Robert M. Stevenson

1916-2012

Robert Murrell Stevenson, one of the leading music scholars of the twentieth century and a preeminent figure in Latin American and Iberian research, died of natural causes on December 22, 2012, in Santa Monica. A longtime professor of musicology at UCLA, as well as an adjunct professor at Catholic University of America, he was an extraordinarily prolific author of books, articles, editions, reference entries, and reviews, as well as the founder/editor of the groundbreaking journal Inter-American Music Review.

Born on July 3, 1916, in Melrose, New Mexico, he spent his childhood and grew to maturity in El Paso, Texas, earning his bachelor's degree at the University of Texas there. His subsequent training resulted in degrees from Julliard, Yale, Eastman, Harvard, Princeton, and Oxford, and studies in composition, piano, and musicology with Stravinsky, Schnabel, and Schrade, Hanson, among others. During World War II he served as Army Captain and Chaplain for a unit of African American armed forces, and received an Army commendation. He began teaching at UCLA in 1949 and soon established his scholarly reputation with seminal books such as Music in Mexico (1952), Spanish Music in the Age of Columbus (1960), Spanish Cathedral Music of the Golden Age (1961), and Music in Aztec and Inca Territory (1968). In all, he authored twenty-nine books and hundreds of scholarly journal, dictionary and encyclopedia articles. In 1978 Stevenson launched his own journal, Inter-American Music Review.

An accomplished composer and pianist, Stevenson wrote a wide range of pieces for piano, chamber groups, choir, and symphony orchestra. He was the recipient of Guggenheim, Fulbright, NEH, and Ford Foundation fellowships and grants, and he was an honorary member of several scholarly societies.

Stevenson was an exceptional mentor as well as researcher and guided twenty-five dissertations. Those who were fortunate enough to do graduate research under his direction felt deeply inspired not only by his erudition and productivity, by the scope and depth of his investigations, but also by his passionate commitment to preserving and promoting a vast heritage of great music and culture. He played a crucial role in moving the Americas to a position of central importance in music scholarship. Though he will be sorely missed by innumerable friends, admirers, colleagues, and students, his seminal work will continue to serve as a shining and spiritual beacon for music scholars everywhere.

No services are planned, but there will be a tribute later this year in his honor. For more information on Robert Stevenson's life and work, please access this web link: https://www.facebook.com/DrRobertStevenson

Steven Loza

Eric DiLauro