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AROUND THE QUADS

IN MEMORIAM

Jonathan Kramer, a composer, music theorist and a respected music professor, died on June 3 of leukemia. He was 61.

Kramer’s distinctive talents were widely recognized in the modern musical world. He was a distinguished author, among whose most prominent books are The Time of Music: New Meanings, New Temporalities, New Listening Strategies (MacMillan Publishing Co.) and Listen to the Music: A Self-Guided Tour Through the Orchestral Repertoire (Music Sales Ltd;), both published in 1988. He finished his last work — a long-awaited book on post-modernism — not long before his death.

A Hartford, Conn., native, Kramer earned a B.A. in music from Harvard in 1965 and an M.A. (1967) and Ph.D. (1969) in composition from UC Berkeley. After teaching at Oberlin, Yale and the University of Cincinnati, he joined Columbia as a full professor in 1988, where he came to be admired by students and colleagues. Kramer’s close friend and fellow music professor, Fred Lerdahl, remarked in his eulogy: “Throughout, he was a rock of steadiness, rationality and good counsel … he was a supportive and extremely diligent teacher and mentor of countless students.”

Jeffrey Milarsky, music director and conductor of the Columbia University Orchestra, announced that one of the orchestra’s fall concerts will be dedicated to Kramer, who often gave eloquent pre-concert lectures. In addition, The Jonathan Kramer Memorial Fund has been established to honor Kramer’s life and art. Contributions may be sent to the Music Department, Columbia University, 2960 Broadway, New York, NY 10027. (Please make checks payable to Columbia University/Jonathan Kramer Memorial Fund.) For more information, please contact the music department: (212) 854-3825. A memorial service will be held this fall.

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