Arnold Rosner

American Composer of Classical Music

Arnold Rosner (1945–2013) was an American composer known for his distinctive musical style that combined Renaissance and Baroque influences with modern harmonic language. Rosner's output was prolific, encompassing a wide range of genres including symphonies, chamber works, vocal music, and operas. He earned his Ph.D. in Music Composition from the University of Buffalo, where he studied under Leo Smit. Despite being a contemporary composer, Rosner did not adhere to the prevailing trends of serialism or minimalism that dominated the music scene during much of his career. Instead, he forged a personal idiom that often looked to earlier musical traditions for inspiration. His works have been performed by various ensembles and have garnered attention for their emotional intensity and unique blend of old and new musical forms. While Rosner may not have achieved widespread fame during his lifetime, his music has been appreciated by a dedicated following and continues to be discovered by new audiences through recordings and performances.