Freeman was born in Chicago, Illinois. At age 3, she moved with her parents and two brothers to Brooklyn, later moving to New Rochelle, New York and attending New Rochelle High School. Her father was a chemical engineer who had graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology, and her mother was a mathematics teacher and graduate of the University of Wisconsin. Freeman was a graduate of Wellesley College (1942), where she majored in English literature with a minor in music.[2] She had originally trained to be a concert pianist, practicing six to eight hours per day for twenty years, but eventually, by the mid-1960s, gave up this dream to pursue concert managing. Following her graduation, she married Stanley Freeman, and the couple had four children. Their marriage ended in divorce. Freeman's second marriage was to the Italian sculptor and painter Franco Assetto (1911-1991), with whom she lived half of each year in Turin. The marriage lasted until Assetto's death.
Freeman was a long-standing supporter of contemporary music, with grants and commissions to various American composers early in their careers.[2] The composers she assisted include Lou Harrison, John Cage, La Monte Young, Christopher Rouse,[3]Philip Glass, Steve Reich, John Adams, Anders Hillborg, Pierre Boulez, Harrison Birtwistle, Virgil Thomson, Helmut Lachenmann, and Kaija Saariaho. John Cage dedicated his Freeman Etudes to her (although she did not commission them), Lou Harrison dedicated his Serenade for Betty Freeman and Franco Assetto to Freeman and her husband, Steve Reich dedicated Variations for Winds, Strings, and Keyboards (1979) and Vermont Counterpoint (1982) to her, and John Adams's opera Nixon in China (1985–87) was dedicated to her. The American gamelan Si Betty, built by Harrison and William Colvig in 1979, was named for Freeman. Bequeathed by Harrison to long-time collaborator and composer Jody Diamond, it has been housed at Harvard University since 2007. She began a series of musicales at her Beverly Hills residence in 1981, which continued until just after the death of her second husband.[4]
Freeman financed a 1973 documentary film about the composer and instrument builder Harry Partch, The Dreamer That Remains.[1] She subsequently developed an interest in photography.
Freeman had four children from her first marriage, her daughters Shelley Butler and Claudia Brotman, and her sons Robert Freeman and Corey Freeman.[1]
Books
1996 - Music People & Others: 99 Photographs From the Contemporary Music World. Issued in conjunction with the exhibition "Betty Freeman: Music People & Others," held at the Royal Festival Hall in London from April 12 to June 16, 1996. Salzburg [Germany]; New York: Festival Press. (Originally published as an exhibition catalog in 1987 by Gabriele Mazzotta (Milan); text by Daniela Palazzoli; text in English and Italian.)
Films
1995 - Musical Outsiders: An American Legacy - Harry Partch, Lou Harrison, and Terry Riley. Directed by Michael Blackwood.
^ abcAnthony Tommasini (2009-01-07). "Betty Freeman, Patron of New Music, Dies at 87". New York Times. Retrieved 2015-07-11.
^ abAnthony Tommasini (1998-03-19). "A Medici of Modern Arts In Tune With Composers; Betty Freeman, Long a Patron of Americans, Shifts Her Maverick Focus to Europeans". New York Times. Retrieved 2015-07-11.
^Rothstein, Edward (January 28, 1994). "Review/Music; Cello Piece Pays Tribute To Departed Composers". The New York Times. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
^Elaine Woo (2009-01-07). "Betty Freeman, art philanthropist and photographer, dies at 87". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
External links
Betty Freeman Papers MSS 227. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Library.
Gamelan.org page on Si Betty Gamelan
Interviews
Betty Freeman interview from New Music Box
January 06, 2023
betty, freeman, this, article, about, philanthropist, other, uses, elizabeth, freeman, disambiguation, june, 1921, january, 2009, american, philanthropist, photographer, born2, june, 1921chicago, illinois, usdied3, january, 2009occupation, arts, patron, photog. This article is about the philanthropist For other uses see Elizabeth Freeman disambiguation Betty Freeman 2 June 1921 3 January 2009 1 was an American philanthropist and photographer Betty FreemanBorn2 June 1921Chicago Illinois USDied3 January 2009Occupation s arts patron photographer Contents 1 Biography 2 Books 3 Films 4 References 5 External links 5 1 InterviewsBiography EditFreeman was born in Chicago Illinois At age 3 she moved with her parents and two brothers to Brooklyn later moving to New Rochelle New York and attending New Rochelle High School Her father was a chemical engineer who had graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology and her mother was a mathematics teacher and graduate of the University of Wisconsin Freeman was a graduate of Wellesley College 1942 where she majored in English literature with a minor in music 2 She had originally trained to be a concert pianist practicing six to eight hours per day for twenty years but eventually by the mid 1960s gave up this dream to pursue concert managing Following her graduation she married Stanley Freeman and the couple had four children Their marriage ended in divorce Freeman s second marriage was to the Italian sculptor and painter Franco Assetto 1911 1991 with whom she lived half of each year in Turin The marriage lasted until Assetto s death Freeman was a long standing supporter of contemporary music with grants and commissions to various American composers early in their careers 2 The composers she assisted include Lou Harrison John Cage La Monte Young Christopher Rouse 3 Philip Glass Steve Reich John Adams Anders Hillborg Pierre Boulez Harrison Birtwistle Virgil Thomson Helmut Lachenmann and Kaija Saariaho John Cage dedicated his Freeman Etudes to her although she did not commission them Lou Harrison dedicated his Serenade for Betty Freeman and Franco Assetto to Freeman and her husband Steve Reich dedicated Variations for Winds Strings and Keyboards 1979 and Vermont Counterpoint 1982 to her and John Adams s opera Nixon in China 1985 87 was dedicated to her The American gamelan Si Betty built by Harrison and William Colvig in 1979 was named for Freeman Bequeathed by Harrison to long time collaborator and composer Jody Diamond it has been housed at Harvard University since 2007 She began a series of musicales at her Beverly Hills residence in 1981 which continued until just after the death of her second husband 4 Freeman financed a 1973 documentary film about the composer and instrument builder Harry Partch The Dreamer That Remains 1 She subsequently developed an interest in photography She wrote books about the American artists Clyfford Still and Sam Francis She was also an art collector and the subject of David Hockney s painting Beverly Hills Housewife Freeman had four children from her first marriage her daughters Shelley Butler and Claudia Brotman and her sons Robert Freeman and Corey Freeman 1 Books Edit1996 Music People amp Others 99 Photographs From the Contemporary Music World Issued in conjunction with the exhibition Betty Freeman Music People amp Others held at the Royal Festival Hall in London from April 12 to June 16 1996 Salzburg Germany New York Festival Press Originally published as an exhibition catalog in 1987 by Gabriele Mazzotta Milan text by Daniela Palazzoli text in English and Italian Films Edit1995 Musical Outsiders An American Legacy Harry Partch Lou Harrison and Terry Riley Directed by Michael Blackwood 2005 Betty Freeman A Life for the Unknown Directed by Paul Fenkart https www imdb com title tt0459079 References Edit a b c Anthony Tommasini 2009 01 07 Betty Freeman Patron of New Music Dies at 87 New York Times Retrieved 2015 07 11 a b Anthony Tommasini 1998 03 19 A Medici of Modern Arts In Tune With Composers Betty Freeman Long a Patron of Americans Shifts Her Maverick Focus to Europeans New York Times Retrieved 2015 07 11 Rothstein Edward January 28 1994 Review Music Cello Piece Pays Tribute To Departed Composers The New York Times Retrieved May 24 2015 Elaine Woo 2009 01 07 Betty Freeman art philanthropist and photographer dies at 87 Los Angeles Times Retrieved 2010 11 05 External links EditBetty Freeman Papers MSS 227 Special Collections amp Archives UC San Diego Library Obituary Gamelan org page on Si Betty GamelanInterviews Edit Betty Freeman interview Betty Freeman interview from New Music Box Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Betty Freeman amp oldid 1107465434, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
