William Whitley
Dr. William Whitley, PhD Composer Instructor, Composition and Theory Western Oregon University Monmouth, Oregon 97361 (503) 838-8275 (541) 913-5950 (Cell) email me |
Biography: Composer William Whitley was born and raised in the pacific northwest, and currently resides in Albany, Oregon with his wife, Kim and their three children; Caitlyn, Sydni, and William. His works range in style from latin chant-inspired choral works, to jazz, folk and pop, to avant-garde experimentation. His works often reflect a special interest in poetry, nature, and spiritual traditions of varieties of cultures. He received a Bachelor of Arts in organ performance in 1994 from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington where he studied organ with Janet Satre-Ahrend and composition with Kevin Waters. In 2000, he earned his Master of Music degree in composition at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho where he studied with Robert Dickow and Daniel Bukvich. In June of 2007, he received his PhD in composition and theory at the University of Oregon, where he studied composition with Robert Kyr and David Crumb, and theory with Jack Boss and Steve Larson. Whitley's works have been performed by numerous ensembles, including New Century Voices; the Cascade Reed Trio; 100th Monkey Ensemble; First Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir of Cottage Grove; Trumpet and percussion duo Stephen Dunn & John Pennington; Clarinetist Blake McGee; Piano duo Quattro Mani; University of Idaho Chamber Players; and the University of Idaho Chamber Symphony. Commissions have included ECCLESIA (2001), VICTIMAE PASCHALI LAUDES (2000), (for chorus, organ, and brass quartet), ENTRADA (1997) for concert band, O MAGNUM MYSTERIUM (1997) for SAT chorus, PSALM 1 (1996) (for organ, timpani, and narrator), and THREE PIECES (1995) for chamber orchestra. |
CURRENT PROJECTS:
RECORDING PROJECTS: Music for Pianos, Volume I (1987-1994. December 16 and 17 of 2009, GungHo Studios in Eugene. Recording, editting, and mixing is complete. PUBLICATIONS: Ecclesia (2001)Is soon to be made available through Oregon Catholic Press as part of their TRINITAS choral octavo series. |
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Compositions | |||
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"Nothing Is Light, Nothing Is Dark" from THE TOWER OF BABEL |
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| "Nothing Is Light, Nothing Is Dark" from THE TOWER OF BABEL.mp3 - complete | |||
| "Nothing Is Light, Nothing Is Dark" from THE TOWER OF BABEL.pdf - complete | |||
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From the liturgical drama, THE TOWER OF BABEL (2007) | |||
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LILY OF FORCE |
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| LILY OF FORCE.mp3 - complete | |||
| LILY OF FORCE.pdf - complete | |||
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LILY OF FORCE (2009) for Soprano Saxophone, Vibes, Upright Bass, and Piano. | |||
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STUDY OF TWO PEARS |
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| STUDY OF TWO PEARS.mp3 - complete | |||
| STUDY OF TWO PEARS.pdf - complete | |||
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STUDY OF TWO PEARS is inspired by the mobiles of Alexander Calder, and is based on the poem STUDY OF TWO PEARS by Wallace Stevens: Each section of music can be viewed as a suspended object--the 'objects' remain unchange except in regard to their respective locations in time. Each section of the piece is likewise not fixed, but animated by the following method of performance. The score for STUDY OF TWO PEARS is intended for two pianos, consists of six sections labeled 1-6 (correlating to the six sections of Stevens' poem), and is notated as if for one piano. Each player will perform from these identical scores, but neither of the two pianists can know the order in which the other is playing the sections. Each performer will play the six sections either in an order determined prior to the performance or in an improvised order. The sections must be played exactly as written without regard for the other's tempi or dynamic. Each section must also be played twice but preferably not in immediate succession. (e. g., the order [3,6,2,4,1,5...], would be preferable to [3,3,6,6,2,2...].) | |||
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"Agnus Dei" from MISSA SEMPLICE (2003) |
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| "Agnus Dei" from MISSA SEMPLICE (2003).mp3 - complete | |||
| "Agnus Dei" from MISSA SEMPLICE (2003).pdf - complete | |||
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For Lani. | |||
©2009 by William Whitley
All Rights Reserved
William Whitley is a member of Society of Composers, Inc. SCI is dedicated to the promotion of composition, performance, understanding and dissemination of new and contemporary music.