JD Robb: The Man & His Music
John Donald Robb
Introduction
John Donald Robb (1892-1989) led a rich and varied life as an attorney, composer, arts educator, and folk song collector and preservationist. He composed an impressive body of work including symphonies, concertos, sonatas, chamber and other instrumental music, choral works, songs, and arrangements of folk songs, two operas, including Little Jo, a musical comedy, Joy Comes to Deadhorse, and more than 65 electronic works. Robb’s orchestral works have been played by many major orchestras in the United States and abroad under noted conductors, such as Hans Lange, Maurice Bonney, Maurice Abravanel, Leonard Slatkin, Gilberto Orellano, Yoshimi Takeda, Guillermo Figueroa, James Richards and Franz Vote.
John Donald Robb (1892-1989) led a rich and varied life as an attorney, composer, arts educator, and folk song collector and preservationist. He composed an impressive body of work including symphonies, concertos, sonatas, chamber and other instrumental music, choral works, songs, and arrangements of folk songs, two operas, including Little Jo, a musical comedy, Joy Comes to Deadhorse, and more than 65 electronic works. Robb’s orchestral works have been played by many major orchestras in the United States and abroad under noted conductors, such as Hans Lange, Maurice Bonney, Maurice Abravanel, Leonard Slatkin, Gilberto Orellano, Yoshimi Takeda, Guillermo Figueroa, James Richards and Franz Vote.
UNM Dean
During his two decades as an international lawyer in New York City, Robb studied composition with Horatio Parker, Darius Milhaud, Roy Harris, Paul Hindemith and Nadia Boulanger. In 1941, at the age of 49, Robb left his law career to become head of the Music Department at the University of New Mexico. He served as dean of the UNM College of Fine Arts from 1942-1957.
During his two decades as an international lawyer in New York City, Robb studied composition with Horatio Parker, Darius Milhaud, Roy Harris, Paul Hindemith and Nadia Boulanger. In 1941, at the age of 49, Robb left his law career to become head of the Music Department at the University of New Mexico. He served as dean of the UNM College of Fine Arts from 1942-1957.
Folk Music Collector
During his tenure at UNM, Robb’s fascination with Hispanic folk music led to his recording of more than 3,000 traditional Hispanic folksongs and dances from the American Southwest and South America, all of which formed the nucleus of the John Donald Robb Archive of Southwestern Music at the University of New Mexico. He was the author of several books on the subject, including Hispanic Folk Songs of New Mexico (1954; revised edition by UNM Press, 2008) and his authoritative book, Hispanic Folk Music of New Mexico and the Southwest: A Self Portrait of a People (University of Oklahoma Press, 1980; republished by UNM Press, 2014), and a second volume of Hispanic Folk Songs collected by Robb, Cancionero: Songs of Laughter & Faith in New Mexico (UNM Press 2016). Robb received numerous honors and grants, including the honorary Doctor of Music from the University of New Mexico.
During his tenure at UNM, Robb’s fascination with Hispanic folk music led to his recording of more than 3,000 traditional Hispanic folksongs and dances from the American Southwest and South America, all of which formed the nucleus of the John Donald Robb Archive of Southwestern Music at the University of New Mexico. He was the author of several books on the subject, including Hispanic Folk Songs of New Mexico (1954; revised edition by UNM Press, 2008) and his authoritative book, Hispanic Folk Music of New Mexico and the Southwest: A Self Portrait of a People (University of Oklahoma Press, 1980; republished by UNM Press, 2014), and a second volume of Hispanic Folk Songs collected by Robb, Cancionero: Songs of Laughter & Faith in New Mexico (UNM Press 2016). Robb received numerous honors and grants, including the honorary Doctor of Music from the University of New Mexico.
Collected Works
Robb's music has been performed by more than 16 symphony orchestras in the U.S., Central America and South America, including the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra. His compositions have been performed in many other venues, such as six recitals in Carnegie Recital Hall in New York (some of which were reviewed by the New York Times).
Robb's music has been performed by more than 16 symphony orchestras in the U.S., Central America and South America, including the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra. His compositions have been performed in many other venues, such as six recitals in Carnegie Recital Hall in New York (some of which were reviewed by the New York Times).
Compositions
The St. Louis Symphony premiered his Third Symphony in 1962, and his music is performed every spring at the renowned UNM John Donald Robb Composers’ Symposium. His folk opera, Little Jo, was conducted by Guillermo Figueroa at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in 2005, and the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra performed his Dances from Taxco in their 2007 season.
The St. Louis Symphony premiered his Third Symphony in 1962, and his music is performed every spring at the renowned UNM John Donald Robb Composers’ Symposium. His folk opera, Little Jo, was conducted by Guillermo Figueroa at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in 2005, and the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra performed his Dances from Taxco in their 2007 season.
PBS Documentary
In June 2008, KNME-TV, New Mexico's PBS station, premiered an Emmy Award documentary about Robb entitled, "The Musical Adventures of John Donald Robb in New Mexico." The documentary features folk song recordings and photographs from the Robb archives from UNM Libraries' Center for Southwest Research.
In June 2008, KNME-TV, New Mexico's PBS station, premiered an Emmy Award documentary about Robb entitled, "The Musical Adventures of John Donald Robb in New Mexico." The documentary features folk song recordings and photographs from the Robb archives from UNM Libraries' Center for Southwest Research.
Performances
In October 2008, the University of Missouri-St. Louis presented a John Donald Robb Tribute Concert to a standing-room-only audience, and in November 2010, Robb's Symphony No. 1 was performed by James Richards and the St. Louis Chamber Orchestra. Robb’s Requiem, composed in 1985 when Robb was 93, was performed by the St. Louis Bach Society conducted by A. Dennis Sparger in 2012 as a choral and piano piece edited and arranged by James Bratcher. A newly orchestrated version of Robb’s Requiem was performed in a 2013 Santa Fe concert presented by the New Mexico Performing Arts Society featuring conductor Franz Vote and the New Mexico Bach Society, and in 2016 Robb’s setting of "Los Pastores," the traditional folk play from Spain and Mexico, arranged for SATB Chorus and 11 instruments, was performed by Franz Vote and the New Mexico Bach Society at Cristo Rey Catholic Church in Santa Fe. Robb’s Two Trios, Opus 57, I Am Very Old Tonight and Tears, originally written in 1953 for Contralto, Oboe and Piano and later arranged for Women’s Chorus, Oboe, and Piano were performed in 2017 during “The Granados Project” by Polyphony, Voices of New Mexico and UNM’s Las Cantantes conducted by Maxine Thevenot in St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral, Albuquerque.
In October 2008, the University of Missouri-St. Louis presented a John Donald Robb Tribute Concert to a standing-room-only audience, and in November 2010, Robb's Symphony No. 1 was performed by James Richards and the St. Louis Chamber Orchestra. Robb’s Requiem, composed in 1985 when Robb was 93, was performed by the St. Louis Bach Society conducted by A. Dennis Sparger in 2012 as a choral and piano piece edited and arranged by James Bratcher. A newly orchestrated version of Robb’s Requiem was performed in a 2013 Santa Fe concert presented by the New Mexico Performing Arts Society featuring conductor Franz Vote and the New Mexico Bach Society, and in 2016 Robb’s setting of "Los Pastores," the traditional folk play from Spain and Mexico, arranged for SATB Chorus and 11 instruments, was performed by Franz Vote and the New Mexico Bach Society at Cristo Rey Catholic Church in Santa Fe. Robb’s Two Trios, Opus 57, I Am Very Old Tonight and Tears, originally written in 1953 for Contralto, Oboe and Piano and later arranged for Women’s Chorus, Oboe, and Piano were performed in 2017 during “The Granados Project” by Polyphony, Voices of New Mexico and UNM’s Las Cantantes conducted by Maxine Thevenot in St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral, Albuquerque.
Recordings
OPUS ONE Recordings has released seven Hispanic folk songs and six art songs arranged by Roger Jannotta and performed by the world-renowned National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Oberg of Albuquerque with Leslie Umphrey of the UNM Music Department Faculty as soprano soloist. This is the fourth of the outstanding CDs of Robb’s major works on the OPUS ONE label by Oberg and the NPRSO. Robb's recordings can be purchased at amazon.com.
OPUS ONE Recordings has released seven Hispanic folk songs and six art songs arranged by Roger Jannotta and performed by the world-renowned National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Oberg of Albuquerque with Leslie Umphrey of the UNM Music Department Faculty as soprano soloist. This is the fourth of the outstanding CDs of Robb’s major works on the OPUS ONE label by Oberg and the NPRSO. Robb's recordings can be purchased at amazon.com.
Electronica
When Robb was in his 70s, he became one of the first in the country to buy a Moog synthesizer and proceeded to compose a body of work for that revolutionary instrument. He is recognized as a pioneer in that field. All genres of his works are still performed today.
When Robb was in his 70s, he became one of the first in the country to buy a Moog synthesizer and proceeded to compose a body of work for that revolutionary instrument. He is recognized as a pioneer in that field. All genres of his works are still performed today.
Musings
In 2019, Marilyn Fletcher, Professor Emerita UNM Libraries, published a biographical booklet entitled A Few Minutes with John and Harriet Robb in commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of the UNM John Donald Robb Musical Trust. The 76-page booklet contains interviews, correspondence, diaries, and other papers in the UNM CSWR John Donald Robb Papers, Manuscript collection 497.
In 2019, Marilyn Fletcher, Professor Emerita UNM Libraries, published a biographical booklet entitled A Few Minutes with John and Harriet Robb in commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of the UNM John Donald Robb Musical Trust. The 76-page booklet contains interviews, correspondence, diaries, and other papers in the UNM CSWR John Donald Robb Papers, Manuscript collection 497.
Family Video
Here is a video of John Donald Robb recorded by Sanford McDonnell in 1986 at the Robb summer home in Shelter Island, New York. The video begins with Robb sharing about an upcoming trip to London, which includes plans to traverse the Thames River. Reminded of his song On Richmond Hill (located in Richmond Upon Thames, London), Robb starts singing it. His daughter Priscilla Robb McDonnell joins in. After which, they sing Robb's composition Cradle Song, followed by Come Along with Me from Robb's musical Joy Comes to Deadhorse. The video ends with a rousing rendition of the traditional Drunken Sailor sea shanty.
Here is a video of John Donald Robb recorded by Sanford McDonnell in 1986 at the Robb summer home in Shelter Island, New York. The video begins with Robb sharing about an upcoming trip to London, which includes plans to traverse the Thames River. Reminded of his song On Richmond Hill (located in Richmond Upon Thames, London), Robb starts singing it. His daughter Priscilla Robb McDonnell joins in. After which, they sing Robb's composition Cradle Song, followed by Come Along with Me from Robb's musical Joy Comes to Deadhorse. The video ends with a rousing rendition of the traditional Drunken Sailor sea shanty.
This video was presented to the UNM John Donald Robb Trust September 2024 by Robb's great granddaughter Sarah Robb.
Joy Comes To Deadhorse
Joy Comes To Deadhorse
On an interesting side note to the above Robb family video, from 1954 to 1956, Robb collaborated with Tom Jones (1928-2023), a young unknown lyricist at the time, to create Joy Comes to Deadhorse. The show beautifully illustrates Robb's love of the Southwestern aesthetic. Set on two adjoining ranches, the story centers around an Anglo-Hispanic couple who fall in love despite opposition from their fathers.
Joy Comes To Deadhorse director Eddie Snap, composer John Donald Robb, lyricist Tom Jones, circa 1956 courtesy of the UNM Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections
The show premiered at the University of New Mexico. It was directed by Eddie Snap, UNM Professor of Theatre and Speech. Robb and Jones were unhappy with the result. After several years of conflicting interest around attempts to rework the score and book, Robb relinquished his rights to Jones. Not long after which, Joned reworked the show with Harvey Schmidt (1929-2018) into a non-Hispanic version. The result was The Fantasticks, which ran for 42 years at the Sullivan Theater in New York for a total of 17,162 performances; the longest running show in theater history.
Delve Deeper:
- Many-Sided Man: John Donald Robb and Music in New Mexico, 1892-1989 by Scott Meredith, first published by The Historical Society of New Mexico in their journal La Crónica de Nuevo México, Issue 60, October 2003, p. 2-5.
- Inside the Fantasticks by New Line Theatre founder and artistic director Scott Miller. Robb is mentioned in the article, which discusses the background and development of The Fantasticks.