Editing David Amram

{{Short description|American composer, arranger, and conductor}}
{{for|the lawyer and legal scholar|David Werner Amram}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2013}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name         = David Amram
| image        = David Amram.jpg
| birth_name   = David Werner Amram III
| birth_date   = {{birth date and age|1930|11|17}}
| birth_place  = [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], U.S.<ref name="Milken Archives">{{Cite web|url=http://www.milkenarchive.org/artists/view/david-amram/|title=Amram, David|website=Milkenarchive.org|access-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref>
| genre        = Jazz, classical, folk
| occupation   = {{flatlist|
* Musician
* composer
* conductor
* author
}}
| instrument   = [[French horn]], piano
| years_active = 
| website      = {{URL|davidamram.com}}
| module       = {{infobox person
| embed        = yes
| father       = [[Philip Werner Amram]]
| relations    = [[David Werner Amram]] (grandfather)
}}
}}

'''David Werner Amram III''' (born November 17, 1930) is an American [[composer]], [[arranger]], and [[Conductor (music)|conductor]] of orchestral, chamber, and [[choral]] works, many with jazz flavorings.<ref name="Chagollan">[https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/the_extraordinary_career_of_david_amram Chagollan, Steve, "The Extraordinary Career of David Amram"], [[MusicWorld]], posted at [[Broadcast Music, Inc.|BMI]].com</ref> He plays piano, French horn, Spanish guitar, and [[pennywhistle]], and sings.<ref name="Ginell">{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-amram-mn0000052031/biography|title=David Amram &#124; Biography & History|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Amram was born in [[Philadelphia]], the son of legal scholar [[Philip Werner Amram]]. He studied at the [[Oberlin Conservatory of Music]] in 1948–1949, and earned a [[bachelor's degree]] in European history from [[George Washington University]] in 1952.<ref name="Milken Archives" /> In 1955 he enrolled at the [[Manhattan School of Music]], where he studied under [[Dimitri Mitropoulos]], [[Vittorio Giannini]], and [[Gunther Schuller]].<ref name="NYPL">{{Cite web|url=http://archives.nypl.org/mus/22972|title=archives.nypl.org -- David Amram papers|website=Archives.nypl.org|access-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref> Under Schuller he studied French horn.<ref name="Chagollan" />

==Career==

=== Recording and performance ===
As a sideman or leader, Amram has worked with [[Aaron Copland]], [[Thelonious Monk]], [[Dizzy Gillespie]], [[Charles Mingus]], [[Jack Kerouac]], [[Sonny Rollins]], [[Lionel Hampton]], [[Stan Getz]], [[George Barrow (musician)|George Barrow]], [[Jerry Dodgion]], [[Paquito D'Rivera]], [[Pepper Adams]], [[Arturo Sandoval]], [[Oscar Pettiford]], [[Allen Ginsberg]], [[Mary Lou Williams]], [[Kenny Dorham]], [[Ray Barretto]], [[Wynton Marsalis]], and others.<ref name="Chagollan" /><ref name="NYPL" /><ref name="Ginell"/><ref name="encyclopedia" /><ref name="JerryJazz">[https://jerryjazzmusician.com/2002/07/david-amram-author-of-offbeat-collaborating-with-kerouac/ Interview: "David Amram, author of ''Offbeat: Collaborating with Kerouac''" at JerryJazzMusician], July 17, 2002</ref><ref name="Clearwater">[https://www.clearwaterfestival.org/artist/david-aram/ David Amram bio] at [[Clearwater Festival|ClearwaterFestival]].org</ref> He has also worked with a wide range of folk, pop, and country figures, such as [[Bob Dylan]], [[The Roches|the Roche sisters]], [[Pete Seeger]], [[Odetta]], [[Willie Nelson]], [[Oscar Brand]], [[Judy Collins]], [[Peter Yarrow]], [[Tom Paxton]], [[Phil Ochs]], [[Josh White]], [[Patti Smith]], [[Arlo Guthrie]], and others.<ref name="Chagollan" /><ref name="Clearwater" /><ref name="Roche">{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/why-the-long-face-mw0000718401/credits|title=Why the Long Face - Suzzy & Maggie Roche &#124; Credits |website=AllMusic|access-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref>

In 1956, producer [[Joseph Papp]] hired Amram to compose scores for the [[New York Shakespeare Festival]]. Over the years, Amram composed scores for 25 of Papp's productions, including a number of [[Shakespeare in the Park (New York City)|Shakespeare in the Park]] presentations.<ref name="Milken Archives" /> In 1961, he served as guest [[Artist-in-residence|composer-in-residence]] for the [[Marlboro Music Festival]] in Vermont.<ref name="encyclopedia">[https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/amram-david-werner-iii-1930 David Amram bio] at [[Encyclopedia.com]]</ref>

In 1957, Amram, along with Jack Kerouac and poets Howard Hart and [[Philip Lamantia]], staged one of the first poetry readings with jazz at the Brata Art Gallery on [[East 10th Street]], in New York.<ref>[https://www.allaboutjazz.com/david-amram-poetry-and-all-that-jazz-david-amram-by-david-amram.php Amram, David, "Poetry and All That Jazz"], AllAboutJazz.com, February 20, 2003</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2007/nov/10/whereidratherbe.saturday Amram, David, "Where I'd Rather Be: David Amram, Musician and Jazz poet"], ''[[The Guardian]]'', November 9, 2007</ref>

In 1966 [[Leonard Bernstein]] chose Amram as the [[New York Philharmonic]]'s first composer-in-residence.<ref name="Milken Archives" /><ref name="Ginell" /> He has performed as conductor and/or soloist with the [[Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra]], [[Toronto Symphony Orchestra]], [[Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra]], [[Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra]], [[Montreal Symphony Orchestra]], [[Grant Park Symphony Orchestra]], and for the National Jewish Arts Festival.<ref name="encyclopedia" /> He has conducted at New York's [[Carnegie Hall]] and at [[Avery Fisher Hall]], among other prestigious venues.<ref name=Duffie>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bruceduffie.com/amram.html|title=David Amram Interview with Bruce Duffie . . .|website=Bruceduffie.com|access-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref>

The [[United States Information Agency]] sponsored a number of Amram's international musical tours, including visits to Brazil (1969); Kenya (1975); Cuba (1977); and the Middle East (1978).<ref name="NYPL" />

Amram's orchestral works include ''Symphonic Variations on a Song by [[Woody Guthrie]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sfcv.org/reviews/variations-land |title=Variations on This Land |last=Bratman |first=David |author-link=David Bratman |date=October 2, 2007 |publisher=San Francisco Classical Voice |access-date=October 17, 2011}}</ref> (commissioned by the [[Woody Guthrie Foundation]] and premiered in 2007) and ''Three Songs: A Concerto for Piano and Orchestra'' (written for and premiered by pianist [[Jon Nakamatsu]] in 2009).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.symphonysiliconvalley.org/concerts.php?pagecontID=160|title=2008 – 2009 Season|publisher=Symphony Silicon Valley|access-date=October 17, 2011|archive-date=May 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518015346/http://symphonysiliconvalley.org/concerts.php?pagecontID=160|url-status=dead}}</ref> He conducted a 15-piece orchestra for [[Betty Carter]]'s 1982 album ''[[Whatever Happened to Love?]].''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/whatever-happened-to-love-mw0000202514|title=Whatever Happened to Love? - Betty Carter &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits |website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref>

Amram is a strong advocate for music education. For over a quarter-century he served as music director for youth and family concert programs for the Brooklyn Philharmonic. Amram has said: "It is tremendously important for professional people to work with the young. That is the way a true music culture is created—not through merchandising, but through love."<ref name="Milken Archives" />

=== Film and television ===
In 1959, Amram wrote the score for and appeared in the [[Robert Frank]]/[[Alfred Leslie]] short film ''[[Pull My Daisy]]'', which featured [[Jack Kerouac]], [[Allen Ginsberg]], [[Peter Orlovsky]] and [[Gregory Corso]].<ref name="NYPL" />

He composed scores for the [[Elia Kazan]] films ''[[Splendor in the Grass]]'' (1961)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/jots.200019517/|title=SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS|website=Loc.gov|access-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref> and ''[[The Arrangement (film)|The Arrangement]]'' (1969),<ref name="Duffie" /> and for the [[John Frankenheimer]] films ''[[The Young Savages]]'' (1961)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/jots.200020746/|title=THE YOUNG SAVAGES|website=Loc.gov|access-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref> and ''[[The Manchurian Candidate (1962 film)|The Manchurian Candidate]]'' (1962).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.soundtrack.net/album/the-manchurian-candidate/|title=The Manchurian Candidate Soundtrack (1962, 2004)|website=Soundtrack.net|access-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref> (He composed the score for Frankenheimer's 1964 film ''[[Seven Days in May]]'', but it was rejected and replaced with a score by [[Jerry Goldsmith]].)<ref>[https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/23341 ''Seven Days in May'', chronicle and credits] at the [[American Film Institute]]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170617155907/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6b586050 ''Seven Days in May'', chronicle and credits] at the [[British Film Institute]]</ref>

Amram composed the score for the 2001 documentary ''Boys of Winter'', about the lives of 1940s–50s [[Brooklyn Dodgers]] baseball stars [[Pee Wee Reese]] and [[Carl Erskine]]. The feature was awarded the "Best Documentary Film" honor at that year's New York Independent Film Festival.<ref>[https://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/davidamram David Amram, biography] at ''[[All About Jazz]]''</ref> In 2013, he wrote the score for the [[Michael Patrick Kelly]] comedy-drama ''[[Isn't It Delicious]]'', which starred [[Kathleen Chalfant]] and [[Keir Dullea]].<ref>[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/isnt-delicious-film-review-757655 Scheck, Frank, "''Isn't It Delicious'': Film Review"], ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'', Dec. 16, 2014</ref>

==Career sidelights==

In a 2007 interview, he observed: "The pennywhistle is a versatile instrument. Just as a violin can be used for either classical or bluegrass, the pennywhistle can be used different ways. Audiences in Kenya enjoyed it when I went there for the [[World Council of Churches]] and played African music in 1976. Dizzy Gillespie dug how I used the pennywhistle as a jazz instrument when I played with him in Havana in 1977."<ref>[https://www.litkicks.com/DavidAmramMusic Ectric, Bill, "David Amram Talks About Music"], interview, January 4, 2007</ref>

In his 1968 book ''Vibrations'', he describes making an omelette for [[Charlie Parker]] with "fried onions, marmalade, maple syrup, bacon, tomatoes, covered with hot mayonnaise with some garlic fried in it and a little cheese sauce", saying they "wolfed down portions of it" with [[borscht]] and orange soda.<ref>{{cite book |last=Scharnhorst |first=Gary |title=Literary Eats |publisher=McFarland |page=7}}</ref>

Amram is mentioned in the popular children's song "Peanut Butter Sandwich" by [[Raffi (musician)|Raffi]], in the line "one for me and one for David Amram", a fact which Amram said "impressed" his children; Raffi later admitted that he had mentioned Amram because he "couldn't think of anything [else] to rhyme with 'jam'."<ref name=Caviness>[http://www.davidamram.com/southern_stories_upi_review.html Amram shares "Southern Stories"], by Crystal Caviness, for [[United Press International]], published August 20, 1999; archived at DavidAmram.com; retrieved February 20, 2017</ref>

== Discography ==
{{Div col}}

=== As leader ===
* ''The Eastern Scene'' (Decca, 1957)
* ''The Young Savages'' (Columbia, 1961)
* ''The Arrangement'' (Warner Bros., 1969)
* ''No More Walls'' (RCA, 1971)
* ''Subway Night'' (RCA Victor, 1973)
* ''Triple Concerto for Woodwind, Brass, Jazz Quintets and Orchestra'' (RCA, 1974)
* ''Summer Nights/Winter Rain'' (RCA Victor, 1976)
* ''Havana/New York'' (Flying Fish, 1978)
* ''At Home/Around the World'' (Flying Fish, 1980)
* ''Autobiography'' (Flying Fish, 1982)
* ''Latin-Jazz Celebration'' ([[Elektra/Musician]], 1983)
* ''Live at Musikfest!'' (New Chamber Music, 1990)
* ''An American Original'' (Newport Classic, 1993)
* ''On the Waterfront On Broadway'' (Varèse Sarabande, 1995)
* ''Three Concertos'' (Newport Classic, 1995)
* ''The Final Ingredient'' (Premier, 1996)
* ''The Manchurian Candidate'' (Premier, 1997)
* ''Southern Stories'' (Chrome, 1999)
* ''So in America: Selected Chamber Music Compositions 1958–2017'' (Affetto, 2018)

=== As sideman ===
* [[Pepper Adams]], ''Modern Jazz Survey 2/Baritones & French Horns'' (Prestige, 1957)
* [[Richard Barone]], ''Sorrows & Promises'' (Ship to Shore, 2017)
* [[David Bromberg]], ''David Bromberg'' (Columbia, 1971)
* [[Betty Carter]], ''Betty Carter'' (Verve, 1990)
* [[Kenny Dorham]], ''Blue Spring'' (Riverside, 1959)
* Kenny Dorham, ''Kenny Dorham and Friends'' (Jazzland, 1962)
* [[Fireships]], ''Fireships'' (Revelator Music, 2015)
* [[Curtis Fuller]], ''Curtis Fuller and Hampton Hawes with French Horns'' (Status, 1965)
* [[Steve Goodman]], ''Say It in Private'' (Asylum, 1977)
* Steve Goodman, ''Artistic Hair'' (Red Pajama, 1983)
* Steve Goodman, ''The Easter Tapes'' (Red Pajama, 1996)
* [[Lionel Hampton]], ''Crazy Rhythm'' (EmArcy, 1955)
* Lionel Hampton, ''Jam Session in Paris'' (EmArcy, 1955)
* [[Steve Martin]], ''The Crow'' (Rounder, 2009)
* [[Mat Mathews]], ''4 French Horns Plus Rhythm'' (Elektra, 1957)
* [[John McEuen]], ''Roots Music Made in Brooklyn'' (Chesky, 2016)
* [[T. S. Monk]], ''Monk On Monk'' (N2K Encoded Music, 1997)
* [[Oscar Pettiford]], ''In Hi-Fi'' (ABC-Paramount, 1956)
* Oscar Pettiford, ''Oscar Pettiford Orchestra in Hi-Fi Vol. Two'' (ABC-Paramount, 1958)
* [[Sal Salvador]], ''Colors in Sound'' (Decca, 1958)
* [[Pete Seeger]], ''Tomorrow's Children'' (Appleseed, 2010)
* [[Rosalie Sorrels]], ''What Ever Happened to the Girl That Was'' (Paramount, 1973)
* [[Kate Taylor]], ''Kate Taylor'' (Columbia, 1978)
* [[Happy Traum]], ''Just for the Love of It'' (Lark's Nest Music, 2015)
* [[Loudon Wainwright III]], ''Album III'' (Columbia, 1972)
* [[Jerry Jeff Walker]], ''Too Old to Change'' (Elektra, 1979)
* [[Mary Lou Williams]], ''Music for Peace'' (Mary, 1970)
* Mary Lou Williams, ''Mary Lou's Mass'' (Mary, 1975)
{{Div col end}}

==Bibliography==
*1968: ''Vibrations: The Adventures and Musical Times of David Amram'' (Illustrated reprint 2001, Thunder's Mouth Press) {{ISBN|1-56025-308-8}}
*2002: ''Offbeat: Collaborating with Kerouac'' (Paradigm) {{ISBN|1-56025-460-2}}
*2007: ''Upbeat: Nine Lives of a Musical Cat'' (Paradigm) {{ISBN|978-1-59451-424-1}}
*2008: ''Vibrations: The Adventures and Musical Times of David Amram'', new edition with introduction by historian [[Douglas Brinkley]]  (Paradigm) {{ISBN|978-1-594515-835}}
*1986: "Making Music" (Atheneum) {{ISBN|0689311192}} by Arthur K. Paxton

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.davidamram.com/index.php Official site]
* [http://www.milkenarchive.org/people/view/search/564/Amram%2C+David David Amram oral history]
*[http://archives.nypl.org/mus/22972 David Amram papers, 1937-2011] Music Division, The New York Public Library.
* {{IMDb name|0025371}}
* [http://www.pifmagazine.com/2008/01/david-amram/ Interview] at Pif Magazine
* [http://www.bruceduffie.com/amram.html Interview with David Amram], July 4, 1986
* {{C-SPAN|81260}}
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000k838 BBC Radio 3 - Sound of Cinema: David Amran, June 2020]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Amram, David}}
[[Category:1930 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century American conductors (music)]]
[[Category:20th-century American Jews]]
[[Category:20th-century American male musicians]]
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[[Category:Flying Fish Records artists]]
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[[Category:Jazz musicians from Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Jazz-influenced classical composers]]
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[[Category:Jewish American non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:Manhattan School of Music alumni]]
[[Category:Musicians from Philadelphia]]
[[Category:Oberlin Conservatory of Music alumni]]
[[Category:Progressive big band musicians]]
[[Category:The Putney School alumni]]
[[Category:RCA Records artists]]
[[Category:Songwriters from Pennsylvania]]