Obituary: James P. Forte; American Composer, Poet-Pilgrim and Author

Obituary from DeVito Funeral Home.

James P. Forte, of Arlington, American composer, poet-pilgrim and author, passed away gently in the arms of his wife, Nancy, on July 24 at the Aberjona Nursing Center in Winchester. Since January of 2009 he endured multiple illnesses and surgeries with remarkable courage, determination, persistence of spirit and abiding love for his wife of forty-nine years. In the midst of his suffering, in great affirmation of their loving, blissful marriage, James and Nancy renewed their wedding vows with a Celebration, Christmas Music and Reception at St. Mary’s Church in Winchester, Massachusetts, in December of 2012. He requested that we describe here “the devotion that I have for my wife, so good and holy.”

James and Nancy lived all of their married lives in Arlington, Massachusetts, and when James required nursing home care in nearby Winchester, he was able to come home once a week thanks to the dedicated services of Armstrong Ambulance.

Born in Boston and raised in Somerville, James was the beloved son of the late John and Antoinette Forte. He was the beloved brother of the late John A. Forte, Jr. of Sandwich, Massachusetts, and Professor David F. Forte and his wife Julie Forte of Lakewood, Ohio. He was the beloved nephew of many aunts and uncles and is survived by his devoted Aunt Alberta Forte Myers as well as many dear cousins. He was the beloved son-in-law of the late Edward and Eleanor Mosehauer, and the beloved brother-in-law of Linda Lombardi of West Hartford, Connecticut; Susan Lipscomb and her husband Jay of Walnut Creek, California; and Richard Mosehauer and his wife, Lorraine of Herndon, Virginia. He was the beloved uncle and uncle-in-law of many dear nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews, and several great-grand nieces and nephews. He was the beloved godfather and uncle of Diane Forte Morash and her husband William A. Morash of Hingham, Massachusetts. He was also the beloved godfather of James Alphée Habert-Greene of Paris, France. James and Nancy were blessed with the special friendship of Nancy’s grandmother, the late Katherine d’Este.

Remembering experiences of special grace as a child, James saw that these became the springboard for his spiritual search in his early teens. Ever a faithful Christian, his search developed respect for all religions and spiritual paths. He encountered the great Indian saint, Kirpal Singh (1894-1974), sometime before 1957, long before any such presence was in American society. He found the Saint’s teaching and guidance a constant source of inspiration and elucidation.

In the arts even as a pre-school child, James focused on music and poetry, with some personal exploration of the visual arts. He won praise for his music from listeners, radio program hosts and reviewers across much of the world. His treasured friend and fellow artist, Paul Caponigro, whom James referred to as “the Beethoven of photography,” described James’ compositions as “music for seekers.” With his art steeped in the rich cultures of human history, he composed in the major forms plus using electronic instruments in a new and creative way. His large catalog of music includes thirteen symphonies--four of them for chorus and orchestra--a large output of works for piano including five piano sonatas; sacred and secular choral works; a large and varied body of music for chamber ensembles, including four string quartets; as well as music for solo instruments and voice. It was in 1986 that he began making original use of electronic instruments, developing distinctive new sounds with them, writing music for them, and making creative combinations of electronic and acoustic instruments and voice, including two theatre works. He produced eleven compact discs. His music received performances and broadcasts in the United States to Hawaii and Alaska and abroad.

The great conductor Rouben Gregorian commissioned James to compose The Holy Child for chorus and orchestra for the inaugural Christmas concert at what was then the new Prudential Center in Boston in December of 1968. Maestro Gregorian subsequently continued to champion James’ music conducting many other of his major works through the years in greater Boston and abroad.

James was also a life-long poet as well as an author, publishing eleven books of poetry and the prose work, Fragments of the Whole. With his wife, he co-authored The Urban Vegetarian Cookbook.

When asked, James explained that he learned most about composing from the music of Beethoven and Mahler. He made an extensive and ongoing study of Western and Eastern music through the ages. “I explored my craft in its basic materials and structures to learn its true nature and to work in harmony with it.“ James earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from the State University of New York at Albany. He completed other studies at Brandeis University, Lowell State University, Longy School of Music, and Boston University. He was nurtured by the great cultural resources of Boston, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Boston Public Library. Introduced to the Transcendentalists as a school boy, he was especially impressed at an early age with the writings of Longfellow, Thoreau, and Emerson. He was also introduced to the sculpture of Daniel Chester French and the works of other celebrated New England artists in literature, music, and the visual arts, including the New England painters Winslow Homer and Luminist Fitz Hugh Lane. James’s art continues this New England tradition and its values--artistic, literary, and moral--and lifelong absorption in and inspiration from the nature of New England with its shores and rivers, hills and fields and mountains. He held that “The best in Art is nothing we can take credit for. I am dedicated to the trueness in Art, to its intrinsic beauty and its transformative purpose. True art is the profound affirmation of life.”

Active in arts administration James was Music Director of the Robbins Library Concert Series, Arlington, Massachusetts from 1973 to 1978, Manager of the Northeastern University Symphony Orchestra from 1978 to 1981, Founder and Chairman of Arlington Alive (Arlington Arts Council) from 1979 to 1986, Concert Series Director of the Northeastern University Music Department from 1979 to 1981, Founder and Director of the New Arts Symphony Orchestra (originally the New England Symphony Orchestra) 1981 to 2012, Founding Member and Chairman of the Massachusetts Arts Lottery Advisory Committee from 1981 to 1984, Founder and Director of the Electric Symphony Performance Ensemble from 1988 to 2012, and Director of the Electric Symphony Music Festival, New England from 1990 to 2012. He was a Member, Eastern Division Vice President, Chairman of Theory and Composition Section and Member-at-Large of the Massachusetts Music Teachers Association from 1978 to 1984, a Member of the Music Teachers National Association from 1978 to 1984, and a Member of the American Federation of Musicians, Boston Musicians Association from 1983 to the late 1980’s.

James loved his town, he loved people of all backgrounds and nationalities, he loved equality, he loved democracy - “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” In addition to directing the Robbins Library Concert Series and the Arlington Arts Council, he served as Member of the Arlington Historical Commission from 1972 to 1982, Chairman, Task Force Chairman, Newspaper Editor and Conference Chairman of the Arlington Citizens’ Involvement Committee from 1974 to 1983, Member of the Robbins Library Cultural Enrichment Series Committee from 1978 to 1981, Master of Ceremonies, Member and Guidebook Editor of the Arlington Town Day Committee from 1978 to 1982, Member of Town Meeting, Town of Arlington from 1980 to 1983, Member of the Arlington Cable Access Steering Committee in 1981, and Member of the Arlington Selectmen’s Committee on Service Priorities in 1981. He was a member of the American Legion from 1997 to 2015.

James was named Citizen of the Year by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce in 1976. He was also the recipient of the Arlington Town Day Committee Award, Arlington (Massachusetts) Town Day Committee in 1983. In 1984 he was the recipient of a Proclamation from the Town of Arlington issued by the Town of Arlington Board of Selectmen and Town Meeting to honor his public service. He was the recipient in 1983 of the Muse Award from Public Action for the Arts, Boston, Massachusetts in recognition of his service to the Arts. He was listed in various Who’s Who publications including the International Who’s Who in Music, Who’s Who in American Music and the Dictionary of International Biography.

Services were held. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of James to the charity of your choice.