Monica Witni Cassin ( Bowden; July 5, 1918 – September 7, 1982) was an American composer, pianist, playwright, and

double bass The double bass (), also known as the upright bass, the acoustic bass, the bull fiddle, or simply the bass, is the largest and lowest-pitched string instrument, chordophone in the modern orchestra, symphony orchestra (excluding rare additions ...

player. She published music under the names Monica Witni, Monica Witni Cassin, and under the pseudonym Mirriam Bowden Henningfeld. Witni was born in

Fairfax, Minnesota Fairfax is a city in Renville County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,250 at the 2020 census. Minnesota State Highways 4 and 19 are two of the main arterial routes in the city. Fort Ridgely State Park is nearby. History F ...

. She began piano lessons at age six and studied with Jose Eschniz. She received scholarships to play double bass at

Southern Illinois University Southern Illinois University is a system of public universities in the southern region of the U.S. state of Illinois. Its headquarters is in Carbondale, Illinois. Board of trustees The university is governed by the nine member SIU Board of T ...

and

Millikin University Millikin University is a private university in Decatur, Illinois, United States. It was founded in 1901 by prominent Decatur businessman James Millikin and is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). History Millikin was initially esta ...

Decatur, Illinois Decatur ( ) is the largest city in Macon County, Illinois, United States, and its county seat. The city was founded in 1829 and is situated along the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur in Central Illinois. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 ...

. Witni taught briefly and played double bass in a jazz trio and with the

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is an American symphony orchestra based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The orchestra performs primarily at the Bradley Symphony Center in Allen-Bradley Hall. The orchestra also serves as the orchestra for Floren ...

. She married James Cassin in 1953. Witni died in

Pomona, New York Pomona is a village partly in the town of Ramapo and partly in the town of Haverstraw in Rockland County, New York, United States. It is located north of New Hempstead, east of Harriman State Park, north of Monsey and west of Mount Ivy. A ...

on September 7, 1982, at the age of 64. Her compositions include:

Ballet

*''Zarea and the Purple Rainbow'' (1968)

Chamber

*Dimensions in Rhythm (viola) *March, Fantasia, and Fugue (organ) *Modal Etude (viola; 1948) *String Quartet in e minor (1969) *Summer Holiday (viola) *Sweet One (viola) *Twilight Serenade (viola)

Electronic

*Tapestry (English horn, harp, celeste, vibraphone, and double bass)

Musical theatre

*''Wizard'' (1964)

Opera

*''Children of the Sun'' (three acts; 1975) *''Dark of Summer'' (one act; 1967) *''El Pope'' (one act; 1950)

Orchestra

*Organ Concerto in c minor (1948) *Piano Concerto in f minor *Rhapsody Petite (oboe and string orchestra) *Symphony #1 (1947) *Symphony #2 (1956) *Symphony #5 *Tambores Subsurrantes *Viola Concerto in c minor

Play

*''Black Camellia'' *''One of Us is Missing''

Song

*"I've Got to Face the Future" (with Jack Gould)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Witni, Monica 1918 births 1982 deaths American women opera composers American contemporary classical composers Classical double-bassists Pseudonyms American string quartet composers American opera composers Musicians from Minnesota Southern Illinois University alumni