Grant, William Parks
Grant, William Parks
Grant, William Parks, American composer, educator, and music scholar; b. Cleveland, Jan. 4, 1910; d. Oxford, Miss., April 5, 1988. He was educated at Capital Univ. in Columbus, Ohio (B.M., 1932) and at Ohio State Univ. (M.A., 1933), and later completed his training with Howard Hanson and Harold Gleason at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. (Ph.D., 1948). He taught at the Northeast Jr. Coll. branch of La. State Univ. (1943-47), Temple Univ. (1947-53), and the Univ. of Miss. (1953-73). He publ. Music for Elementary Teachers (N.Y., 1951; rev. ed., 1960) and Handbook of Musical Terms (Metuchen, N.J., 1967). Grant served as music ed. of the critical edition of Mahler’s 9th Sym., and also worked on the critical editions of Mahler’s 2nd, 3rd, and 8th syms.
Works
DRAMATIC Ba11et : The Dream of the Ballet-Master (1934). ORCH.: 3 syms. (1930-38; 1941-3; 1953); Masque of the Red Death (1931-41); Horn Concerto (1940); Clarinet Concerto (1942-45); Autumn Woodland Poem for Strings (1945-6); Double Bass Concerto (1946); 3 suites for Strings (1946, 1952, 1959); Rhythmic Overture (1947); Dramatic Overture (1948); Homage Ode (1949); Scherzo for Flute and Orch. (1949); A Mood Overture (1950); 2 overtures (1955); Character Sketches (1963). CHAMBER: Night Poems for 2 Violins, Viola, and Cello (1940-42); Poem for Horn or Cello and Organ (1945); Essay for Horn or Cello and Organ (1948); 2 string quartets (1948-9; 1963); Simplicity for Violin and Piano (1949); Laconic Suite for 2 Trumpets, Horn, and Trombone (1949); Prelude and Dance for 3 Trumpets, 4 Horns, 3 Trombones, and Tuba (1951); Soliloquy and Jubilation for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn, and Bassoon (1952); Instrumental Motet for 2 Pardessus de Viole, Viola da Gamba, and Basse de Viole (1952); Brevities for 2 Trumpets, Horn, and Trombone (1952); Concert Duo for Tuba and Piano (1954); Lento and Allegro for 2 Trumpets, Horn, Trombone, and Tuba (1954-55); Prelude and Canonic Piece for Flute and Clarinet (1959); Varied Obstinacy for Alto or Tenor Saxophone and Tape (1971). KEYBOARD : Piano : 2 sonatas (1940, 1953). Organ : Gothic Triptych (1947). VOCAL: Choruses; songs.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire