Morris Davis (composer)
Encyclopedia
Morris Cecil Davis was a Canadian composer
, arranger
, and conductor
. He was sometimes referred to as "Rusty Davis". A largely self-taught composer and orchestrater, he wrote more than 200 jingle
s for Canadian radio and television. He also contributed incidental music to more than 100 radio and TV programs and composed more than 30 score
s for feature film
s; including the scores to Whispering City
(1947), La Forteresse
(1947), Le Curé de village
(1949), and Tambour battant (1952). He also composed a number of orchestra
l works, songs, and jazz
pieces. His jazz concerto Blues and Finales in G (1942) is written in the style of Rhapsody in Blue
, and his Serenade for Trumpet in Jazz (composed before 1948) was played often in concerts by Maynard Ferguson
.
, Davis began his musical education in Montreal where he studied the piano
with such teachers as Nicholas Eichorn, Alfred La Liberté
, and A.E.J. MacCreary. He studied law at McGill University
(MU) where he earned of Bachelor of Arts
in 1930. While a student there he notably wrote the MU's annual Red and White Revue in 1926 and 1927. In 1927 he co-wrote the review The Little Revue that Starts at 10 Past Nine with Robert E. Dolan
which was premiered at the Orpheum in Vancouver.
In 1929 Davis began working for CBC Radio
as a pianist and conductor. From 1937-1947 he worked as a music producer at CBC Montreal where he notably arranged music for conductors like Lucio Agostini
, Jean Deslauriers
, and Allan McIver
. He left the CBC to establish his own production house in Montreal in 1948. He thereafter worked actively as a freelance composer, arranger, and conductor in the Montreal area. He conducted several commercial orchestras and composed a number of jingle
s and film score
s for radio and television. He also worked as a music director for theatrical productions in several Canadian cities. He notably conducted the studio orchestra for a 1962 LP album
with accordionist Gordie Fleming.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, arranger
Arranger
In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
, and conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
. He was sometimes referred to as "Rusty Davis". A largely self-taught composer and orchestrater, he wrote more than 200 jingle
Jingle
A jingle is a short tune used in advertising and for other commercial uses. The jingle contains one or more hooks and lyrics that explicitly promote the product being advertised, usually through the use of one or more advertising slogans. Ad buyers use jingles in radio and television...
s for Canadian radio and television. He also contributed incidental music to more than 100 radio and TV programs and composed more than 30 score
Film score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
s for feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
s; including the scores to Whispering City
Whispering City
Whispering City is a black-and-white film directed by Fyodor Otsep. The movie was filmed on location in Quebec City and Montmorency Falls, Québec, Canada in both English and French. A French language version La Forteresse, with different actors, was made simultaneously...
(1947), La Forteresse
La Forteresse (film)
La Forteresse is a 1947 Canadian feature film directed by Fyodor Otsep that uses a french language screenplay by Rian James and Leonard Lee...
(1947), Le Curé de village
Le Curé de village
Le Curé de village is a novel by Honoré de Balzac. It first appeared in La Presse in 1839. Frequently revised, the edited text was published as a separate volume in 1841. It covers themes that Balzac had already developed in le Médecin de campagne - improvements to living conditions in rural areas...
(1949), and Tambour battant (1952). He also composed a number of orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
l works, songs, 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...
pieces. His jazz concerto Blues and Finales in G (1942) is written in the style of Rhapsody in Blue
Rhapsody in Blue
Rhapsody in Blue is a musical composition by George Gershwin for solo piano and jazz band written in 1924, which combines elements of classical music with jazz-influenced effects....
, and his Serenade for Trumpet in Jazz (composed before 1948) was played often in concerts by Maynard Ferguson
Maynard Ferguson
Maynard Ferguson was a Canadian jazz musician and bandleader. He came to prominence playing in Stan Kenton's orchestra, before forming his own band in 1957...
.
Life and career
Born in OttawaOttawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Davis began his musical education in Montreal where he studied the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
with such teachers as Nicholas Eichorn, Alfred La Liberté
Alfred La Liberté
Alfred La Liberté was a Canadian composer, pianist, writer on music, and music educator. He was a disciple and close personal friend of Alexander Scriabin. He was also an admirer of Marcel Dupré and Nikolai Medtner. Dupré notably dedicated his Variations, Opus 22 for piano to him and Medtner...
, and A.E.J. MacCreary. He studied law at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
(MU) where he earned of Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1930. While a student there he notably wrote the MU's annual Red and White Revue in 1926 and 1927. In 1927 he co-wrote the review The Little Revue that Starts at 10 Past Nine with Robert E. Dolan
Robert E. Dolan
Robert Emmett "Bobby" Dolan was a Broadway conductor, composer and arranger beginning in the 1920s. He moved on to radio in the 1930s, and then went to Hollywood in the early 1940s as a musical director for Paramount. He scored, arranged, and conducted many musical and dramatic films in the 1940s...
which was premiered at the Orpheum in Vancouver.
In 1929 Davis began working for CBC Radio
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
as a pianist and conductor. From 1937-1947 he worked as a music producer at CBC Montreal where he notably arranged music for conductors like Lucio Agostini
Lucio Agostini
Lucio Agostini was an Italian-born composer, arranger, and conductor who established his career in Canada.-Life:...
, Jean Deslauriers
Jean Deslauriers
Jean Deslauriers was a Canadian conductor, violinist, and composer. As a conductor he had a long and fruitful partnership with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation; conducting orchestras for feature films and television and radio programs for more than 40 years...
, and Allan McIver
Allan McIver
Joseph Allan McIver was a Canadian composer, arranger, pianist, and conductor. As a pianist he performed with orchestras in the Quebec region in his early career and was the longtime accompanist and arranger for Trio lyrique...
. He left the CBC to establish his own production house in Montreal in 1948. He thereafter worked actively as a freelance composer, arranger, and conductor in the Montreal area. He conducted several commercial orchestras and composed a number of jingle
Jingle
A jingle is a short tune used in advertising and for other commercial uses. The jingle contains one or more hooks and lyrics that explicitly promote the product being advertised, usually through the use of one or more advertising slogans. Ad buyers use jingles in radio and television...
s and film score
Film score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
s for radio and television. He also worked as a music director for theatrical productions in several Canadian cities. He notably conducted the studio orchestra for a 1962 LP album
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
with accordionist Gordie Fleming.