Hugh Davidson (composer)
Encyclopedia
Hugh Hanson Davidson is a Canadian composer
, music critic, radio producer
, writer
, and arts administrator
. His compositional output includes works for piano, ballets, chamber music, vocal art songs, choral works, and incidental music for the theatre.
Davidson is a graduate of The Royal Conservatory of Music where he studied from 1945-1948. His teachers there included George Crum
in piano
and Godfrey Ridout
in music composition. In 1951 he went to England to pursue further studies in composition with Bernard Stevens
and Humphrey Searle
. After four years, he returned to Canada where he worked as a composer and studied orchestration with Neil Chotem
in Montreal.
From 1956 to 1961 Davidson was a radio producer for CBC Montreal
's English network, moving to their French network in 1962 where he worked for three years as a supervisor of music. He was then appointed assistant program director at CBC Montreal in 1965, a position he held for four years. In 1966 he helped found the Société de musique contemporaine du Québec. In 1967 he worked for the Canadian Pavilion at Expo 67
as their music consultant. He worked for the BBC in London from 1969–1971 and then returned to Canada to become music administrator of the National Arts Centre
(1971–1973). He was appointed head of music at the Canada Council in 1973, where he remained until he became cultural councillor to the Canadian High Commission in London in 1978. From 1981-1988 he served as general manager of the Canada Council's Touring Office
. After leaving there he has worked as a consultant to various arts organizations in the Vancouver
area.
Davidson has worked as a music critic for the British magazine Music and Musicians and for several publications in Montreal including The Gazette
and Montréal-Matin
. He has also written program notes for numerous ensembles, including the Montreal Symphony Orchestra
, the National Arts Centre Orchestra
, and the Pro Musica Society of Montreal. From 1956-1960 he was the assistant editor of the Jeunesses musicales du Canada's music journal.
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...
, music critic, radio producer
Radio producer
A radio producer oversees the making of a radio show. There are two main types of producer. An audio or creative producer and a content producer. Audio producers create sounds and audio specifically, content producers oversee and orchestrate a radio show or feature...
, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, and arts administrator
Arts administration
Arts Administration is the business end of an arts organization responsible for facilitating the day-to-day operation of the organization and fulfilling its mission...
. His compositional output includes works for piano, ballets, chamber music, vocal art songs, choral works, and incidental music for the theatre.
Davidson is a graduate of The Royal Conservatory of Music where he studied from 1945-1948. His teachers there included George Crum
George Crum (musician)
George Francis Crum was the first conductor of the National Ballet of Canada and an accomplished pianist, vocal coach and musical arranger.-Early life:...
in piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and Godfrey Ridout
Godfrey Ridout
Godfrey Ridout was a Canadian composer, conductor, music educator, and writer. He contributed articles to numerous Canadian music publications, notably serving as the assistant editor of both Canadian Music and Canadian Review of Music and Art...
in music composition. In 1951 he went to England to pursue further studies in composition with Bernard Stevens
Bernard Stevens
Bernard Stevens was a British composer.Born in London, Stevens studied English and Music at the University of Cambridge with E. J. Dent, then at the Royal College of Music with R.O. Morris and Gordon Jacob from 1937 to 1940...
and Humphrey Searle
Humphrey Searle
Humphrey Searle was a British composer.-Biography:He was born in Oxford where he was a classics scholar before studying — somewhat hesitantly — with John Ireland at the Royal College of Music in London, after which he went to Vienna on a six month scholarship to become a private pupil of Anton...
. After four years, he returned to Canada where he worked as a composer and studied orchestration with Neil Chotem
Neil Chotem
Neil Chotem was a Canadian composer, arranger, conductor, pianist, and music educator. His compositional style is eclectic but conservative, and often incorporates elements of jazz and popular music...
in Montreal.
From 1956 to 1961 Davidson was a radio producer for CBC Montreal
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
's English network, moving to their French network in 1962 where he worked for three years as a supervisor of music. He was then appointed assistant program director at CBC Montreal in 1965, a position he held for four years. In 1966 he helped found the Société de musique contemporaine du Québec. In 1967 he worked for the Canadian Pavilion at Expo 67
Expo 67
The 1967 International and Universal Exposition or Expo 67, as it was commonly known, was the general exhibition, Category One World's Fair held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, from April 27 to October 29, 1967. It is considered to be the most successful World's Fair of the 20th century, with the...
as their music consultant. He worked for the BBC in London from 1969–1971 and then returned to Canada to become music administrator of the National Arts Centre
National Arts Centre
The National Arts Centre is a centre for the performing arts located in Ottawa, Ontario, between Elgin Street and the Rideau Canal...
(1971–1973). He was appointed head of music at the Canada Council in 1973, where he remained until he became cultural councillor to the Canadian High Commission in London in 1978. From 1981-1988 he served as general manager of the Canada Council's Touring Office
Canada Council
The Canada Council for the Arts, commonly called the Canada Council, is a Crown Corporation established in 1957 to act as an arts council of the government of Canada, created to foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts. It funds Canadian artists and...
. After leaving there he has worked as a consultant to various arts organizations in the Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
area.
Davidson has worked as a music critic for the British magazine Music and Musicians and for several publications in Montreal including The Gazette
The Gazette (Montreal)
The Gazette, often called the Montreal Gazette to avoid ambiguity, is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, with three other daily English newspapers all having shut down at different times during the second half of the 20th century.-History:In 1778,...
and Montréal-Matin
Montréal-Matin
Montréal-Matin was a Quebec daily newspaper based in Montreal. It was published from 1930 to 1978. It was politically associated to the Conservative Party of Quebec and, afterwards, its successor the Union Nationale...
. He has also written program notes for numerous ensembles, including the Montreal Symphony Orchestra
Montreal Symphony Orchestra
Orchestre symphonique de Montréal is a symphony orchestra based in Montréal, Québec, Canada, with Montréal's Place des Arts as its home.-History:...
, the National Arts Centre Orchestra
National Arts Centre Orchestra
The National Arts Centre Orchestra is an orchestra in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada's capital. It is a classically-sized ensemble currently conducted by Pinchas Zukerman.-Description:Since 1998, Pinchas Zukerman has been the Music Director. Mario Bernardi C.C...
, and the Pro Musica Society of Montreal. From 1956-1960 he was the assistant editor of the Jeunesses musicales du Canada's music journal.