performances and the unique orchestral music; however, he criticized the opera's slow pace stating that, "the sustained slow-motion caterwauling of the first five minutes was ample warning that this would be a very, very long evening."[8] Boren has collabored with librettist Glen Nelson on three operas.[9] The Dead was a one-act opera adaptation of James Joyce's Dubliners first staged in New York in 1993.[10] They also collaborated on The Singer's Romance, a three-act opera inspired by a Willa Cather short stories.[11] In 2005, Boren and Nelson collaborated to create The Book of Gold, an opera about Joseph Smith.[12][13] In addition to opera, Boren has written over 100 songs and chamber compositions. He wrote the music for the Joseph Sonnets which were created in co-operation with Sally Taylor.[14] Several of Boren's pieces were first performed by orchestras directed by Kory Katseanes.[15][3]

Boren is a member of the LDS Church and is married to Susan Alexander Boren, a soprano with whom he has performed.[16][17] They have three children.[18]

Operas
  • The Only Jealousy of Emer (1973)
  • Abraham & Isaac (1977)
  • A Christmas Playe (1982)
  • Emma (1983)
  • Mormon/Moroni (1987)
  • The Dead (1993)
  • The Singer's Romance (1998)
  • Eliza (2004)
  • The Book of Gold (2005)[5]

Sources
  1. "2007-08 Faculty Retirees". BYU Magazine. Brigham Young University. Fall 2008. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  2. Lindsay Weaver (2012). "Murray Boren full-size orchestral scores". Prepared for the MSS 7772 Series 2, L. Tom Perry Special Collections. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  3. Rust, Brian (November 9, 2005). "BYU Barlow Endowment hosts performance of four new works honoring Joseph Smith Nov.18". BYU News. Brigham Young University. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  4. McBaine, Neylan (Winter 2007). "Seeds of Faith in City Soil: Growing Up Mormon in New York City". Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. 40 (4): 155. JSTOR 10.5406/dialjmormthou.40.4.0149.
  5. Nelson, Glen. "Glimpses: Mormon, Opera, and Mormon Operas". Mormon Artists Group. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  6. Bliss, Frederick; Gump, P.Q. "Mormon Shakefpears: A Study of Contemporary Mormon Theatre" (PDF). Sunstone Magazine. Sunstone Education Foundation. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  7. Hicks, Michael (2003). Mormonism and Music: A History. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. p. 184. ISBN 0252071476. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  8. Kozinn, Allan (July 14, 1992). "Review/Opera; Mormons in Crisis After Their Founder's Death". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  9. Nelson, Glen (Fall 2018). "Out of Angola". Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. 51 (3). ProQuest 2161266304.
  10. Fargnoli, A. Nicholas; Gillespie, Michael P. (1995). James Joyce A to Z: The Essential Reference to the Life and Work. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 245. ISBN 0195110293. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  11. Schoenfeld, Marissa (September 21, 1998). "New opera, 'The Singers Romance' debuts at BYU". The Daily Universe. Brigham Young University. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  12. Astle, Randy (May 2010). "Glen Nelson". Mormon Artist. Mormon Artist. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  13. Reichel, Edward (November 9, 2005). ""Book of Gold" is a shining opera". Deseret News. Deseret News Publishing Company. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  14. Rust, Brian (September 26, 2005). ""The Joseph Sonnets" to premiere at BYU recitals Oct. 6". BYU News. Brigham Young University. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  15. Rust, Brian (October 23, 2005). ""Book of Gold" to premiere at BYU's de Jong Concert Hall Nov. 4". BYU News. Brigham Young University. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  16. "2005 Annual Report". BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications. Brigham Young University. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  17. Howard, Rebecca Cline (November 13, 2000). "Boren concert thought-provoking". Deseret News. Deseret News Publishing Company. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  18. Howard, Rebecca Cline (November 5, 2000). "Borens will blend music, poetry for "families together" concert". Deseret News. Deseret News Publishing Company. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
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