Ned Rorem, major American composer and diarist, has died at age 99

Composer Ned Rorem in 1953 in Paris, where he lived for nearly a decade and wrote his infamous Paris Diary. (Provided by the artist)

American composer Ned Rorem has died at age 99. The Pulitzer Prize winner was best known for his art songs — and his controversial diaries. Rorem died Friday morning at his home in Manhattan. His publisher, Boosey & Hawkes, confirmed his death from natural causes to NPR.

Ned Rorem was quietly defiant, in more ways than one. The first was through the music he chose to write. While he did compose symphonies, concertos and operas — the kinds of pieces that will win you a Pulitzer — his reputation rests on his enormous body of more than 500 art songs.