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.
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