Ned Rorem At Home

Composer Ned Rorem tells Frank J. Oteri in this 2006 video presentation by Randy Nordschow that he is five things: "I'm homosexual and alcoholic (a recovered alcoholic - I haven't had a drink of any sort in 34 years). I'm also an atheist, and a pacifist, totally atheist and totally pacifist. And I'm a composer. That's the only one that's problematic; people don't know what you're talking about when you say you're a composer." To read their entire conversation, please visit NewMusicBox: nmbx.newmusicusa.org/ned-rore...

[@daviddemers9093]

Always wanted to meet this great maestro. Lenny was sooo envious of this underrated talent. Ned performed with a beautiful singer named Nell years ago in the Berkshires. His phone number is listed on Nantucket where he has lived for years. I called once and he answered; I was so speechless I hung up! Sorry Ned!!

[@Marcel_Audubon]

Nell Tangeman

[@daviddemers9093]

@@Marcel_Audubon thank you Marcel!

[@pauljackson1029]

He can be quite intimidating but he used to make a great afternoon tea.

[@gljm]

I meet Rorem once at a cd signing and he was very nice to me, we spoke about Paul Bowles and he introduced me to Samuel Ramey. My piano teacher knew him well and was talking on the phone to him once when I came for a lesson.

[@originaltommy]

Happy 99th!! I love you.

[@adlfm]

The bit about Bob Dylan is gigabased

[@franciskeyes]

R.I.P. Ned Rorum

[@rogerstrukhoff4716]

Ironic how he attacks Bob Dylan's music rather than the words (mostly). Yet, he says, it is the words that bring meaning. His one mention of a lyric also misses the point, as Bob explains in Times are a' changing, quite explicitly, the "so what" of the song.
Funny, and fun to hear his opinion. Always enjoyable to hear creators talk about other creators. Maybe he went to see Bob once in the early 60s and was treated shabbily.

[@cihant5438]

"Hey Ned, what do you think about Dylan?"

[@jefolson6989]

A gay, atheist, pacifist, alcoholic...
And a composer.

[@SouloftheTroll]

😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪😪

[@pepperco100]

I think his music is markedly overrated.

[@bc4315]

It's your comment that's overrated.

[@Marcel_Audubon]

and yet, here you are, clinging to every word he says ... I think you're markedly obsessed with him

[@pepperco100]

@@Marcel_Audubon lol

[@written12]

When is this interview from? How old was Ned?

[@harvestedvoltage4324]

@@written12 This interview is from 2006.