Hampton, Calvin
Hampton, Calvin
Hampton, Calvin, esteemed American organist, choirmaster, and composer; b. Kittanning, Pa., Dec. 31, 1938; d. Port Charlotte, Fla., Aug. 5, 1984. He studied organ and composition at the Oberlin (Ohio) Coll. Cons, of Music (B.M., 1960), and then at Syracuse Univ. (M.M., 1962). He was organist-choirmaster at N.Y.’s Calvary Episcopal Church (later combined with Holy Communion and St. George’s; 1963-83). Hampton was a brilliant recitalist who played his own notable transcriptions of works by Chopin and Mussorgsky. On March 2, 1980, at St. George’s, he conducted what isthought to be the first complete U.S. performance, in French, of Franck’s oratorio Les Béatitudes. His compositions fuse popular and classical influences with striking effect, producing a lyrical and romantic underpinning that belies the modernity of their instrumentation. Some of his anthems are found in supplements to the Episcopal hymnal.
Works
Prisms for Piano (1963); Catch-Up for Tape and 2 Quarter Tone Pianos (1967); Triple Play for Ondes Martenot and 2 Quarter Tone Pianos (1967); Prelude and Variations on Old 100th forOrgan (1970); Transformation and Despair for Organ (1971); God Plays Hide and Seek for Synthesizer and Organ (1971); The Road to Leprachaunia for Soprano, Synthesizer, and Organ (1973); Concerto for Saxophone Quartet, Strings, and Percussion (1973); Labyrinth for Soprano and Saxophone Quartet (1973); O Lord, Support Us for Chorus and Prerecorded Synthesizer (1974); Pentecost Cantata for Soli, Chorus, and Percussion (1977); Candlelight Carol Service for Soli, Chorus, Dancers, Pantomime, Organ, and Orch. (1978); Concerto for Organ and Strings (St. Paul, June 18, 1980); Concerto for Solo Organ (1981); Cantata for Palm Sunday for Tenor, Chorus, and Organ (1981); In Praise of Humanity for Organ (1981); Dances for Organ (1982); It Happened in Jerusalem, music drama for Soli, Speakers, Actors, Dancers, Chorus, Organ, Percussion, and Tape (1982); Variations on “Amazing Grace” for English Horn and Organ (1983); songs and anthems.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire