John Davison (composer)
Encyclopedia
John Davison was an American
composer and pianist.
Born in Istanbul
, Turkey
, he grew up in Upstate New York
and in New York City
, and studied music at the Juilliard School
's lower school, Haverford College
, then received his master's degree from Harvard University
, where he focused on Renaissance music
, particularly the works of Orlando Gibbons
. He earned his doctorate in creative composition from the Eastman School of Music
. His teachers included Alfred Swan, Randall Thompson
, Walter Piston
, Bernard Rogers
, Howard Hanson
, Alan Hovhaness
, and Robert Palmer
. During 1964-1965, Davison was placed in the Kansas City (Missouri) Schools as part of the Music Educators National Conference's Contemporary Music Project
, where he composed numerous works for band, chorus, and orchestra. He was a friend of Aaron Copland
and maintained a correspondence with him. He was also a conscientious objector
.
Davison's music is generally tonal, strongly melodic, and influenced by such diverse musics as Western Classical and Romantic music (particularly the music of Johannes Brahms
, Renaissance and Baroque music, Irish music
, English country dancing
, Anglican church music, and jazz
.
His music is published by Southern Music Publishing Co., Shawnee Press, and TAP Music Publishing, and his music has been recorded by the CRI
, Crystal
, Coronet, Encore, and Albany
labels. He coauthored, with John Ashmead, a book about the songs of Robert Burns
.
Davison taught at Haverford College
from 1959 until his death. He was survived by his wife, Elizabeth Davison.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
composer and pianist.
Born in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, he grew up in Upstate New York
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
and in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and studied music at the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
's lower school, Haverford College
Haverford College
Haverford College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Haverford, Pennsylvania, United States, a suburb of Philadelphia...
, then received his master's degree from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, where he focused on Renaissance music
Renaissance music
Renaissance music is European music written during the Renaissance. Defining the beginning of the musical era is difficult, given that its defining characteristics were adopted only gradually; musicologists have placed its beginnings from as early as 1300 to as late as the 1470s.Literally meaning...
, particularly the works of Orlando Gibbons
Orlando Gibbons
Orlando Gibbons was an English composer, virginalist and organist of the late Tudor and early Jacobean periods...
. He earned his doctorate in creative composition from the Eastman School of Music
Eastman School of Music
The Eastman School of Music is a music conservatory located in Rochester, New York. The Eastman School is a professional school within the University of Rochester...
. His teachers included Alfred Swan, Randall Thompson
Randall Thompson
Randall Thompson was an American composer, particularly noted for his choral works.-Career:He attended Harvard University, became assistant professor of music and choir director at Wellesley College, and received a doctorate in music from the University of Rochester's Eastman School of Music...
, Walter Piston
Walter Piston
Walter Hamor Piston Jr., , was an American composer of classical music, music theorist and professor of music at Harvard University whose students included Leroy Anderson, Leonard Bernstein, and Elliott Carter....
, Bernard Rogers
Bernard Rogers
Bernard Rogers was an American composer.Rogers was born in New York City. He studied with Arthur Farwell, Ernest Bloch, Percy Goetschius, and Nadia Boulanger. He taught at the Cleveland Institute of Music, The Hartt School, and the Eastman School of Music...
, Howard Hanson
Howard Hanson
Howard Harold Hanson was an American composer, conductor, educator, music theorist, and champion of American classical music. As director for 40 years of the Eastman School of Music, he built a high-quality school and provided opportunities for commissioning and performing American music...
, Alan Hovhaness
Alan Hovhaness
Alan Hovhaness was an Armenian-American composer.His music is accessible to the lay listener and often evokes a mood of mystery or contemplation...
, and Robert Palmer
Robert Palmer (author/producer)
Robert Franklin Palmer Jr. was a 20th century American writer, musicologist, clarinetist, saxophonist, and blues producer...
. During 1964-1965, Davison was placed in the Kansas City (Missouri) Schools as part of the Music Educators National Conference's Contemporary Music Project
Contemporary Music Project
In 1957, the Ford Foundation began to explore the relationship between arts and American society. Resulting from a suggestion by Norman Dello Joio, the Young Composers Project was founded in 1959...
, where he composed numerous works for band, chorus, and orchestra. He was a friend of Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland was an American composer, composition teacher, writer, and later in his career a conductor of his own and other American music. He was instrumental in forging a distinctly American style of composition, and is often referred to as "the Dean of American Composers"...
and maintained a correspondence with him. He was also a conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
.
Davison's music is generally tonal, strongly melodic, and influenced by such diverse musics as Western Classical and Romantic music (particularly the music of Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist, and one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna, Austria, where he was a leader of the musical scene...
, Renaissance and Baroque music, Irish music
Music of Ireland
Irish Music is the generic term for music that has been created in various genres on the island of Ireland.The indigenous music of the island is termed Irish traditional music. It has remained vibrant through the 20th, and into the 21st century, despite globalizing cultural forces...
, English country dancing
Contra dance
Contra dance refers to several partnered folk dance styles in which couples dance in two facing lines...
, Anglican church music, and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
.
His music is published by Southern Music Publishing Co., Shawnee Press, and TAP Music Publishing, and his music has been recorded by the CRI
Composers Recordings, Inc.
Composers Recordings, Inc. was an American record label dedicated to the recording of contemporary classical music by American composers. It was founded in 1954 by Otto Luening, Douglas Moore, and Oliver Daniel, and based in New York City....
, Crystal
Crystal Records
Crystal Records, Inc. is an American producer and distributor of classical chamber and solo music recordings. The company was founded in 1966 by Peter George Christ and is incorporated in the state of Washington....
, Coronet, Encore, and Albany
Albany Records
Albany Records is an American classical music record label focusing particularly on contemporary classical music. It was established by Peter Kermani in 1987, and is based in Albany, New York.-External links:**...
labels. He coauthored, with John Ashmead, a book about the songs of Robert Burns
Robert Burns
Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide...
.
Davison taught at Haverford College
Haverford College
Haverford College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Haverford, Pennsylvania, United States, a suburb of Philadelphia...
from 1959 until his death. He was survived by his wife, Elizabeth Davison.
Works
- 1957 - Sonata for Trombone and Piano
- 1963 - Concerto for Harpsichord and Strings
- 1967 - Canzona and Chorale, 4 flutes
- 1967 - Suite, 8 brass instruments (2 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, and tuba)
- 1967 - Symphony no. 2 for Band
- 1968 - Suite, flute, violin, and piano
- 1968-69 - Sextet, English horn, violin, viola, violoncello, bass viola da gamba, and piano
- 1977 - Concertino for oboe and chamber orchestra
- 1980 - Symphony no. 5
- 1983 - Arthur's Return, bagpipes and string orchestra
- 1985 - Sinfonia, cimbalon and chamber orchestra
- 1986 - Sonata, trombone, tuba, and piano
- 1986 - Quintet, for trombone and string quartet
- 1986 - Suite for Six Trombones
- 1991 - Canzona & Reel/Jig, 4 flutes
- 1993 - Over the Mountain, Op. 115, orchestra
- 1994 - Cello Concerto, Op. 120
- 1996 - Sonata for Horn and Piano
External links
- John Davison page, from Haverford College site