As we move further into the 1950s, we're entering the doldrums of the Pulitzer Prizes, where few winners have entered the repertoire. Gail Kubik was a phenomenon in his day, writing equally well for the concert hall and the movie theatre. His Symphony Concertante began life as a film score before he extracted themes to craft this work featuring viola, trumpet, and piano. So why have you never heard of the work or, most likely its creator?


If you'd like to learn more about Kubik, we recommend:


His delightful score for the Academy Award-winning cartoon Gerald McBoing-Boing.
The extensive information from Kubik's archive at Kansas State University.
Alfred W. Cochran's article "The Functional Music of Gail Kubik: Catalyst for the Concert Hall" in Indiana Theory Review, Vol. 19 (Spring/Fall 1998), 1-11