The Resume

(November 25, 1896-September 30, 1989)
Born in Kansas City, Missouri
Classical composer/critic
Wrote the operas 'Four Saints in Three Acts' (1928), 'The Mother of Us All' (1947) and 'Lord Byron' (1972)
Composed scores for the films 'The Plow That Broke the Plains' (1936), 'The River' (1938), 'Louisiana Story' (1948), 'The Goddess' (1958) and 'Journey to America' (1964)
Won the Pulitzer Prize for music for 'Louisiana Story'
Music critic for the New York Herald-Tribune (1940-54)
Wrote 'The State of Music' (1939), 'American Music Since 1910' (1971) and 'Music with Words: A Composer's View' (1989)

Why he might be annoying:

Despite the title, 'Four Saints in Three Acts' features 20 saints as singing roles and is usually staged in four acts.
He described his criticism as 'sassy but classy.'
He trashed most of the classical music idols of the day, including Arturo Toscanini, Vladimir Horowitz and Jascha Heifetz.
He called George Gershwin's 'Porgy and Bess' 'fake folklore.'

Why he might not be annoying:

He was a paid organist at age 12.
The librettos for 'Four Saints' and 'The Mother of Us All' were written by Gertrude Stein.
He was a mentor to Aaron Copland and Leonard Bernstein.
He received the French Legion of Honor (1947), the National Book Critics Circle Award for criticism (1981) and the National Medal of the Arts (1988).

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Allegedly Gay Men
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 25]
• Film Composers
• I Attended Harvard
• I Died in 1989 (Ranked: 92)
• Kennedy Center Honorees (Ranked: 1983)
• Little People [5'3 and Shorter] - Male
• Look at Me, I'm in Bed
• Look at Me, I'm on the Telephone
• Look at Me, I'm Writing
• Music Critics
• Opera Singers and Composers
• Profiles 27251-27500 (Ranked: 27487)
• Residents of the Hotel Chelsea

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 11 Votes: 63.64% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 12 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 6 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 139 Votes: 64.75% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 73 Votes: 56.16% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 48 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 21 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 188 Votes: 72.87% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 688 Votes: 66.72% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 224 Votes: 72.77% Annoying