Harvard Tenures Composer; Yale Theorist Rejects Offer

The newest addition to the Music Department said yesterday that concern over opposition in the department to his appointment made him think twice about accepting a tenure offer, but that he felt initial resistance to him would soon dissipate.

"People have different opinions. I was a little surprised to see it. It made me think a little longer and harder about coming." Brandeis composer Donald Martino said of the dissatisfaction of some faculty members over his tenuring.

But, he added, there is usually some degree of resistance to new appointments in universities.

Music Department Chairman Christoph Wolff said yesterday that he was "absolutely delighted" over Martino's acceptance, but he also confirmed that another controversial tenure offer--to Yale theorist David Lewin--had been rejected.

Lewin refused to comment yesterday on the reasons for his decision.

The department has not yet made plans on how to proceed now to fill the opening, Wolff said. Asked whether the department would seek another theorist, he added, "I assume so, but we will really have to discuss that in the Faculty."

Earlier last fall, Wolff said that the two offers were made in part to tie together the department's separate programs in scholarship and composition. Musicologists and composers in the department have been described as split in philosophy.

Both offers, however, drew opposition from a group of junior faculty members, who felt that the department could have a composer of greater international reputation, and should not have recommended an abstract theorist The scholars complained about the appointments in a letter to President Bok.

Several department members yesterday speculated that Lewin may have decided to stay at Yale because he felt it would be more conducive to his highly specialized field of interest in theory--which examines the structure of music.

Rosen Professor of Music Leon Kirchner explained that at Yale. "The entire department is built along the lines" that interest Lewin, who he said is examining "a more historical theory--and a theory that has to do more with mathematical orientation" than the more general sort of theory taught at Harvard.

Theory is currently taught in the department not as a separate discipline, as Lewin teaches it, but as an element of composition.

For his part, Martino discounted worries about the split in the department between musicologists and composers. "I don't foresee any kinds of problems at all," he said.

"I'm primarily interested in teaching composition to graduate students," he added, though he stressed that he hoped to help Harvard draw more undergraduates in music.