David N. Johnson
Encyclopedia
David N. Johnson (died 2 August, 1987 in Tempe
, Arizona
) was an American
organist
, composer
, educator, choral clinician, and lecturer.
He studied organ and composition at Curtis Institute of Music
(1940–1942). Between 1942 and 1946 he served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps/Air Corps in India, Burma, and China, receiving a Meritorious Service Award and campaign ribbons. He continued his music studies at Trinity University (Texas)
(BMus 1950) and Syracuse University
(MMus 1951, PhD
1956). He also held the associate certificate from the American Guild of Organists
(AAGO).
He was a lecturer at Syracuse University
(1951). From 1960–1967, he was college organist of Boe Chapel and organ instructor at St Olaf College, Northfield MN. He was music department chair at St Olaf stolaf.edu 1965–1967. In 1967, he succeeded Arthur Poister as professor of music, university organist and director of music in Hendricks Chapel at Syracuse University. He later moved to Arizona
in 1969, where he taught at Arizona State University
, Tempe
, and served at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Phoenix
. He died in Tempe on August 2, 1987. He was married to Margaret S. Teal, and was the father of six children.
Johnson published well over three hundred compositions, most of them for church use, and was author of an Instruction Book for Beginning Organists (1964) and an Organ Teacher's Guide (1971).
Johnson's Trumpet Tune in D (1962) is the opening and closing theme for the weekly radio show With Heart and Voice, with host Richard Gladwell. Johnson's Trumpet Tune in D was also the first of two processionals used for the 1971 wedding of Richard Nixon's Daughter, Tricia, who was married in the White House Rose Garden with music provided by a string orchestra. Since this work was originally composed for organ, it was transcribed for string orchestra for its performance at the wedding.
Several of Johnson's Trumpet Tunes have been recorded by Christopher Herrick
in his Organ Fireworks series on the Hyperion record label.
Johnson's best-known vocal/choral work is "The Lone, Wild Bird". Inspired, in part, by his seeing a solitary white bird while en-route by ship (in the early 1940s) from Los Angeles to Bombay, India – hundreds of miles from the nearest land in the middle of the South Pacific. Haunted by the image of that bird, Johnson later paired an American folk tune, "Prospect" from "The Sacred Harp
" (1844), with a 1925 poem by the Rev. Richard McFayden (also McFadyen), entitled "The Lone, Wild Fowl" – also taking some poetic license with the title. It first appeared in "Twelve Folksongs and Spirituals" (1968), compiled and arranged by Johnson. The pairing is so natural that many assume it is the tune's original text, and vice versa.
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, educator, choral clinician, and lecturer.
He studied organ and composition at Curtis Institute of Music
Curtis Institute of Music
The Curtis Institute of Music is a conservatory in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that offers courses of study leading to a performance Diploma, Bachelor of Music, Master of Music in Opera, and Professional Studies Certificate in Opera. According to statistics compiled by U.S...
(1940–1942). Between 1942 and 1946 he served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps/Air Corps in India, Burma, and China, receiving a Meritorious Service Award and campaign ribbons. He continued his music studies at Trinity University (Texas)
Trinity University (Texas)
Trinity University is a private, independent, primarily undergraduate, university in San Antonio, Texas. Its campus is located in the Monte Vista Historic District and adjacent to Brackenridge Park....
(BMus 1950) and Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
(MMus 1951, PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
1956). He also held the associate certificate from the American Guild of Organists
American Guild of Organists
The American Guild of Organists, or AGO, is a national organization of academic, church, and concert organists in the U.S., headquartered in The Interchurch Center in New York City. It was founded in 1896 as both an educational and service organization...
(AAGO).
He was a lecturer at Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
(1951). From 1960–1967, he was college organist of Boe Chapel and organ instructor at St Olaf College, Northfield MN. He was music department chair at St Olaf stolaf.edu 1965–1967. In 1967, he succeeded Arthur Poister as professor of music, university organist and director of music in Hendricks Chapel at Syracuse University. He later moved to Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
in 1969, where he taught at Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
, Tempe
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...
, and served at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. He died in Tempe on August 2, 1987. He was married to Margaret S. Teal, and was the father of six children.
Johnson published well over three hundred compositions, most of them for church use, and was author of an Instruction Book for Beginning Organists (1964) and an Organ Teacher's Guide (1971).
Johnson's Trumpet Tune in D (1962) is the opening and closing theme for the weekly radio show With Heart and Voice, with host Richard Gladwell. Johnson's Trumpet Tune in D was also the first of two processionals used for the 1971 wedding of Richard Nixon's Daughter, Tricia, who was married in the White House Rose Garden with music provided by a string orchestra. Since this work was originally composed for organ, it was transcribed for string orchestra for its performance at the wedding.
Several of Johnson's Trumpet Tunes have been recorded by Christopher Herrick
Christopher Herrick
-Early life:Born in Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, Christopher Herrick was a boy chorister at St Paul's Cathedral and attended its choir school; he sang at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 and later that year went with the choir on a three-month tour of America which included a private...
in his Organ Fireworks series on the Hyperion record label.
Johnson's best-known vocal/choral work is "The Lone, Wild Bird". Inspired, in part, by his seeing a solitary white bird while en-route by ship (in the early 1940s) from Los Angeles to Bombay, India – hundreds of miles from the nearest land in the middle of the South Pacific. Haunted by the image of that bird, Johnson later paired an American folk tune, "Prospect" from "The Sacred Harp
Sacred Harp
Sacred Harp singing is a tradition of sacred choral music that took root in the Southern region of the United States. It is part of the larger tradition of shape note music.- The music and its notation :...
" (1844), with a 1925 poem by the Rev. Richard McFayden (also McFadyen), entitled "The Lone, Wild Fowl" – also taking some poetic license with the title. It first appeared in "Twelve Folksongs and Spirituals" (1968), compiled and arranged by Johnson. The pairing is so natural that many assume it is the tune's original text, and vice versa.