The Malcom S. and Gertrude G. Morse Memorial Fund, under the direction of Trudy Morse, for ten years supported manifold activities in science and music at New England Conservatory, including the creation and equipping of a Sonic Analysis Laboratory, the development of particular courses, and the invitation of guests artists. A recent bequest assures the continuation of these important initiatives. The program is chosen to reflect a number of Trudy's interests, exploratory approaches that reflect and integrate the diverse worlds of classical and improvisatory musics, mathematics, science, and technology.
Robert Cogan is one of America's leading composer-theorists, for more than three decades Chairman of Graduate Theoretical Studies and Professor of Composition of New England Conservatory. He is author of the prize-winnng books Sonic Design (with Pozzi Escot) and New Images of Musical Sound, which between them have pioneered new regions of global music theory and sonic research. He has taught, lectured, and his works have been performed all over Europe, Japan, Korea, the United Kingdom, and throughout the United States "an impression of thrilling musical and philosophical drama (Moscow); ....."raises anew in a most urgent way the whole problem of style and meaning (Boston)".
Pozzi Escott was chosen one of the five leading women composers of the 20th Century in 1975 when her Fifth Symphony, Sands, was performed by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Distinguished critics have reviewed her music. "A formidable mathematical constructionm where the resulting sound expresses powerful excitement (Andrew Porter, The New Yorker). "Escot's Fifth Symphony is a fascinating study in textural contrast and interplay (Joseph McLellan, Washington Post)".
"Immense excitement was created with Escot's music (Theodore Strongin, New York Times"); "American composer Escot's Piano Concerto perfectly fits in the vision of another great American, Ives, the discoverer (Jean-Etienne Marie, Musiquers Actuelles Nice)". "Escot's Interra II pulses with the beauty and excitement of mathematics (Tom Purdom, The Philadelphia Welcomat)".
Other works have been performed at Carnegie Recital Hall, in Europe, Japan, as well as all over the United States.
Escot is noted for her work on the mathematics of music and has lectured and published extensively. She is the editor-in-chief of the acclaimed music journal Sonus, and President of the International Society of Hildegard von Bingen Studies. Her works are recorded by Spectrum, Delos, Leo, Neuma, and Music and Arts.