Norman Dello Joio (Nicodemo DeGioio, January 24, 1913, New York, NY - July 24, 2008) was to Italian immigrants; the spelling "Gioio" was later anglicized to "Joio."
His father -- an organist, pianist, and vocal coach -- coached many opera stars from the Metropolitan Opera, and taught Norman piano starting at age four. In his teens, the younger Dello Joio began studying organ with his godfather, Pietro Yon, the organist at Saint Patrick's Cathedral
The young composer began his musical career as organist and choir director at the Star of the Sea Church on City Island in New York at 14. In 1939, he received a scholarship to the Juilliard School of Music, where he studied composition with Bernard Wagenaar.
While a student, Dello Joio worked as organist at St. Anne's Church. In 1941, he began studying with Paul Hindemith, who encouraged him to follow his own lyrical bent.
Dello Joio taught at Sarah Lawrence College from 1944 to 1950, at the Mannes College of Music, and served as professor and dean at Boston University.
His early works already reveal certain characteristics of his style, including the use of traditional chants as a cantus firmus in richly contrapuntal settings, in such works as Magnificat for orchestra (1944). Dello Joio received numerous awards and much recognition, and was a prolific composer in a variety of genres, perhaps best known for his choral works such as A Jubilant Song (1946).
In his music, it is not at all unusual to find Gregorian melodies up against animated, syncopated rhythms -- making his music imminently appropriate for dance, such as his Diversion of Angels (1949), for Martha Graham.
Dello Joio's Variations, Chaconne, and Finale won the New York Critics Circle Award in 1948. His opera The Ruby (1955) has more dramatic drive and impact than the other more subtle and refined works. Dello Joio utilizes received forms in personal ways, with clear outlines, and seemed especially suited to technique.
He won the 1957 Pulitzer Prize for Music for his Meditations on Ecclesiastes, first performed at the Juilliard School on April 20, 1956. Two notable compositions for concert band are Scenes from the Louvre (1966), and Fantasies on a Theme by Haydn (1968), the latter composed for the Michigan State University Wind Ensemble.
He also wrote several pieces for high school and professional string orchestra, including Choreography: Three Dances for String Orchestra (1972).
In 1978, he retired and moved to Long Island, donating his personal archive of manuscripts and papers to the Music Division of The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
Despite infirmities, Dello Joio remained active as a composer until his final years, continuing to produce chamber, choral, and orchestral music. He died in his sleep on July 24, 2008, at his home in East Hampton, NY.
Selected Works List
Suite for piano, 1940
Ballad of Thomas Jefferson for voice, 1943
Vigil Strange for mixed chorus and piano (four hands), 1943
Magnificat for orchestra, 1944
Sextet for three recorders and string trio, 1944
The Mystic Trumpeter for mixed chorus and French horn, 1945
Prelude: To a Young Musician for piano, 1945
To a Lone Sentry for orchestra, 1945
On Stage ballet score for orchestra, 1945
Suite from "On Stage" for two pianos, 1945
Prelude: To a Young Dancer for piano, 1946
Concerto for harp and orchestra, 1946
A Jubilant Song for mixed or women's chorus and piano, 1946
Sonata No. 1 for piano, 1947
A Fable for mixed chorus and piano, 1947
Madrigal for mixed chorus and piano, 1947
Sonata No. 3 for piano, 1948
Mill Doors for voice, 1948
Sonata 2 for piano, 1948
Trio for flute, cello, and piano, 1948
New Born for voice, 1948
There is a Lady Sweet and Kind for voice, 1948
Fantasia on a Gregorian Theme for violin and piano, 1949
Concert Music for orchestra, 1949
Duo Concertato for cello and piano, 1949
The Assassination for voice, 1949
Lament for voice, 1949
Diversion of Angels ballet score for small orchestra, 1949
Variations and Capriccio for violin and piano, 1949
Nocturne in E for piano, 1950
Nocturne in F-sharp for piano, 1950
Variations, Chaconne, and Finale for orchestra, 1950
A Psalm of David for mixed chorus, strings, brass, and percussion, 1951
New York Profiles for orchestra, 1952
The Bluebird for mixed chorus and piano, 1952
The Triumph of Saint Joan Symphony, 1952
Serenade for orchestra (based on "Diversion of Angels"), 1953
Somebody's Coming for mixed chorus and piano, 1953
Epigraph for orchestra, 1953
Song of the Open Road for mixed chorus, trumpet, and piano, 1953
Song of Affirmation for mixed chorus, soprano, narrator, and orchestra, 1953
Sweet Sunny for mixed chorus and piano, 1954
Six Love Songs for voice, 1954
The Tall Kentuckian incidental music for soloists, chorus, and orchestra, 1954
Concertante for clarinet and orchestra, 1955
Aria and Toccata for two pianos, 1955
The Ruby opera in one act, 1955
Adieu, Mignonne, When You Are Gone for women's chorus and piano, 1955
The Trial at Rouen opera in two acts, 1955
Meditations on Ecclesiastes for string orchestra, 1956
Air Power symphonic suite for orchestra, 1957
To Saint Cecilia for mixed chorus and brass, 1958
The Triumph of Saint Joan opera in two acts, 1958
O Sing unto the Lord for male chorus and organ, 1959
The Listeners for voice, 1960
The Holy Infant's Lullaby for voice (also for mixed or women's chorus and piano), 1962
Family Album for piano four hands, 1962
Prayers of Cardinal Newman for mixed chorus and organ, 1962
Three Songs of Adieu for voice, 1962
Fantasy and Variations for piano and orchestra, 1963
Variants on a Medieval Tune for band, 1963
Un Sonetto di Petrarca for voice, 1964
Colloquies for violin and piano, 1964
Song's End for female chorus and piano, 1964
The Louvre television score, 1964
Suite for the Young for piano, 1964
Three Songs of Chopin for orchestra (also for two or four voice chorus with piano or orchestra),
1964
From Every Horizon for band, 1965
Laudation for organ, 1965
Antiphonal Fantasy for organ, brass, and strings, 1966
Scenes from the Louvre for band, 1966
Songs of Walt Whitman for mixed chorus and orchestra or piano, 1966
A Christmas Carol for voice (also for mixed or women's chorus and piano), 1967
Five Images for piano four hands, 1967
Air for Strings for string orchestra, 1967
Five Images for orchestra, 1967
Proud Music of the Storm for mixed chorus, brass, and organ, 1967
Bright Star for voice (also for two voice or mixed chorus and piano), 1968
Christmas Music for piano-four hands (also for mixed chorus and piano), 1968
Fantasies on a Theme by Haydn for band, 1968
Years of the Modern for mixed chorus, brass, and percussion, 1968
Bagatelles for harp, 1969
Capriccio on the Interval of a Second for piano, 1969
Homage to Haydn for orchestra, 1969
Mass for mixed chorus, brass, and organ, 1969
Note Left on a Doorstep for voice, 1969
Songs of Abelard for baritone solo and band, 1969
The Lamentation of Saul for baritone, flute, oboe, clarinet, viola, and piano (also for full
orchestra), 1970
Evocations for mixed chorus and orchestra or piano, 1970
Lyric Pieces for the Young for piano, 1971
Choreography for string orchestra, 1972
The Developing Flutist, suite for flute and piano, 1972
Of Crows and Clusters for mixed chorus and piano, 1972
Psalms of Peace for mixed chorus, trumpet, French horn, and organ, 1972
Come to Me My Love for mixed chorus and piano, 1973
Concertante for Wind Instruments for band, 1973
The Poet's Song for mixed chorus and piano, 1974
Three Essays for clarinet and piano, 1974
Leisure for mixed chorus and piano, 1975
Lyric Fantasies for viola and string orchestra (or string quintet), 1975
Stage Parodies for piano-four hands, 1975
Diversions for piano, 1975
Five Lyric Pieces for the Young Organist, 1975
Mass in Honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary for cantor, congregation, mixed choir, and organ (or
brass), 1975
Mass in Honor of the Eucharist for cantor, congregation, mixed choir, and organ, 1975
Notes from Tom Paine for mixed chorus a cappella, 1975
Satiric Dances for a Comedy by Aristophanes for band, 1975
Colonial Ballads for band, 1976
Colonial Variants for orchestra, 1976
Songs of Remembrance for baritone voice and orchestra, 1976
Southern Echoes for orchestra, 1976
Arietta for string orchestra, 1978
Caccia for band, 1978
Concertante for chamber orchestra, 1978
As of a Dream for Narrator, Soloists, Optional Dancers, Mixed Chorus, and Orchestra, 1979
The Dancing Sergeant for Band, 1979
Salute to Scarlatti for Piano or Harpsichord, 1980
Sonata for Trumpet and Piano, 1980
Hymns Without Words for Mixed Chorus and Orchestra, 1981
The Psalmist's Meditation for Mixed Chorus and Piano, 1981
Concert Variants for Piano, 1983
Ballabili for Orchestra, 1983
Love Songs at Parting for Mixed Chorus and Piano, 1984
