Johnson, Horace, 1893-1964

Composed 1931. First performance Mexico City, 9 July 1937, Orquesta Sinfónica de México, Carlos Chavez conductor.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

Inspired by Helen Redington's poem. Composed 1929. First performance New York, 2 January 1936, Richmond Symphony Orchestra of the WPA, Eugene Plotnikoff conductor.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

Composed 1945.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

Composed 1942.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.

Horace Johnson was an American music critic and composer.

He was born in Waltham, Massachusetts, October 5, 1893. His mother had been a concert singer. He studied piano with Marie Kieckhofer and Ulysse Buhler at the Berkshire School, 1911-13, theory, piano, and organ with John P. Marshall of Boston University, 1914-16, and composition with Bainbridge Crist of Boston, 1914-18. He completed his musical education with four years of study in France and England. In 1923 he married author Helen Redington .

Johnson was assistant editor of the Musical Observer, and later became managing editor of the Musical Courier for eight years (1930-1938). He also held positions for The Etude, The Musician, The Talking Machine Journal, Musical America, and music editor of The Delineator .

Johnson was appointed director of the Works Progress Administration Music Project and began his duties at the end of May, 1939, which lasted at least two years.

Johnson was known mostly for the many songs he composed, a number of which were performed by Alice Tully.

Horace Johnson died in Tucson, Arizona, on May 30, 1964.