Smith, William O(veiton)

Smith, William O(veiton) , American clarinetist, composer, and teacher; b. Sacramento, Calif., Sept. 22, 1926. He took up the clarinet as a child. After attending the Juilliard School of Music in N.Y. (1945–46), he pursued his training with Milhaud at Mills Coll. in Oakland, Calif. (1946–47) and with Sessions at the Univ. of Calif, at Berkeley (B.A., 1950; M.A., 1952). He performed with various jazz musicians, including Dave Brubeck. He also played much contemporary music. Smith held the Prix de Paris (1951–53), the American Prix de Rome (1957), and a Guggenheim fellowship (1960). After teaching at the Univ. of Calif, at Berkeley (1952–53), the San Francisco Cons. of Music, and the Univ. of Southern Calif, in Los Angeles (1954—60), he was on the faculty of the Univ. of Wash, in Seattle (1966–88). In his extensive catalog of works, Smith has applied a variety of quaquaversal elements, from jazz to dodecaphony to electronics.

Works

orci.: Concerto for Trombone and Chamber Orch. (1949); Suite for Concert Band (1954); Concerto for Clarinet and Combo (1957); Concerto for Jazz Soloist and Orch. (1962); Interplay for Jazz Combo and Orch. (1964); Tangents for Clarinet and Orch. (1965); Quadri for Jazz Combo and Orch. (1968); Agate for Jazz Soloist and Jazz Orch (1974); Theand Orch. (1975); Ecco! for Clarinet and Orch. (1979); Mu for Clarinet and Small Orch. (1978); Concerto for Clarinet and Small Orch. (1985); East Wind for Wind Ensemble (1990); Blue Shades for Clarinet and Wind Ensemble (1993). CHAMBER: Clarinet Sonata (1948); Quintet for Clarinet and String Quartet (1950); 2 string quartets (1952, 1969); 2 trios for Clarinet, Violin, and Piano (1957, 1984); Quartet for Clarinet, Violin, and Piano (1958); Explorations for Jazz Combo and Tape (1963); Ambiente for Jazz Ensemble (1970); Jazz Set for Flute and Clarinet (1974); Chronos for String Quartet (1975); Janus for Trombone and Jazz Ensemble (1977); Eternal Truths for Wind Quintet (1979); Pente for Clarinet and String Quartet (1983); Oni for Clarinet, Keyboard, Percussion, and Electronics (1986); Slow Motion for Electric Clarinet and Computer Graphics (1987); Illuminated Manuscript for Wind Quintet and Computer Graphics (1987); Serenade for Clarinet, Violin, and Cello (1989); Piccolo Concerto for Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, and Piano (1991); Jazz Set for Violin and Wind Quintet (1991); Jazz Fantasy for Jazz Improvisors and String Quartet (1992); Ritual for Clarinet, Viola, Percussion, Tape, and Projections (1992); 86910 for Clarinet and Digital Delay (1993); Soli for Flute, Clarinet, Violin, and Cello (1993); Studies for 2 Clarinets and Computers (1994). VOCAL: My Father Moved Through Dooms of Love for Chorus and Orch. (1955); Songs to Myself Alone for Soprano and Percussion (1970); 1 for Chorus and 6 Instruments (1975); 3 for Soprano, Clarinet, Trombone, and Dancer (1975); Ilios for Chorus, Winds, and Dancers (1977); Manadala I for Voices and Instruments (1977); Intermission for Soprano, Chorus, and Instruments (1978); Enchantments for Women’s Voices and Flute (1983); Sudana for Voices and Oboe (1985); Psyche for Voices and Viola (1987); Alleluia for Chorus and/or Instruments (1990).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire