Raymond Wilding-White (also known as Ray Wilding-White); (9 October 1922 – 24 August 2001) was an American composer of

contemporary classical music Contemporary classical music is Western art music composed close to the present day. At the beginning of the 21st-century classical music, 21st century, it commonly referred to the post-1945 Modernism (music), post-tonal music after the death of ...

and

electronic music Electronic music broadly is a group of music genres that employ electronic musical instruments, circuitry-based music technology and software, or general-purpose electronics (such as personal computers) in its creation. It includes both music ...

, and a photographer/

digital art Digital art, or the digital arts, is artistic work that uses Digital electronics, digital technology as part of the creative or presentational process. It can also refer to computational art that uses and engages with digital media. Since the 1960 ...

ist.

Biography

Wilding-White was born in

Caterham Caterham () is a town in the Tandridge (district), Tandridge district of Surrey, England. The town is administratively divided into two: Caterham on the Hill, and Caterham Valley, which includes the main town centre in the middle of a dry valle ...

Tandridge Tandridge is a village and civil parish in the Tandridge District, in the county of Surrey, England. Its nucleus is on a rise of the Greensand Ridge between Oxted and Godstone. It includes, towards its middle one named sub-locality (hamlet), ...

Surrey Surrey () is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Greater London to the northeast, Kent to the east, East Sussex, East and West Sussex to the south, and Hampshire and Berkshire to the wes ...

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

, and spent the first five years of his life in England before moving to

Saint-Germain-en-Laye Saint-Germain-en-Laye () is a Communes of France, commune in the Yvelines Departments of France, department in the Île-de-France in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris, from the Kilometre Zero, centre of Paris. ...

, outside

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

, where he had his first formal instruction in music at the Conservatoire

Camille Saint-Saëns Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns (, , 9October 183516 December 1921) was a French composer, organist, conductor and pianist of the Romantic music, Romantic era. His best-known works include Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso (1863), the Piano ...

. In 1932 the family moved to

Buenos Aires Buenos Aires, controlled by the government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Argentina. It is located on the southwest of the Río de la Plata. Buenos Aires is classified as an Alpha− glob ...

Argentina Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...

, his mother's family home. By 1940 he had moved to

Cambridge, Massachusetts Cambridge ( ) is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is a suburb in the Greater Boston metropolitan area, located directly across the Charles River from Boston. The city's population as of the 2020 United States census, ...

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

Family

Wilding-White's father, Charles Dunning White was an American diplomat. Raymond Wilding-White had a number of brothers including Henry, Charles, and Alexander. His wife Glennie was also an accomplished musician, composer and playwright, as was his son Charles.

Education & Work

In 1940, Wilding-White enrolled in the

chemical engineering Chemical engineering is an engineering field which deals with the study of the operation and design of chemical plants as well as methods of improving production. Chemical engineers develop economical commercial processes to convert raw materials ...

program at the

Massachusetts Institute of Technology The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a Private university, private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Established in 1861, MIT has played a significant role in the development of many areas of moder ...

, but dropped out to assist in the

war effort War effort is a coordinated mobilization of society's resources—both industrial and civilian—towards the support of a military force, particular during a state of war. Depending on the militarization of the culture, the relative si ...

as a civilian. After the war he was accepted at the

Juilliard School The Juilliard School ( ) is a Private university, private performing arts music school, conservatory in New York City. Founded by Frank Damrosch as the Institute of Musical Art in 1905, the school later added dance and drama programs and became ...

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

, earning his bachelor's degree in piano performance. Wilding-White earned his master's degree in composition from the

New England Conservatory of Music The New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) is a Private college, private music school in Boston, Massachusetts. The conservatory is located on Huntington Avenue along Avenue of the Arts (Boston), the Avenue of the Arts near Boston Symphony Ha ...

. During this period he also sang in the Chorus pro Musica under Alfred Nash Patterson, and as a

countertenor A countertenor (also contra tenor) is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range is equivalent to that of the female contralto or mezzo-soprano voice types, generally extending from around G3 to D5 or E5, although a sopranist (a ...

(male alto) in the choir at Church of the Advent in Boston. While in Boston he worked at the radio station WGBH. He and Nancy Harper won a

Peabody Award The George Foster Peabody Awards (or simply Peabody Awards or the Peabodys) program, named for the American businessman and philanthropist George Foster Peabody, George Peabody, honor what are described as the most powerful, enlightening, and in ...

for their work on The Children's Circle. Wilding-White left WGBH to pursue his doctorate in composition from

Boston University Boston University (BU) is a Private university, private research university in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. BU was founded in 1839 by a group of Boston Methodism, Methodists with its original campus in Newbury (town), Vermont, Newbur ...

. He was a student of

Aaron Copland Aaron Copland (, ; November 14, 1900December 2, 1990) was an American composer, critic, writer, teacher, pianist, and conductor of his own and other American music. Copland was referred to by his peers and critics as the "Dean of American Compos ...

and

Luigi Dallapiccola Luigi Dallapiccola (3 February 1904 – 19 February 1975) was an Italian composer known for his lyrical twelve-tone compositions. Biography Dallapiccola was born in Pisino d'Istria (at the time part of Austria-Hungary, current Pazin, Croati ...

. In 1956, Wilding-White married Glennie. By 1962 he had completed his doctorate and was appointed to the Kulas Chair at

Case Institute of Technology Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) is a Private university, private research university in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It was established in 1967 by a merger between Western Reserve University and the Case Institute of Technology. Case ...

. He taught in the humanities program and was director of the Case Glee Club as part of his academic duties and was instrumental in promoting contemporary music concerts and

multi-media Multimedia is a form of communication that uses a combination of different content forms, such as writing, audio, images, animations, or video, into a single presentation. This is in contrast to tradition ...

events in

Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Cuyahoga County. Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie, it is situated across the Canada–United States border, Canada–U.S. maritime border ...

. In 1967 Case Institute merged with

Western Reserve University Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US * Western, New York, a town in the US * Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia * Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that ...

, and Wilding-White accepted an invitation from

DePaul University DePaul University is a private university, private Catholic higher education, Catholic research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Congregation of the Mission, Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from ...

to design and install an

studio there. Also in 1967, he was awarded the Cleveland Arts Prize in Music. Wilding-White continued to teach humanities courses at DePaul until retiring in the mid-1980s. In Chicago he founded the contemporary performing arts ensemble The Loop Group. Wilding-White created new radio programming at

WFMT WFMT (98.7 MHz) is a commercial FM radio station in Chicago, Illinois, with a classical music radio format. It is part of Window to the World Communications, Inc, in the same company as Chicago's PBS member station WTTW. WFMT seeks donations ...

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...

. During the

Bicentennial __NOTOC__ A bicentennial or bicentenary is the two-hundredth anniversary of a part, or the celebrations thereof. It may refer to: Europe * French Revolution bicentennial, commemorating the 200th anniversary of 14 July 1789 uprising, celebrated ...

year 1976 he recorded the daily series ''Our American Music''. He also recorded a history of music in Chicago, entitled ''Music Chicago Style'', as a complement to the

Chicago Historical Society Chicago History Museum is the museum of the Chicago Historical Society (CHS). The CHS was founded in 1856 to study and interpret Chicago's history. The museum has been located in Lincoln Park since the 1930s at 1601 North Clark Street at the ...

's exhibit, and wrote and presented programming on composers

Charles Ives Charles Edward Ives (; October 20, 1874May 19, 1954) was an American modernist composer, actuary and businessman. Ives was among the earliest renowned American composers to achieve recognition on a global scale. His music was largely ignored d ...

John Cage John Milton Cage Jr. (September 5, 1912 – August 12, 1992) was an American composer and music theorist. A pioneer of indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and Extended technique, non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one ...

, and

Arnold Schoenberg Arnold Schoenberg or Schönberg (13 September 187413 July 1951) was an Austrian and American composer, music theorist, teacher and writer. He was among the first Modernism (music), modernists who transformed the practice of harmony in 20th-centu ...

. Wilding-White's creativity was not limited to music and the performing arts, he was also an avid photographer and visual artist, with exhibitions in the gallery of Darkroom Aids, Chicago (1981) and the Brown County Museum (Green Bay, Wisconsin). Wilding-White composed over 100 works. He was influenced by the work of

. His scores are archived at the

Newberry Library The Newberry Library is an independent research library, specializing in the humanities. It is located in Chicago, Illinois, and has been free and open to the public since 1887. The Newberry's mission is to foster a deeper understanding of our wo ...

in Chicago, and his photographic work will also be kept there.

Death

Wilding-White died at his home in Kewaunee,

Wisconsin Wisconsin ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest of the United States. It borders Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michig ...

, of liver failure at the age of 78 in 2001, leaving a huge body of musical and photographic work. His wife Glennie died thirteen years later, January 31, 2014, at the age of 81.

Compositions

Orchestral

*Even Now: variations for Baritone and Orchestra *Even Now: Chamber Orchestra version *Concerto for Piano and Orchestra *Concerto for Violin and Orchestra *Concertante for Horn, Violin and Strings *Bandmusic for concert Band (LP Recording) *Haiku for solo voices and various Instrumental Combinations *Whatzit No 4 for Orchestra *The Southern Harmony for Orchestra and Amateur Chorus (Materials traditionally and graphically notated; final layout to be chosen by the conductor) *Symphony for Swing Orchestra *De Profundis: The 8 Virtues and 7 Vices as seen by Peter Breughel *Quodlibet for Chorus, Solo Voices and Orchestra. 4 Mov. *A Symphony of Symphonies *Symphony No 1 Old Postcards: String Orchestra *Symphony No 2 Thomas Cole's "The Voyage of Life": Full Orchestra *Symphony No 3 Boccioni's "States of Mind": Wind and Percussion Orch.

Choral

*The Psalms :*

Psalm 1 Psalm 1 is the first psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in the English King James Version: "Blessed is the man", and forming "an appropriate prologue" to the whole collection according to Alexander Kirkpatrick.Kirkpatrick, A. F. (1906)Cambr ...

Mixed Chorus :*

Psalm 2 Psalm 2 is the second psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Why do the heathen rage". In Latin, it is known as "Quare fremuerunt gentes". Psalm 2 does not identify its author with a superscription, but Act ...

Three Equal Male Parts :*

Psalm 3 Psalm 3 is the third psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Lord, how are they increased that trouble me!". In Latin, it is known as "Domine quid multiplicati sunt". The psalm is a personal thanksgiving to G ...

SSAA and 3 Trombones :*Psalm 4 SATB :*Psalm 5 (Two Versions) ::*Psalm 5 (Monte Carlo Suite No 4): Soprano and Wind Ensemble :*Psalm 6 Female Voices :*Psalm 6 Spoken Ensemble and Drum Set :*Psalm 7 Mixed voices :*Psalm 8 SATB :*Two Psalms for Baritone ::*No 16 Solo ::*No 126 with piano :*Four Psalms for Tenor and String Quartet ::*

Psalm 63 Psalm 63 is the 63rd psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee". In the slightly different numbering system of the Greek Septuagint version of the Bible and the ...

::*

Psalm 70 Psalm 70 is the 70th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Make haste, O God, to deliver me". The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christian Old Testament ...

::*

Psalm 42 Psalm 42 is the 42nd psalm of the Book of Psalms, often known in English by its incipit, "As the hart panteth after the water brooks" (in the King James Version). The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a boo ...

::*

Psalm 100 Psalm 100 is the 100th psalm in the Book of Psalms in the Tanakh. In English, it is translated as "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands" in the King James Version (KJV), and as "O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands" in the Book of C ...

:*Psalm 9 Mixed Voices :*Psalm 11 SATB and flute :*Psalm 12 (The Magic Square) SAB :*Psalm 13 Soprano and Piano (in 12 Songs) :*Three Psalms for Bariton and Percussion ::*Psalm 13 ::*Psalm 93 ::*Psalm 43 :*Psalm 15 Pop setting SAAA, 2 keyboards, bass (opt drum set) :*Psalm 16 Soprano and Organ :*Psalm 17 SATB :*Psalm 18 Mixed Voices and Orchestra :*Psalm 19 "The 702 Names of God" 6 voices, solo voice, 2 electric pianos :*Psalm 19 "Morse Code" :*Four Psalms for Voices and Brass ::*No 12 for (amplified) SSAABB Trumpet. Horn and Trombone ::*No 111 for SSAATTBB 3 Trumpets. 3 Trombones & Tuba ::*No 113 for SATB 3 Trumpets. 3 Trombones & Tuba ::*No 115 for SSAATTBB Trumpet, Horn and Trombone :*Psalm 20 Bass and violin :*Psalm 21 Baritone and cello :*Psalm 22 Amplified S and 3 Trumpets :*Psalm 23 (Two Versions) SSAA :*Psalm 24 Bariton and cello :*Psalm 25 2 voices and 4 cymbal players :*Psalm 26 Soprano solo, oboe, string quartet :*Psalm 27 Soprano solo, 6 clarinets :*Psalm 28 SSS soli :*Psalm 29 SATB :*Psalm 30 Teno, solo horn, bassoon :*Psalm 31 Three Voices and 6 Xylophonists (3 instruments) :*Psalm 32 SB, flute, clarinet, horn, violin, viola, cello :*Psalm 33 Soprano solo, violin, cello, 2 trombones, theremin, percussion :*Psalm 39 "Jeux de Cartes" Score on a deck of cards to be shuffled and dealt. ::Variable number of voices and instruments :*Psalm 43 Any number of men in unison and independently; 7 women plus 2 clarinets, 2 percussion & piano :*Psalm 47 Male Chorus :*Psalm 47 jazz vocal quartet setting :*Psalm 51 Soprano solo, English horn, string quartet or organ :*Psalm 54 24 Solo voices :*Psalm 84 Baritone and flute :*Psalm 89 - 6 altos and 6 flutes :*Psalm 95 SSSSAAAATTBB :*Psalm 99 SSAATTBB Organ :*Psalm 102 Soprano, Countertenor and Organ :*Psalm 109 16 Solo Voices :*Psalm 112 Graphic Score :*Psalm 114 Soprano and Piano (in 12 Songs) :*Psalm 134 12 sung voices and 12 spoken voices :*Psalm 141/142 - 4 sopranos, 4 altos, 4 baritones, piano, tam tam, truck spring :*Psalm 142 with Mark Twain's War Prayer ::SATB soli, SATB chorus, 4 oboes, 3 trumpets, 3 tbns, Vi 1-2, Vl, Ce, Bass. :*Psalm 149 for SS Violin and viola :*Psalm 150 for SSTB Hammered Dulcimer and Harpsichord *Advent Choruses (Various short choruses) *Penitential Mass *Latin Mass SATB *Jazz Mass SATB *Magnificat S Violin and Viola *Magnificat for Jazz Vocal Group SATB Soli and SATB *Easter Music for St Agnes A Solo & Harpsichord *Space Madrigals (Pub Lawson Gould) *A Book of Madrigals (52 madrigals for various combinations a capella) *Wedding Motet: SATB *Bennington Epitaphs SATB *The Ship of Death: Mezzo-Soprano, SATB and Wind Ensemble *Three Christmas Carols *Three Songs by Sir Thomas Wyatt SSAA *Restoration Lyrics (Texts by the Earl of Rochester) TTBB *Mexico City Blues (Kerouac): Male Chorus and Jazz Combo *Laudamus Viros Gloriosos: Male Chorus *In Memoriam A.N.R SATB *The Enrolment Management Rag: Mixed Chorus *Whatzit No 5 for Chorus *Nursery Birds for Mixed Chorus *Tang Poems: 20 settings for various combinations of voice and Instruments *Requiescat (to a poem by

Oscar Wilde Oscar Fingal O'Fflahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 185430 November 1900) was an Irish author, poet, and playwright. After writing in different literary styles throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular and influential playwright ...

) *McGuffey's Eclectic Reader. SATB & ::Small chorus SATB (Optionally SSAATTBB soli) and small ensemble *A Song for Christmas Eve, words by Glennie Wilding-White

Songs

*Three Housman Poems: S and Piano (Pub Galaxy) *Six Poems from the Tang Dynasty: S and Flute *Twelve Songs for Soprano and Piano (1959) (includes 4 William Blake Songs) *Three Poems by Robert Graves: Bar and Piano *Novalis songs: Bar and Piano *Trionfo di Bacco e Arianne: Two Sopranos and Piano *The Ballad of Psychoanalysis: Contralto and Piano *Cummings Songs Soprano or Mezzo and Piano *Cinco Poemas de Gil Vicente: Soprano and Piano *Eight Songs: Two sopranos and Instrumental Ensemble *Twenty Dickinson Poems: Soprano and Alto *Four Poems by St John of the Cross: Mezzo. Two Flutes and Two Trumpets *Quatre Poemes and Quatre Poemes: Soprano, Flute/Recorder and Piano *For Mrs Crofts: Soprano and flute *For Robert Michaud: Baritone and flute *The Arkansas Traveler: Tenor and Piano *Death Songs: Soprano and Instrumental Ensemble *Millay Poems :*a: Nine for Soprano and Piano :*b: Nine for Soprano and guitar *Three Poems by Sid Corman for Alto. Violin and Viola *Le Bestiaire ou le Cortege d'Orphee for soprano, flute, cello, harp *Two Iwi Songs: :*1. Solo voice and 3 equal voices :*2. SSATB soli *Short Mass for Soprano and Organ *Two German Songs for Soprano and Piano

Instrumental

*Sonata for Two Pianos *Piano sonata *Three organ Preludes *14 Chorale Preludes for Organ *Duos for Violin and Piano *String Quartet No 1 *String Quartet No 2 (Monte Carlo Suite No l) *String Quartet No 3 (The Forest) Tenor and String Quartet *String Quartet No 4 *String Quartet No 5 *String Quartet No 6 (The Song Quartet) Soprano and String Quartet *String Quartet No 7 (See Psalms) *Variations for Chamber Organ and String Trio *Character Sketches for Piano (Pub Galaxy) *For Mallets (Pub Mus for Perc.) *Sonatina for Trumpet and Piano *Counterpoints for Two Clarinets *Fragments for Jazz Ensemble *Encores for Stu: Solo Trombone *Fifty Eight Traditional Variations on a Traditional Theme: Piano Brass duets *Brass duets *Whatzit No 1 for Perc and Piano *Whatzit No 2 for Piano *Whatzit No 3 for Piano *Whatzit No 6 for Solo Trombone *The Rape of Spring (from fragments attributed to Roger Scott) ::Harpsichord, Tape and Narration *Algorhythms for Piano *Eight Fish Creek Autographs *Monte Carlo Suite No 3 (*Piano sonata 2) *Serenata for Brass Quintet *Whatzit No 12-Short Things for Violin and Piano *Three Short Rags and The Monotony Rag *Fanfare for Mark Rothko. Tape and Brass Quintet *Lines from the Twelve Moons: Narrator. Piano and Four Basses *Les Fourberies: Suite for Hammered Dulcimer, Guitar and Harpsichord *Variations on Stabat Mater for Organ *My Album: Assorted Inventions *Concerto for Organ and Piano *Suite for Flute and Marimba *14 Romantic Preludes from Old Maritime Postcards for Piano Solo

Stage works

*''The Tub'' (chamber opera for SATB soli and Piano) *''The Lonesome Valley'' (ballet) *''The Selfish Giant'' (opera for TV) *''The Trees'' (ballet) *''Yerma'' (opera in 3 acts, 6 scenes.) *''The Music of Eric Zann -- A Gothic Tale after H.P. Lovecraft'' (tape and violin) *''Liturgy'' (ballet, brass quintet) *''Trio'' (ballad opera) *''Gifts'' (liturgical drama) *''Gifts II'' (liturgical drama) *''The Ghost of a Flea'' (puppet show)

Books

*Wilding-White, Raymond (1994). ''Music Chicago Style''. Kewaunee, Wisconsin: Raymond Wilding-White. OCLC: 47815153.

References

External links

Obituary
* ttps://eartotheearth.org/2015/08/john-cage/ Ear to The Earth: John Cage Piece Inspired by Raymond Wilding Whitebr>Raymond Wilding-White Papers
a
the Newberry
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilding-White, Raymond 1922 births 2001 deaths 20th-century American classical composers English classical composers English emigrants to the United States English expatriates in France English expatriates in Argentina MIT School of Engineering alumni Juilliard School alumni Boston University College of Fine Arts alumni New England Conservatory alumni DePaul University faculty Case Western Reserve University faculty American digital artists People from Caterham People from Kewaunee, Wisconsin English opera composers American male opera composers English male classical composers 20th-century English composers British digital artists 20th-century English male musicians