David P. McAllester
Encyclopedia
David Park McAllester an ethnomusicologist, was Professor of Anthropology and Music at Wesleyan University
, where he taught from 1947-1986. He made seminal contributions to the development of the field of ethnomusicology
, and helped establish the ethnomusicology department and the World Music Program at Wesleyan. His recordings of Navajo
and Comanche
music led to the establishment of the World Music Archives at the University.
He graduated from Harvard College
in 1938 and entered the Juilliard School
. However, he was doing anthropological field work during the summers at the same time and in 1940 decided not to pursue a career in music, instead enrolling in a Ph.D. program in anthropology at Columbia University
.
While in New York
, he joined the Religious Society of Friends
(Quakers), and remained a member for his entire life.
With the Second World War looming, he applied for and received a deferment as a conscientious objector
, and served his alternative service with the Civilian Public Service
.
After the war, he returned to Columbia. He accepted a teaching position at Wesleyan University
in Connecticut in 1947, while still working on his degree. He was awarded the Ph.D. in 1950.
Along with Alan Merriam, Willard Rhodes
, and Charles Seeger
, he founded the Society for Ethnomusicology
in 1955.
He specialized in Native American music, and did field work on the Navajo
reservation for many years in the summer.
He partially retired in 1979 and retired fully in 1986 to a home in the Berkshires, where he lived until he died.
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
, where he taught from 1947-1986. He made seminal contributions to the development of the field of ethnomusicology
Ethnomusicology
Ethnomusicology is defined as "the study of social and cultural aspects of music and dance in local and global contexts."Coined by the musician Jaap Kunst from the Greek words ἔθνος ethnos and μουσική mousike , it is often considered the anthropology or ethnography of music...
, and helped establish the ethnomusicology department and the World Music Program at Wesleyan. His recordings of Navajo
Navajo music
Navajo music is music made by Navajos, mostly hailing from the Four Corners region of the Southwestern United States and the territory of the Navajo Nation...
and Comanche
Comanche
The Comanche are a Native American ethnic group whose historic range consisted of present-day eastern New Mexico, southern Colorado, northeastern Arizona, southern Kansas, all of Oklahoma, and most of northwest Texas. Historically, the Comanches were hunter-gatherers, with a typical Plains Indian...
music led to the establishment of the World Music Archives at the University.
He graduated from Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
in 1938 and entered the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
. However, he was doing anthropological field work during the summers at the same time and in 1940 decided not to pursue a career in music, instead enrolling in a Ph.D. program in anthropology at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
.
While in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, he joined the Religious Society of Friends
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
(Quakers), and remained a member for his entire life.
With the Second World War looming, he applied for and received a deferment as a conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
, and served his alternative service with the Civilian Public Service
Civilian Public Service
The Civilian Public Service provided conscientious objectors in the United States an alternative to military service during World War II...
.
After the war, he returned to Columbia. He accepted a teaching position at Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
in Connecticut in 1947, while still working on his degree. He was awarded the Ph.D. in 1950.
Along with Alan Merriam, Willard Rhodes
Willard Rhodes
Willard Rhodes was an American ethnomusicologist. He is known for his extensive recording of American Indian music between 1939 and 1952....
, and Charles Seeger
Charles Seeger
Charles Seeger, Jr. was a noted musicologist, composer, and teacher. He was the father of iconic American folk singer Pete Seeger .-Life:...
, he founded the Society for Ethnomusicology
Society for Ethnomusicology
The Society for Ethnomusicology is, with the International Council for Traditional Music and the British Forum for Ethnomusicology, one of three major international associations ethnomusicology...
in 1955.
He specialized in Native American music, and did field work on the Navajo
Navajo people
The Navajo of the Southwestern United States are the largest single federally recognized tribe of the United States of America. The Navajo Nation has 300,048 enrolled tribal members. The Navajo Nation constitutes an independent governmental body which manages the Navajo Indian reservation in the...
reservation for many years in the summer.
He partially retired in 1979 and retired fully in 1986 to a home in the Berkshires, where he lived until he died.