Donovan, Richard Frank

Donovan, Richard Frank, American organist, conductor, teacher, and composer; b. New Haven, Conn., Nov. 29, 1891; d. Middletown, Conn., Aug. 22, 1970. He studied music at Yale Univ. and at the Inst. of Musical Art in N.Y. (M.B., 1922); also took lessons in organ with Widor in Paris. Returning to America, he served as organist in several N.Y. churches; from 1923 to 1928 he was on the faculty of Smith Coll.; in 1928 he was appointed to the School of Music at Yale Univ., where he later was a prof. of theory (1947–60). From 1936 to 1951 he conducted the New Haven Sym. Orch.; was also organist and choirmaster of Christ Church in New Haven. As a composer, Donovan adopted a modern polyphonic style in his choral works, while his instrumental scores often reveal impressionistic traits.

Works

ORCH Smoke and Steel, symphonic poem (1932); Sym. for Chamber Orch. (1936); New England Chronicle, overture (1947); Passacaglia on Vermont Folk Tunes (1949); Sym. (1956); Epos (1963). CHAMBER: Wood-Notes for Flute, Harp, and Strings (1925); Sextet for Wind Instruments and Piano (1932); 2 piano trios (1937, 1963); Serenade for Oboe, Violin, Viola, and Cello (1939); Terzetto for 2 Violins and Viola (1950); Woodwind Quartet (1953); Soundings for Trumpet, Bassoon, and Percussion (1953); Music for 6 (1961). KEYBOARD : 2 suites for piano (1932, 1953); much organ music. CHORAL: Fantasy on American Folk Ballads for Men’s Voices and Piano (1940); Mass for Unison Voices, Organ, 3 Trumpets, and Timpani (1955); Forever, O Lord for Chorus (1965).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire