Jerome Moross

Jerome Moross was an American composer whose work spanned film, ballet, and musical theatre. Born on August 1, 1913, in Brooklyn, New York, he blended classical training with American folk idioms to create a musical language full of energy, lyricism, and national character. While he is best known for his film score to The Big Country (1958), his contributions to theatre are equally noteworthy.

Moross’s most acclaimed stage work is The Golden Apple (1954), a musical co-written with lyricist John Latouche. A reimagining of The Iliad and The Odyssey set in rural Washington State, the show was groundbreaking for being entirely sung-through and richly orchestrated in a style that blended Americana with operatic ambition. Though its Broadway run was brief, The Golden Apple earned critical acclaim and a devoted following.

Trained in classical music, Moross worked with composers such as Aaron Copland and was part of the same mid-century movement that sought to develop a distinctively American voice in concert music. His theatre work often emphasized strong narrative and musical complexity while remaining emotionally accessible.

In addition to The Golden Apple, Moross wrote incidental music for plays and composed for ballet and television. He brought a cinematic quality to the stage, with sweeping orchestrations and melodies that evoked both the grandeur and intimacy of American life.

Jerome Moross died on July 25, 1983, in Miami, Florida. Though often overlooked, his theatrical work—especially The Golden Apple—remains a hidden gem in the American musical canon, admired for its originality and ambition.