Werner Josten

Werner Erich Josten (June 12, 1885 in Elberfeld, Germany – February 6, 1963 in New York City) was a German-born composer of contemporary classical music. He studied in Munich with Rudolf Siegel and in Geneva with Émile Jaques-Dalcroze, and emigrated to the United States in 1920 or 1921. He became a naturalized citizen and taught at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts from 1923 to 1949, where his notable students included Audrey Kooper Hammann. The Werner Josten Performing Arts Library at Smith College is named for him.

He is best known for his symphonic poem Jungle (1928), which is inspired by African music. He also directed the first staged performance of Claudio Monteverdi’s L'Orfeo in the United States on May 11, 1929.

He was married to Margaret Fatman, a member of the Lehman family and granddaughter of Meyer Lehman, co-founder of Lehman Brothers; they had two children: Peter Josten and Eileen Josten Lowe.

Birth and Death Data: Born June 12, 1885 (Elberfeld), Died February 6, 1963 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1928

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-46111 10-in. 6/22/1928 The Russian nightingale Theda M. McKinney Female vocal solo, with piano composer  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Josten, Werner," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108644.

Josten, Werner. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108644.

"Josten, Werner." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/108644

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