Davison, John (John H.)

Composed 1973. First performance Philadelphia, 15 May 1974, Mostovoy Soloist, Marc Mostovoy conductor.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

Originally titled Rhapsody on a Gregorian Hymn. Based on the medieval plainchant hymn Pange Lingua. Composed 1974. Selected for performance by the Orchestra Society of Philadelphia as part of its Pennsylvania Composers Project 1977, made possible by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts with performance materials prepared by the Fleisher Collection of Orchestral Music. Performed Main Hall, Drexel University, Philadelphia, 22 May 1977, Orchestra Society of Philadelphia, William Smith conductor. Dedication: "For William Reese and the Bryn Mawr-Haverford Orchestra; in memory of Joseph Dibble."--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

Commissioned by the Concerto Soloists of Philadelphia. Composed 1983. First performance Dover, Delaware, 23 September 1983, Concerto Soloists of Philadelphia, Marc Mostovoy conductor, Roderick MacDonald bagpipe. For complete revised version (new score supplied by composer) with complete commentary, see callno.: 78m.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

The last movement is based on an English metrical psalm tune by an unknown composer, first published in Geneva, 1556, and associated with Sternhold's metrical version of Psalm 137. Composed 1957-58. First performanceRochester, New York, 16 April 1958, Eastman-Rochester Symphony Orchestra, Howard Hanson conductor.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

Composed 1959; revised 1967.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

Commissioned by the Concerto Soloists of Philadelphia. Composed 1983. First performance Dover, Delaware, 23 September 1983, Concerto Soloists of Philadelphia, Marc Mostovoy conductor, Roderick MacDonald bagpipe.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

Composed 1958-59. First performance Rochester, New York, 29 April 1959, Eastman-Rochester Symphony Orchestra, Howard Hanson conducting.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

Composed 1985.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

Composed 1980.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

Written in 1976-1977. Commissioned by Philip Bogosian and dedicated to the chorus and orchestra of Haverford and Bryn Mawr Colleges under Tamara Brooks, who gave it its first performance in 1978.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

Epithet: of Add MS 36047

Born May 31, 1930, in Istanbul, Turkey, to American parents, John Davison moved to the United States soon after his birth. He was raised in Auburn, NY, and New York City and “showed an early interest in music, studying piano and theory,” (Catherine Nardiello, Pianist). He was educated at Juilliard School’s lower school; Haverford College, graduating in 1951; Harvard University, earning his master’s degree; and the Eastman School of Music, earning his doctorate in creative composition. Among his teachers were Alfred Swan, Randall Thompson, Walter Piston, Bernard Rogers, Howard Hanson, Alan Hovhaness, and Robert Palmer (Haverford website).

In 1959, after obtaining his doctorate, Davison began teaching at Haverford College as the Ruth Marshall Magill Professor of Music. He continued to teach at Haverford until his death in 1999, and saved his students’ compositions throughout this period.

A prolific composer, “Davison's idiom is rooted in the great Western classic-romantic tradition with Baroque, Renaissance, jazz, modernist, and folk elements mixing in at times,” (Dram). He wrote for trumpet, trombone, piano, horn, and violin, in addition to less traditional instruments such as koto, cimbalom and bagpipe. His “compositions are published and recorded [and] have won awards and received numerous performances,” (Catherine Nardiello, Pianist). Among orchestras playing his compositions have been the Eastman-Rochester Orchestra, the Concerto Soloists of Philadelphia, the Susquehanna Symphony, and the Minnesota Orchestra. The Chestnut Brass Company recorded his Brass Quintet on their CD "Pastime with Good Company," and Albany Records issued an all-Davison CD (Haverford website).

In addition to his composing and teaching, Davison also co-authored a book about the songs of Robert Burns with John Ashmead. Davison also kept a sketchbook, where he drew figures occasionally used for concert programs and posters.

Bibliography:

Catherine Nardiello, Pianist. Record (Box 120).

DRAM. “Music of John Davison.” http://www.dramonline.org/albums/music-of-john-davison/notes (accessed October 1, 2009).

Haverford College Music Faculty Website, “In Memoriam” http://www.haverford.edu/musc/faculty/davison.html (accessed December 9th, 2009).