Donald H. White (February 28, 1921 – October 4, 2016) was a 20th-century American composer. White was born in

Narberth, Pennsylvania Narberth is a Borough (Pennsylvania), borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It is one of many neighborhoods on the historic Philadelphia Main Line. The population was 4,282 at the 2010 census. History Narberth is located on a parcel of ...

, in 1921. He studied music education at

Temple University Temple University (Temple or TU) is a public university, public Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related research university in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It was founded in 1884 by the Baptist ministe ...

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

and composition with Persichetti at the

Philadelphia Conservatory of Music Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

(1946) and with

Bernard Rogers Bernard Rogers (4 February 1893 – 24 May 1968) was an American composer. His best known work is ''The Passion'', an oratorio written in 1942. Life and career Rogers was born in New York City. He studied with Arthur Farwell, Ernest Bloc ...

and

Howard Hanson Howard Harold Hanson (October 28, 1896 – February 26, 1981)''The New York Times'' – Obituaries. Harold C. Schonberg. February 28, 1981 p. 1011/ref> was an American composer, conductor, educator and music theorist. As director for forty year ...

at the

Eastman School of Music The Eastman School of Music is the music school of the University of Rochester, a private research university in Rochester, New York, United States. Established in 1921 by celebrated industrialist and philanthropist George Eastman, it was the ...

(1952). In 1947, he joined the faculty of

DePauw University DePauw University ( ) is a private liberal arts college in Greencastle, Indiana, United States. It was founded in 1837 as Indiana Asbury College and changed its name to DePauw University in 1884. The college has a Methodist heritage and was ...

Greencastle, Indiana Greencastle is a city in Greencastle Township, Putnam County, Indiana, United States, and the county seat of Putnam County. It is located near Interstate 70 approximately halfway between Terre Haute and Indianapolis in the west-central portion ...

, where he was chairman of composition and theory studies (1948–81). He was the director of the school of music at Depauw from 1974 to 1978. He became the chairman of the music department at

Central Washington University Central Washington University (CWU) is a public university in Ellensburg, Washington, United States. Founded in 1891, the university consists of four divisions: the President's Division, Business and Financial Affairs, Operations, and Academi ...

Ellensburg, Washington Ellensburg is a city in and the county seat of Kittitas County, Washington, United States. It is located just east of the Cascade Range near the junction of Interstate 90 in Washington, Interstate 90 and Interstate 82. The population was 18,666 ...

, in 1980. White died at the age of 95 on October 4, 2016, and was interred at

West Laurel Hill Cemetery West Laurel Hill Cemetery is a historic rural cemetery located in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1869, is in size, and contains the burials of many notable people. It is affiliated with Laurel Hill Cemetery in nearby Philadelphia. ...

Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania Bala Cynwyd ( ) is a community and census-designated place in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located on the Philadelphia Main Line in Southeastern Pennsylvania and borders the western edge of Philadelphia at U.S. Route ...

Compositions

He was best known for his ''Euphonium Suite'', ''Trombone Sonata'' and ''Tetra Ergon'', for bass trombone. *Orchestra: ''Sagan,'' overture 1946; ''Kennebec Suite'' 1947; ''Overture'' 1951; ''Cello Concerto'' 1952; ''Divertimento No. 2 for Strings'' 1968 *Band: ''Ambrosian Hymn variants'' 1963; ''Terpsimetrics'' 1968; ''Concerto for Timpani winds and percussion'' 1973; ''Lyric suite for Euphonium and Wind Ensemble'' 1978; ''4 Bagatelles'' 1989 *Chamber: ''Trumpet sonata'' 1946; ''3 for 5 Woodwind quintet'' 1964; ''Serenade No. 3 for Brass Quintet'' 1965; ''Trombone Sonata'' 1966; ''Tetra Ergon, for Bass Trombone and Piano'' 1973; ''Tuba Sonata'' 1978; ''Quintet for Brass'' 1980 *Vocal: ''Song for Mankind for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra'' 1970; ''From the Navajo Children for Chorus and Wind Ensemble'' 1978

References

* Slonimsky, Nicolas. ''Bakers Biographical Dictionary of Musicians'' Ed. by Kuhn, Laura. Volume 6. Schirmer Books. 1990. New York, New York. {{DEFAULTSORT:White, Donald H 1921 births 2016 deaths American male composers American composers Burials at West Laurel Hill Cemetery Temple University alumni University of the Arts (Philadelphia) alumni Eastman School of Music alumni DePauw University faculty People from Narberth, Pennsylvania