David Van Vactor
Encyclopedia
David Van Vactor was an American
composer of contemporary classical music
.
He was born in Plymouth
, Indiana
, and received Bachelor of Music (1928) and Master of Music (1935) degrees from Northwestern University
. He studied with Arne Oldberg
, Mark Wessel, Ernst Nolte, Leo Sowerby
, Paul Dukas
, Franz Schmidt
, and Arnold Schoenberg
.
He was the assistant conductor of the Chicago Civic Orchestra (1933–34) and was both the flute section leader and assistant conductor the Kansas City Philharmonic Orchestra from 1943 to 1947. He served as the conductor of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra
from 1947 until 1972. He also appeared as guest conductor with the New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra
, the Cleveland Orchestra
, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
, the London Philharmonic Orchestra
, the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra
, and the orchestras of Rio de Janeiro and Santiago, Chile.
He composed well over one hundred major works, including seven symphonies, nine concertos, five large pieces for chorus and orchestra, many orchestral, chamber and vocal works, and four pieces for symphonic band. In 1938 his Symphony in D won the Second Annual Competition of the ew York Philharmonic|New York Philharmonic-Symphony Society for a major symphonic work by a U. S. composer (his former teacher Mark Wessel received the sole Honorable Mention in the same competition). The Symphony was premiered on January 19, 1939 by the Philharmonic-Symphony, conducted by the composer. His music was recorded by the conductor William Strickland
.
He was Professor Emeritus of Composition and Flute at the University of Tennessee
, Knoxville
. He taught at the University of Tennessee
. His notable students include Gilbert Trythall, Richard Trythall, David P. Sartor
, and Jesse Ayers. He died in Los Angeles
, California
, in 1994.
The David Van Vactor Collection is held by the University of Tennessee
Special Collections Library in Knoxville, Tennessee.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
composer of contemporary classical music
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 was born in Plymouth
Plymouth, Indiana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 9,840 people, 3,838 households, and 2,406 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,414.0 people per square mile . There were 4,100 housing units at an average density of 589.2 per square mile...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, and received Bachelor of Music (1928) and Master of Music (1935) degrees from 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....
. He studied with Arne Oldberg
Arne Oldberg
Arne Oldberg was an American pianist and composer. He studied with Teodor Leszetycki in Vienna and with Joseph Rheinberger in Munich, and later taught at Northwestern University. Among his students were composers Howard Hanson and Cecilia Clare Bocard.-References:*Griffiths, Paul...
, Mark Wessel, Ernst Nolte, Leo Sowerby
Leo Sowerby
Leo Sowerby , American composer and church musician, was the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for music in 1946, and was often called the “Dean of American church music” in the early to mid 20th century.-Biography:...
, Paul Dukas
Paul Dukas
Paul Abraham Dukas was a French composer, critic, scholar and teacher. A studious man, of retiring personality, he was intensely self-critical, and he abandoned and destroyed many of his compositions...
, Franz Schmidt
Franz Schmidt
Franz Schmidt was an Austrian composer, cellist and pianist of Hungarian descent and origin.- Life :Schmidt was born in Pozsony , in the Hungarian part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire . His father was half Hungarian and his mother entirely Hungarian...
, and Arnold Schoenberg
Arnold Schoenberg
Arnold Schoenberg was an Austrian composer, associated with the expressionist movement in German poetry and art, and leader of the Second Viennese School...
.
He was the assistant conductor of the Chicago Civic Orchestra (1933–34) and was both the flute section leader and assistant conductor the Kansas City Philharmonic Orchestra from 1943 to 1947. He served as the conductor of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra
The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra is a professional orchestra in Knoxville, Tennessee.The orchestra was established in 1935 and is the oldest continuing orchestra in the southeastern United States. The founding conductor was Bertha Walburn Clark, who led the group until 1946...
from 1947 until 1972. He also appeared as guest conductor with the New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
, the Cleveland Orchestra
Cleveland Orchestra
The Cleveland Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is one of the five American orchestras informally referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1918, the orchestra plays most of its concerts at Severance Hall...
, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1891, the Symphony makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival...
, the London Philharmonic Orchestra
London Philharmonic Orchestra
The London Philharmonic Orchestra , based in London, is one of the major orchestras of the United Kingdom, and is based in the Royal Festival Hall. In addition, the LPO is the main resident orchestra of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera...
, the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra
HR-Sinfonieorchester
The hr-Sinfonieorchester is the radio orchestra of Hessischer Rundfunk, the public broadcasting network of the German state of Hesse. Until 2005 it was the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, a name still used for international tours....
, and the orchestras of Rio de Janeiro and Santiago, Chile.
He composed well over one hundred major works, including seven symphonies, nine concertos, five large pieces for chorus and orchestra, many orchestral, chamber and vocal works, and four pieces for symphonic band. In 1938 his Symphony in D won the Second Annual Competition of the ew York Philharmonic|New York Philharmonic-Symphony Society for a major symphonic work by a U. S. composer (his former teacher Mark Wessel received the sole Honorable Mention in the same competition). The Symphony was premiered on January 19, 1939 by the Philharmonic-Symphony, conducted by the composer. His music was recorded by the conductor William Strickland
William Strickland (conductor)
William Remsen Strickland was an American conductor and organist.He served as guest conductor for the Cathedral Choral Society of Washington, D.C. during World War II...
.
He was Professor Emeritus of Composition and Flute at the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
, Knoxville
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
. He taught at the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
. His notable students include Gilbert Trythall, Richard Trythall, David P. Sartor
David P. Sartor
David Sartor is an American composer and conductor of symphonic, chamber and choral music, and is Adjunct Professor of Composition at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee.-Music:...
, and Jesse Ayers. He died in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, in 1994.
The David Van Vactor Collection is held by the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
Special Collections Library in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Discography
- 1958 – Fantasia, Chaconne, and Allegro. (With N. V. Bentzon, Pezzi sinfonici, op.109, and Walter Piston, Serenata). Louisville Orchestra, Robert Whitney, cond. Louisville LP, LOU-58-6.
- 1969 – The Music of David Van Vactor (Everest)
- 1970 – Concerto a quattro; Concerto for Viola and Orchestra. Willy Schmidt, Werner Peschke, Karl Hermann Seyfried, flutes; Charlotte Cassedanne-Haase, harp; Hans Eurich, viola; Hessischer Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester, David Van Vactor, cond. Orion LP ORS 7024
- 1976 – American Music for Flute and Piano (includes Van Vactor's Sonatina for Flute and Piano), Keith Bryan, flute; Karen Keys, piano. Orion LP, ORS 76242.
- 1995 – The Music of David Van Vactor. Symphony No. 1; Symphony No. 3; Recitativo and Saltarello, for orchestra; Sinfonia Breve. Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra (Symphony No. 1); Hessischer Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester, David Van Vactor, cond. CRI CD 702. Material originally released on LPs, by CRI SD 169 (1963) and SD 225 (1968), and by Orion ORS 6910 (1969)
- 2006 – Episodes—Jesus Christ. The Knoxville Choral Society and Orchestra, J. B. Lyle, cond. CD Baby 103615.
External links
- David Van Vactor page
- David Van Vactor biography
- David Van Vactor biography at Knoxville Symphony Orchestra site
- David Van Vactor Collection at University of Tennessee
- David Van Vactor Collection at University of Tennessee