Elinor Remick Warren

Elinor Remick Warren (February 23, 1900, Los Angeles – April 27, 1991, Los Angeles) was an American composer of contemporary classical music and pianist. Her mother had been a student of a pupil of Franz Liszt, and introduced her daughter to art music. Warren's father was considered a fine amateur singer who had once considered singing professionally. Warren trained as a pianist with Kathryn Cocke through high school and took composition lessons from Gertrude Ross starting her second year in high school. She sent an early composition to the Schirmer music publishing company and received her first contract to publish with them before she graduated from high school. Between high school and college, Warren studied piano with Harold Bauer and Leopold Godowsky. After attending Mills College for a year, she moved to New York, where she studied privately with composers Frank La Forge and Clarence Dickinson, both of whom were known for their art songs. Warren supported herself as an accompanist for singers and went on tour with contralto Margaret Matzenauer.

Warren composed in a predominantly neo-Romantic style. In demand as both a pianist and a composer, she was a soloist twice with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and made several recordings as a collaborator with various singers. In the 1930s, Warren began working on larger-scale compositions including her piece The Harp Weaver, a work for women's chorus, orchestra, and baritone soloist; and the symphonic The Passing of King Arthur (later re-titled The Legend of King Arthur). In 1940, with the success of King Arthur, she stopped performing to focus on composition. She actively composed on themes of nature, especially as seen in the American West, and mysticism. Warren spent most of her composition career in Los Angeles, which was considered an unusual choice at the time, given that New York was thought to be the center of new American music. Nonetheless, her works were widely performed during her lifetime.

Her composition instructors included Olga Steeb, Paolo Gallico, Frank La Forge, Clarence Dickinson, and Nadia Boulanger. During her lifetime she wrote over 200 compositions. Many of these have been recorded by artists and ensembles such as the Roger Wagner Chorale, baritone Thomas Hampson, the Oslo Philharmonic, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the BBC Orchestra. Warren herself recorded a number of her piano and piano-vocal works. Her manuscripts and other materials are held by the Library of Congress in the Elinor Remick Warren Collection.

On June 17, 1925, she married Dr. Raymond Huntsberger in Los Angeles; they divorced four years later. In 1936 she married the film producer Z. Wayne Griffin (1907–1981), with whom she had two daughters and a son. She died at her home at the age of 91.

Birth and Death Data: Born February 23, 1900 (Los Angeles), Died April 27, 1991 (Los Angeles)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1924 - 1935

Roles Represented in DAHR: piano, composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-89270 10-in. 4/5/1935 My parting gift Frederick Jagel ; Edwin McArthur Tenor vocal solo, with piano composer  
OKeh S-72291 10-in. Jan. 1924 Guitarre Elinor Remick Warren Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh S-72292 10-in. Jan. 1924 Juba Elinor Remick Warren Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh S-72301 10-in. Jan. 1924 Humoreske Elinor Remick Warren Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh S-72302 10-in. Jan. 1924 The frolic of the elves Elinor Remick Warren Piano solo instrumentalist, piano, composer  
OKeh S-72471 10-in. Apr. 1924 Dedication Elinor Remick Warren Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh S-72472 Not documented Apr. 1924 [Unknown title(s)] Elinor Remick Warren Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh S-73140 10-in. Jan. 1925 Auf dem Bergen Elinor Remick Warren Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh S-73141 Not documented Jan. 1925 [Unknown title(s)] Elinor Remick Warren Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh S-73142 Not documented Jan. 1925 [Unknown title(s)] Elinor Remick Warren Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh S-73143 10-in. Jan. 1925 Rosamunde : Ballet Elinor Remick Warren Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh [OK cat 4873-B] 10-in. 1925 Country dance no. 1 Elinor Remick Warren Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh [OK cat 4873-A] 10-in. 1925 Papillons Elinor Remick Warren Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  
OKeh [OK cat 40159] 10-in. Jan. 1924 Rigaudon Elinor Remick Warren Piano solo instrumentalist, piano  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Warren, Elinor Remick," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103908.

Warren, Elinor Remick. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103908.

"Warren, Elinor Remick." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103908

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