Robert Xavier Rodriguez

with Vincent Plush

Dallas, Texas

April 13, 1983

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Side a:                                                                                                            pp. 1-13

Early musical experiences--musical family--piano lessons--radio broadcasts--listening to recordings--live musical performances in San Antonio--writing songs for piano at an early age--giving recitals--accompanied school choir--wanted to be a writer--exposed to fine musicians and professors at University of Texas at Austin--American athletic music with Hunter Johnson--Adagio For Small Orchestra--received bachelor's and master's degrees from University of Texas at Austin--summer with Nadia Boulanger in Fontainebleau--Lyric Variations was one of Boulanger's favorite pieces--other students of Boulanger.

Side b:                                                                                                           pp. 13-29

Went to USC with a scholarship--roomed with Edward Nord--Halsey Stevens was there--Piano Trio--experiences at USC--continued association with Boulanger in France--Tanglewood in 1972 with Bruno Maderna, Jacob Druckman, Elliott Carter--influence of L'Incoronazione di Poppea--L'Orfeo--Il Combattimento--composer in residence with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra--had doctoral dissertation commissioned by Neville Marriner for Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra--saxophonist Harvey Pittel--The Sonata in One Movement--Sinfonia Concertante--Edward Nord and Orion Chamber Orchestra--Piano Concerto--chamber Concerto--Dallas years as "trashy period"--wrote Le Diable Amoureux at Villa Serbelloni on a Guggenheim fellowship in 1976--Monaco prize for Piano Trio--awarded Prix Lili Boulanger for Piano Concerto III and Canto--realization of the Monteverdi Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda commissioned by Antal Dorati--taught at USC--started a new music program at University of Texas at Dallas--head of theory, comp-theory/composition programs--conducts new music group Voices of Change--Suor Isabella.

Side c:                                                                                                            pp. 29-39

Suor Isabella and Suor Angelica--composer Luigi Ricci--Favola Boccaccesca--medieval music--Trunks commissioned by Dallas Symphony--musical advisor to Dallas Symphony--advocate for new music in the community--Dallas Symphony Discovery Series--Voices of Change programs--György Ligeti--opera based on Nostradamus--Aventure, Nouvelle Aventure--fusion.