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Memphis Composers

Memphis area composers, including current and former faculty, students, community members.

DAVID RUSSELL WILLIAMS

Dr. David Russell Williams joined the faculty of Memphis State University in 1980 and later served as Chair of the Music Department. He received an Artium Baccalaureatus degree in 1954 and a Master's of Arts in composition in 1956 from Columbia University. Following graduation, he was hired as Chief Instructor of hte U.S. Army Band Training School. He became the Music Director at Windham College in 1959. Upon completion of a Doctorate of Musical Arts in composition from Eastman School of Music in 1965, Williams joined the Eastman faculty. In 1980, he joined the faculty at Memphis State University. While a student at Eastman, Williams studied composition with Howard Hanson, Otto Luening, Henry Cowell, and Jack Beeson. He also studied piano and harpischord with Sylvia Marlowe, William Beller, and Orazio Frugoni.

Williams authored several books. He has served as National Secretary for the College Music Society, on the Board of Governors for the National Academy of Recording Sciences, and on the Board of Directors for hte National Association of Schools of Music. He was also president of the Tennessee Association of Music Executives of Colleges and Universities (1986-1987). Williams was an honorary member of the Black Student Association and received the Angel Award in 1984. He received the University of Memphis Distinguished Teaching Award in 1994.

Works

Compositions

Air for oboe and strings score

Concerto for piano, four hands and orchestra score

Dance piece, for solo bassoon score

Il est calme : op. 41 (song with piano) score

Fanfare (brass quintets) score

In the still of the bayou score

Lullaby under the magnolias, op. 40 (1963-64) score

March and fugue, for string orchestra score

Passacaglia score

Five pieces for harpsichord score

Quartet for two trumpets, trombone & piano score

The rainbow : op. 8 (song with piano) score

Recitation for trombone choir score

Sinfonia in E. score

Sinfonia in B♭ for band : opus 2 score

Sonata for harp score

Piano sonata no. 2 score

Piano sonata no. 3 score

Piano sonata no. 4 score

Piano sonata no. 5 score

Piano sonata no. 6 score

Piano sonata no. 8 score

Sonatina for bassoon and harp score

Sonatina for clarinet and piano score

Song and dance for violin and piano score

St. Anthony march : op. 31 score

Five states of mind score

Suite for brass quintet score

Suite for piano, four hands score

Suite for oboe, clarinet, and piano score

Other

A bibliography of the history of music theory book

Conversations with Howard Hanson book

Music theory from Boethius to Zarlino : a bibliography and guide book

Music theory from Zarlino to Schenker : a bibliography and guide book