David Sanford (composer)
Encyclopedia
David William Sanford is an American composer
, and jazz bandleader.
in 1963, into a musical family. His parents and one of his grandfathers were choir leaders, his other grandfather was a jazz trumpeter, and his great-grandmother Mozie Bass had composed songs, and music for church pageants; he also has a brother who is a music teacher and singer in Colorado
, where the family moved.
The young David Sanford acquired an enthusiasm for big band
music early on, playing trombone
from around the age of ten. He went on to major in music at the University of Northern Colorado
, and earned master's degrees in theory
and composition
at the New England Conservatory of Music
. In 1991, Supported partly by a Guggenheim Fellowship
and partly by a job in the financial services industry, he undertook doctoral studies at Princeton
, where he completed his dissertation on Miles Davis
in 1998. That same year he joined the faculty at Mount Holyoke
, where he teaches theory, composition, and various history courses, including one on music of the 1970s.
In 2002 the Rome Prize
took Sanford to Italy
for a year, and he formed the Pittsburgh Collective on his return, inviting players from a classical background as well as jazz musicians.
The group's debut album (Oxingale OX2010) was recorded live at the Knitting Factory
in 2005, with Matt Haimovitz
as a cello soloist.
Works by Sanford have been performed by the Chamber Society of Lincoln Center, the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, Chicago Symphony Chamber Players, Detroit Symphony, Corvini e lodice Roma Jazz Ensemble, Meridian Arts Ensemble, and Speculum Musicae. His most recent works are published by Oxingale Music.
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...
, and jazz bandleader.
Biography
Sanford was born in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in 1963, into a musical family. His parents and one of his grandfathers were choir leaders, his other grandfather was a jazz trumpeter, and his great-grandmother Mozie Bass had composed songs, and music for church pageants; he also has a brother who is a music teacher and singer in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, where the family moved.
The young David Sanford acquired an enthusiasm for big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
music early on, playing 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...
from around the age of ten. He went on to major in music at the University of Northern Colorado
University of Northern Colorado
-Organization:The University of Northern Colorado offers 100 undergraduate programs and more than 100 graduate programs. The university has a satellite campus in Denver, Colorado...
, and earned master's degrees in theory
Music theory
Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...
and composition
Musical composition
Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
at the New England Conservatory of Music
New England Conservatory of Music
The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, is the oldest independent school of music in the United States.The conservatory is home each year to 750 students pursuing undergraduate and graduate studies along with 1400 more in its Preparatory School as well as the School of...
. In 1991, Supported partly by a Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowships are American grants that have been awarded annually since 1925 by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to those "who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts." Each year, the foundation makes...
and partly by a job in the financial services industry, he undertook doctoral studies at Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, where he completed his dissertation on Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
in 1998. That same year he joined the faculty at Mount Holyoke
Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College is a liberal arts college for women in South Hadley, Massachusetts. It was the first member of the Seven Sisters colleges, and served as a model for some of the others...
, where he teaches theory, composition, and various history courses, including one on music of the 1970s.
In 2002 the Rome Prize
Rome Prize
The Rome Prize is an American award made annually by the American Academy in Rome, through a national competition, to 15 emerging artists and to 15 scholars The Rome Prize is an American award made annually by the American Academy in Rome, through a national competition, to 15 emerging artists...
took Sanford to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
for a year, and he formed the Pittsburgh Collective on his return, inviting players from a classical background as well as jazz musicians.
The group's debut album (Oxingale OX2010) was recorded live at the Knitting Factory
Knitting Factory
The Knitting Factory is a music venue and concert house with locations in Brooklyn, Boise, Reno, and Spokane. The club originally specialized in jazz and experimental music and has expanded to showcasing all genres of music, performing arts and comedy....
in 2005, with Matt Haimovitz
Matt Haimovitz
Matt Haimovitz is an Israeli-born cellist now based in the United States and Canada. He mainly plays a cello made by Matteo Gofriller in 1710.-Family, musical education and early career:...
as a cello soloist.
Works by Sanford have been performed by the Chamber Society of Lincoln Center, the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, Chicago Symphony Chamber Players, Detroit Symphony, Corvini e lodice Roma Jazz Ensemble, Meridian Arts Ensemble, and Speculum Musicae. His most recent works are published by Oxingale Music.