Oral Histories

Interview of Lawrence Morton

Musician, orchestrator, and music critic. Director of the Monday Evening Concerts and artistic director of the Ojai Music Festival.
Subtitle:
Monday Evening Concerts
Series:
Interviews not in a series, part one
Topic:
Music
Biographical Note:
Musician, orchestrator, and music critic. Director of the Monday Evening Concerts and artistic director of the Ojai Music Festival.
Interviewer:
Tusler, Adelaide G.
Interviewee:
Morton, Lawrence
Persons Present:
Morton and Tusler.
Place Conducted:
Morton's apartment in Los Angeles, California.
Supporting Documents:
Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library's Center for Oral History Research.
Interviewer Background and Preparation:
The interview was conducted by Adelaide Tusler, Interviewer-Editor, UCLA Oral History Program; B.A., music, UCLA; M.L.S., UCLA.Tusler prepared for the interview by examining the minutes and official papers of the Southern California Chamber Music Society and other pertinent records of the concert series.
Processing of Interview:
Editing was done by the interviewer. The verbatim transcript was edited for punctuation, paragraphing, correct spelling, and verification of proper and place names. Except for a blending of taped material of sides one and two of Tape V, this manuscript remains in the same order as recorded. Words or phrases added by the editor have been bracketed. The edited transcript was returned to Morton for his review and approval. He made some corrections and also supplied spellings of names not previously verified.The index and introduction were prepared by Joel Gardner, Editor, UCLA Oral History Program. The remaining front matter was prepared by the Program staff. Bernard Galm, Senior Editor, reviewed the manuscript prior to final typing.
Length:
17 hrs.
Language:
English
Copyright:
Interviewee Retained Copyright
Abstract:
Playing organ for silent movies; serious study of organ in New York; move to Los Angeles, 1940; writing music criticism for Script magazine; involvement with "Evenings on the Roof" chamber concert series; Peter Yates; executive director of "Evenings on the Roof," later renamed "Monday Evening Concerts," 1952-71; extensive comments on particular performances and on music, composers, and performers shaping music scene in Southern California, including Pierre Boulez, Ingolf Dahl, Arnold Schoenberg, Igor Stravinsky, and Ernst Toch.