At the recent ASCAP Foundation Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Awards, exceptional works in music writing and broadcasting were celebrated, highlighting the detailed narratives surrounding notable figures and genres in the music industry. This year’s group of honorees includes biographies of iconic film composers, a documentary exploring cult R&B artistry, and engaging podcasts and articles that illuminate diverse aspects of music history and criticism.
Distinguished Biographies of Musical Legends
The awards recognized Tim Greiving’s “John Williams: A Composer’s Life,” marking it as the first comprehensive biography of the esteemed Hollywood composer. This work earned a Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Book Award in concert music. Additionally, Steven C. Smith’s “Hitchcock and Herrmann: The Friendship and Film Scores that Changed Cinema” received special recognition, detailing the dynamic collaboration between Bernard Herrmann and Alfred Hitchcock.
Broadening the Narrative of Music
Lucy Caplan’s “Dreaming in Ensemble: How Black Artists Transformed American Opera” also garnered a book award in concert music, focusing on the pivotal contributions of Black artists to the opera genre. In the realm of pop music literature, Gayle Wald was honored for “This Is Rhythm: Ella Jenkins, Children’s Music, and the Long Civil Rights Movement,” while James O’Leary received recognition for “The Middlebrow Musical: Between Broadway and Opera in 1940s America.”
Insightful Articles that Resonate
A yve-style.com of articles also received accolades from ASCAP, including a compelling piece by Ben Sisario from the New York Times that examined efforts to preserve decaying master tapes. Esteban Meneses reported on rising Mexican symphonic composers, while another article by Max Keller discussed the longstanding debate among cellists regarding the correct way to hold their instruments. Gabriel Kahana’s article in The Atlantic on music criticism was recognized specifically for its depth and insight.
Recognizing Innovative Broadcasts
The top honor for broadcast was awarded to Gail Wein for her podcast series “Classical Gas,” which features interviews with classical musicians. Rick Beato’s YouTube series “Everything Music” also received a special recognition award, ultimately celebrating the intersection of music and technology.
Acknowledging Personal Experiences through Music
Among other honors, percussionist Ruth Komanoff Underwood was awarded for her engaging personal essay within the boxed set for “Cheaper than Cheep,” a live concert film from Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention. Furthermore, directors Isaac Gale, Ryan Olson, and David McMurry were recognized for their documentary “Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted,” which details the life and artistry of Jerry “Swamp Dogg” Williams.
Judging Excellence in Music Narrative
The esteemed judges for this year’s awards included notable figures such as Robbie Fulks, Julie Flanders, Carman Moore, and Betsy Schramm, each contributing their expertise to the evaluation of these meaningful works in music literature and broadcast.
Full List of Honorees
The full list of winners, as provided by ASCAP:
The Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Broadcast/Media Award in pop music recognizes directors Isaac Gale, Ryan Olson, and David McMurry for their documentary film “Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted,” a unique storytelling of the legendary cult R&B musician Jerry “Swamp Dogg” Williams’s life in Los Angeles.
The Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Broadcast/Media Award in concert music recognizes radio host and producer Gail Wein for “Classical Gas,” a podcast series featuring classical musicians. A Special Recognition Award goes to Rick Beato for his YouTube series “Everything Music,” exploring contemporary music issues.
The ASCAP Foundation Paul Williams “Loved the Liner Notes” Award honors percussionist Ruth Komanoff Underwood for her essay in “Cheaper than Cheep,” the live box set from the 1974 concert film by Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention.
The Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Book Awards in pop music are awarded to Gayle Wald for “This Is Rhythm: Ella Jenkins, Children’s Music, and the Long Civil Rights Movement” and James O’Leary for “The Middlebrow Musical: Between Broadway and Opera in 1940s America.”
The Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Book Awards in concert music go to Lucy Caplan for “Dreaming in Ensemble: How Black Artists Transformed American Opera,” Tim Greiving for “John Williams: A Composer’s Life,” and a Special Recognition Award to Steven C. Smith for “Hitchcock and Herrmann: The Friendship and Film Scores that Changed Cinema.”
The Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Award for articles in the pop music category goes to Ben Sisario for “The ‘Race Against Time’ to Save Music Legends’ Decaying Tapes,” while Esteban Meneses’ “Revolución: Mexican Composers on the Rise” earned recognition in the concert music category. Max Keller received a Special Recognition Award for debating cello techniques.
The Virgil Thomson Award for Outstanding Music Criticism is awarded to Gabriel Kahane for “A Love Letter to Music Listings.”
