Davison, John (John H.)
Variant namesComposed 1973. First performance Philadelphia, 15 May 1974, Mostovoy Soloist, Marc Mostovoy conductor.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.
From the description of Concerto grosso : for three violas and string orchestra / John Davison. 1973. (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 43933425
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.
From the description of Liturgy for orchestra / John Davison. 1974. (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 43933774
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.
From the description of Arthur's return : for bagpipes [sic] and string orchestra / John Davison. [1983]. (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 43933752
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.
From the description of Symphony no. 1 : for small orchestra / John Davison. [1958]. (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 43933846
Composed 1959; revised 1967.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.
From the description of Concerto for trombone and chamber orchestra / John Davison. [1967]. (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 65182420
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.
From the description of Arthur's return : for bagpipes and string orchestra / John Davison. [1983]. (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 43933685
Composed 1958-59. First performance Rochester, New York, 29 April 1959, Eastman-Rochester Symphony Orchestra, Howard Hanson conducting.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.
From the description of Symphony no. 2 / John Davison. [1959]. (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 43933919
Composed 1985.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.
From the description of Sinfonia : for cimbalon and chamber orchestra / John Davison. 1985. (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 43933797
Composed 1980.--Cf. Fleisher Collection.
From the description of Symphony no. 5 / John Davison. 1980. (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 43933938
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.
From the description of Mass / John Davison. 1979. (Franklin & Marshall College). WorldCat record id: 67291833
Epithet: of Add MS 36047
British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000213.0x0002e6
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).
From the guide to the John Davison papers, 1938-1999, (Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections)
Role | Title | Holding Repository |
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Filters:
Relation | Name | |
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associatedWith | Eastman School of Music. | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Gerber, Steven R. | person |
associatedWith | Harvard University. | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Haverford College. | corporateBody |
correspondedWith | Hill, George Birkbeck Norman, 1835-1903 | person |
associatedWith | Juilliard School of Music. | corporateBody |
associatedWith | Porter, Quincy, 1897-1966 | person |
correspondedWith | Provine, William B. | person |
associatedWith | Swan, Alfred J. (Alfred Julius), 1890-1970. | person |
associatedWith | Todd, Laura. | person |
associatedWith | Townsend, Wilson | person |
associatedWith | Velimirović, Miloš. | person |
Place Name | Admin Code | Country | |
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London, England | |||
Birmingham, Warwickshire | |||
Haverford (Pa.) | |||
Shrewsbury, Shropshire | |||
Long Melford, Suffolk | |||
Taunton, Somerset | |||
Warwick, Warwickshire | |||
Killpeck, Herefordshire | |||
Eastrington, Yorkshire | |||
North Tuddenham, Norfolk |
Subject |
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Education |
Bagpipe with string orchestra |
Bagpipe with string orchestra |
Canticles |
Chamber orchestra music |
Choruses, Sacred (Men's voices) with orchestra |
Choruses, Sacred (Mixed voices) with orchestra |
Choruses, Sacred (Mixed voices) with organ |
Composers |
Concertos (Flute) |
Concertos (Harpsichord with string orchestra) |
Concertos (Instrumental ensemble) |
Concertos (Oboe with chamber orchestra) |
Concertos (Trombone) |
Concertos (Violas (3) with string orchestra) |
Concertos (Violoncello) |
Flute with orchestra |
Harpsichord with string orchestra |
Instrumental ensembles |
Magnificat (Music) |
Marimba with string orchestra |
Masses |
Music |
Music |
Nunc dimittis (Music) |
Oboe with chamber orchestra |
Opera |
Orchestra |
Orchestral music |
Piano |
Piano trios |
Psalms (Music) |
Sextets (Piano, English horn, violin, viola, violoncello, viola da gamba) |
Sonatas (Horn and piano) |
Sonatas (Piano) |
Songs (Medium voice) with instrumental ensemble |
Suites (Marimba with string orchestra) |
Suites (Piano) |
Symphonies |
Symphonies (Chamber orchestra) |
Symphonies (Cimbalon with chamber orchestra) |
Trombone with orchestra |
Violoncello with orchestra |
Wind quintets (Bassoon, clarinet, flute, horn, oboe) |
Occupation |
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Activity |
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Person
Birth 1930-05-31
Death 1999
English