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American composer most noted for being a prolific composer of songs based on a world-wide source of poetry. His songs based on American poetry are intuitively beautiful, ie. those based on poems of Walt Whitman, Paul Goodman, Theodore Roethke and Frank O’Hara. Other works written such as sonatas and a Violin Concerto (1984) recorded by Leonard Bernstein, Gidon Kremer and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra on DG 429 231 2. Phyllis Curtin and Susan Graham - outstanding interpreters of the Songs. New CD of Rorem’s Songs released this year with Susan Graham-mezzo-soprano and Malcolm Martineau available on Erato 8573-80222-2. Rorem influenced by Virgil Thomson in composing style. Other song cycles by Leonard Bernstein ("Song Fest"), Aaron Copland ("Old American Songs" & "Emily Dickinson Songs"), Charles Ives Songs, and Virgil Thomson Songs make interesting and comparable listening experiences.