Upon a Day: Verse and Other Writings

Well-known as a composer and philanthropist, Gordon Getty's compositions include orchestral, chamber, and piano pieces, but most prolifically, vocal works: four operas, a dramatic cantata, and numerous choral pieces and songs. Less well known is the fact that he has also written or adapted the texts for the majority of these works. 

Upon a Day is the compilation of a lifetime of lovingly, meticulously written poems and libretti, the majority of which he has set to music over his long musical career. In Getty's words, "Music and verse, at their best, are the wine or mead that reminds sweet reason of things outside its reach."

Gordon Getty has made a lifetime of contributions to the world of classical music as a composer and philanthropist. He is the recipient of the prestigious European Culture Prize recognizing his extraordinary legacy, and Opera America named Getty as one of ten inaugural inductees to the Opera Hall of Fame in 2020. As a composer, Getty has added more than 30 works to the canon, and his music has been performed and recorded by leading artists and ensembles throughout the world. 

Gordon Getty's philanthropy has provided essential support to hundreds of arts organizations in the United States and abroad. He has been a catalyst for initiatives to expand music education and to attract new and more diverse audiences. He has played a vital role in sustaining U.S. orchestras and opera companies and has championed productions of new works. Getty's commitment to the next generation of musicians is demonstrated by his support of organizations that provide young people access to the joy of music that has so deeply defined his own life.