(Last Updated: 19th December 1996)
Biographical Note for Professor Julien Musafia
Professor of Music (33 years) at California State University, Long Beach. Holds degrees from Bucharest Music Academy, Los Angeles Conservatory and University of California, Los Angeles, in composition, piano performance and political philosophy. Completed doctral work in ethnomethodology. Director: Consortium Musicum (1971-1993) Member: Phi Beta Kappa.
Honours include: Royal Academy of Music, Bucharest (P. Ciuntu Prize); George Enescu Medal (Romania, 1995); Coleman Chamber Music Society (First Prize); Louis Pasteur Awards 1981 and 1983; Califormia State University Awards (2).
Publications include: "24 Preludes and Fugues" by Shostakovich (definitive edition in collaboration with the composer) MCA, N.Y. 1971; The Art of Fingering in Piano Playing, MCA, N.Y., 1971; "Vladimir Horowitz", an essay, Schirmer, N.Y., 1993; "Sir Karl Popper and Music", L.S.E., London, 1995, and numerous articles of music criticism in the Los Angeles area newspapers.
Recordings (1995). Radio recordings: Boston, Cologne, Bucharest, Moscow. Concerts in 1994-96: Moscow, Franfurt (Shostakovich Festival), Salzburg, London, Bucharest, Budapest, Pfhorzheim (Shostakovich Festival), Stresa, Cremona, Edinburgh, New York, Washington, Boston, Los Angeles (Artistic Director, Shostakovich Festival, Mme. Irina Shostakovich, honored guest) and many others.
In 1968 won major recognition as a Shostakovich specialist by giving the Western World Premiere of the monumental "24 Preludes and Fugues." In the following year, he performed, from manuscript, the American Premiere of the "Seven Romances on the words of A. Blok" in New York's Carnegie Hall in the illustrious company of Mstislav Rostropovich and Galina Vischnevskaya. In California he directed three Shostokovich Festivals and a 6-hour long Shostakovich Memorial Concert.
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