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For distinguished musical composition by an American in any of the larger forms including chamber, orchestral, choral, opera, song, dance, or other forms of musical theatre, which has had its first performance in the United States during the year, One thousand dollars ($1,000).

Air Music, by Ned Rorem

First performed by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra on December 5, 1975. It is subtitled "Ten Etudes of Orchestra."

Winning Work

Air Music is presented here in a 1991 Albany Records recording by the Louisville Orchestra.

The Jury

Vincent Persichetti(Chair)

Head of Composition, The Juilliard School

Gunther Schuller

President, New England Conservatory of Music

Winners in Music

Dominick Argento

For medium voice and piano, commissioned by the Schubert Club of St. Paul, and premiered January 5, 1975 in Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis.

Donald Martino

A chamber music piece commissioned by the Walter W. Naumburg Foundation and first performed May 15, 1973 at Alice Tully Hall, New York City, by Speculum Musicae.

Elliott Carter

Premiered by the Juilliard String Quartet at Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, New York City, on January 23, 1973.

Jacob Druckman

Premiered by the Chicago Symphony on March 16, 1972 at Orchestra Hall, Chicago.

1976 Prize Winners