David Gaines (composer)
Encyclopedia
David Gaines is an American composer of contemporary classical music
.
He grew up in Stamford
, Connecticut
, and was a euphonium
and bass trombone player in both bands and orchestras (he was principal euphonium of the Connecticut All-State Band for two years), a background
that enabled him in later years, as a composer, to champion solo opportunities for low brass instruments.
His output includes two symphonies
, concerto
s for euphonium
, trombone
, and baritone saxophone
, numerous pieces of chamber music
for a wide variety of instruments, plus electronic music. His principal compositions are available on compact discs and as digital downloads from Navona Records
, MMC Recordings and Verda Stelo Music and are published by Verda Stelo Music. Radio stations across the USA, as well as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and internet music streaming sites, have broadcast these recordings.
A graduate of Northwestern University
, American University
, and Johns Hopkins University
's Peabody Conservatory of Music (where he earned a doctoral degree in composition), Gaines studied with M. William Karlins
, Stephen Syverud, Jerzy Sapieyevski, Jean Eichelberger Ivey, and Robert Sirota.
Gaines's numerous awards include annual ASCAP Standard Awards since 2000; First Prize in the 1997 College Music Society Mid-Atlantic Chapter Student Composers Competition; and a First Prize in the World Esperanto Association
's 1995 International Fine Arts Competition.
He has been an instructor for The New School
's online Master of Media Technology degree program, for which he created the first Internet college-level music course for credit (on the history of electronic music technology), as well as an adjunct associate professor at University of Maryland University College
.
Gaines is particularly known around the world as a champion of the international language Esperanto
. The "Society and Esperanto" Foundation of Bulgaria named him an Honorary Life Member in 1994, and in 2006 the international organization Muzika Esperanto-Ligo awarded him the title of Honorary President. Esperanto magazine, published in The Netherlands,
commissioned him to write their obituary for the distinguished composer Lou Harrison
after his passing in 2003 (Harrison was renowned for his support and use of Esperanto in his own music).
Gaines resides in Rockville, Maryland.
Contemporary classical music
Contemporary classical music can be understood as belonging to the period that started in the mid-1970s with the retreat of modernism. However, the term may also be employed in a broader sense to refer to all post-1945 modern musical forms.-Categorization:...
.
He grew up in Stamford
Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, and was a euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
and bass trombone player in both bands and orchestras (he was principal euphonium of the Connecticut All-State Band for two years), a background
that enabled him in later years, as a composer, to champion solo opportunities for low brass instruments.
His output includes two symphonies
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...
, concerto
Concerto
A concerto is a musical work usually composed in three parts or movements, in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra.The etymology is uncertain, but the word seems to have originated from the conjunction of the two Latin words...
s for euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
, trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
, and baritone saxophone
Baritone saxophone
The baritone saxophone, often called "bari sax" , is one of the largest and lowest pitched members of the saxophone family. It was invented by Adolphe Sax. The baritone is distinguished from smaller sizes of saxophone by the extra loop near its mouthpiece...
, numerous pieces of chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
for a wide variety of instruments, plus electronic music. His principal compositions are available on compact discs and as digital downloads from Navona Records
Navona Records
Navona Records is an American independent record label based in the Seacoast region of New Hampshire owned by PARMA Recordings. Navona's sister companies via PARMA include the Ravello, Big Round, MMC, and Capstone Records label imprints, and the label is distributed by Naxos...
, MMC Recordings and Verda Stelo Music and are published by Verda Stelo Music. Radio stations across the USA, as well as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and internet music streaming sites, have broadcast these recordings.
A graduate of Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
, American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
, and Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
's Peabody Conservatory of Music (where he earned a doctoral degree in composition), Gaines studied with M. William Karlins
M. William Karlins
Martin William Karlins was an American composer of contemporary classical music....
, Stephen Syverud, Jerzy Sapieyevski, Jean Eichelberger Ivey, and Robert Sirota.
Gaines's numerous awards include annual ASCAP Standard Awards since 2000; First Prize in the 1997 College Music Society Mid-Atlantic Chapter Student Composers Competition; and a First Prize in the World Esperanto Association
World Esperanto Association
The World Esperanto Association is the largest international organization of Esperanto speakers, with members in 121 countries and in official relations with the United Nations and UNESCO. In addition to individual members, 70 national Esperanto organizations are affiliated to UEA...
's 1995 International Fine Arts Competition.
He has been an instructor for The New School
The New School
The New School is a university in New York City, located mostly in Greenwich Village. From its founding in 1919 by progressive New York academics, and for most of its history, the university was known as the New School for Social Research. Between 1997 and 2005 it was known as New School University...
's online Master of Media Technology degree program, for which he created the first Internet college-level music course for credit (on the history of electronic music technology), as well as an adjunct associate professor at University of Maryland University College
University of Maryland University College
The University of Maryland University College is located in the unincorporated community of Adelphi in Prince George's County, Maryland in the United States. Serving over 90,000 students worldwide, UMUC is the largest 4-year public university in Maryland and one of the largest distance learning...
.
Gaines is particularly known around the world as a champion of the international language Esperanto
Esperanto
is the most widely spoken constructed international auxiliary language. Its name derives from Doktoro Esperanto , the pseudonym under which L. L. Zamenhof published the first book detailing Esperanto, the Unua Libro, in 1887...
. The "Society and Esperanto" Foundation of Bulgaria named him an Honorary Life Member in 1994, and in 2006 the international organization Muzika Esperanto-Ligo awarded him the title of Honorary President. Esperanto magazine, published in The Netherlands,
commissioned him to write their obituary for the distinguished composer Lou Harrison
Lou Harrison
Lou Silver Harrison was an American composer. He was a student of Henry Cowell, Arnold Schoenberg, and K. P. H. Notoprojo Lou Silver Harrison (May 14, 1917 – February 2, 2003) was an American composer. He was a student of Henry Cowell, Arnold Schoenberg, and K. P. H. Notoprojo Lou Silver Harrison...
after his passing in 2003 (Harrison was renowned for his support and use of Esperanto in his own music).
Gaines resides in Rockville, Maryland.
External links
- http://www.davidgaines.org/
- http://www.myspace.com/davidgainesmusic
- http://www.ipernity.com/home/davidgainesmusic