From a New York Times article of April 16, 1943: "MUSIC STUDENTS WIELD THE BATON ... Yesterday was the day of days — for this year — at the High School of Music and Art. It was the fifth annual concert of original compositions by the school's budding geniuses.... The composition, 'Dirge,' scored for orchestra, found the composer Morton Feldman, 17, in a mellow mood. 'This work is in memory of Thomas Wolfe, my favorite novelist,' said he." He stayed mellow. The manuscript of Dirge can be found in the Sacher archives in Basle. I wonder what it sounds like? Perhaps something for Mode's Feldman edition to look into. The program also included Spanish Dances by "Alan Blank," who must be Allan Blank, an overlooked master craftsman among American composers. His clarinet trio Links, recorded by Centaur some years ago, is a piece I return to often. Two others from this group went on to have distinguished careers: Manus Sasonkin and composer-conductor Charles Schiff.
