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Burrill Phillips

December 18, 2023

Leroy Burrill Phillips (November 9, 1907 – June 22, 1988)[1] was an American composer, teacher, and pianist.

Biography edit

Phillips was born in Omaha, Nebraska. He studied at the College of Music at the University of Denver with Edwin Stringham and at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, with Howard Hanson and Bernard Rogers.[1] On September 17, 1928, he married Alberta Corinne Mayfield (1907–1979) who wrote many of his librettos.[1] In 1931 the couple had a daughter who, under the stage name Ann Todd, became a child actress in films. She continued acting into her early twenties, but left the entertainment industry in 1954 and died in 2020. A second child, son Stephen, was born in 1937. He died in 1986, two years before his father.

Phillips's first important work was Selections from McGuffey's Reader, for orchestra, based on poems by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.[2] Immediately successful, the work established his reputation as a composer with a "consciously American style".[2] By the 1940s he had turned to a more astringent and expressive idiom.[2]

In 1960, his String Quartet No. 2 was premiered at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. by the Paganini Quartet, with the composer present, and broadcast on live FM radio. In the early 1960s he turned to free serial techniques, less sharply accented rhythms, and increasing fantasy.[2]

Phillips taught composition and theory at Eastman School of Music (1933–49), the University of Illinois (1949–64), the Juilliard School of Music (1968–69), and Cornell University (1972–73).[1] His students include Jack Beeson, William Flanagan, Kenneth Gaburo, Ben Johnston, H. Owen Reed, Daria Semegen, Mary McCarty Snow,[3] Steven Stucky, David Ward-Steinman, and Charles Whittenberg,[4] as well as Jerry Amaldev. He was a Fulbright Lecturer in Barcelona in 1960–61, and received Guggenheim fellowships in 1942–43 and 1961–62.[5]

Death edit

He died in Berkeley, California, in 1988, aged 80, of complications after a heart attack.[6] His scores and sketches are housed in the Burrill Phillips archive, Special Collections, Sibley Music Library, Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York.[7]

Selected works edit

His major works include:

  • Selections from McGuffey's Reader, Suite for orchestra (1933)
  • String quartets (No. 1, 1939–40; No. 2, 1958)
  • Piano Concerto (1942)
  • Don't We All?, Opera buffa (1947); text by Alberta Phillips
  • Concert Piece for bassoon and string orchestra (or piano) (1942)
  • Four piano sonatas (1942–60)
  • Music for This Time of Year for wind quartet (1954)
  • A Rondo of Rondeaux for viola and piano (1954)
  • The Return of Odysseus for baritone, narrator, chorus and orchestra (1956); text by Alberta Phillips
  • Conversations for violin and viola (1962)
  • Perspectives in a Labyrinth for 3 string orchestras (1962)
  • Dialogues for violin and viola (1963)
  • The Unforgiven, opera in a prologue and 3 acts (1982); libretto by Alberta Phillips
  • Various choral works, including That Time May Cease from Marlowe's Doctor Faustus (1967)
  • Various works for solo voice and instruments, including Eve Learns a Little (1974)

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Anon. 2019, 5.
  2. ^ a b c d Basart 2001.
  3. ^ Cohen, Aaron I. (1987). International Encyclopedia of Women Composers. Books & Music (USA). ISBN 978-0-9617485-1-7.
  4. ^ Butterworth 2005, 34, 149, 163, 365, 406, 440, 495, 515.
  5. ^ Butterworth 2005, 350.
  6. ^ Commanday 1988.
  7. ^ Anon. 2019.

Sources

  • Anon. 2019. "Burrill Phillips Collection". Processed by Tomoko Shibuya (Summer 2000), additions by David Peter Coppen (Winter 2018), revised by Gail E. Lowther (Summer 2019). Rochester: University of Rochester, Eastman School of Music, Sibley Music Library (accessed 30 April 2021). (Description)
  • Basart, Ann Phillips (2001). "Phillips, Burrill". Grove Music Online. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.21575.
  • Butterworth, Neil (2005). Dictionary of American Classical Composers (2nd ed.). New York and Abingdon: Routledge. ISBN 9781136790249.
  • Commanday, Robert (June 23, 1988). "Burrill Phillips [obituary]". San Francisco Chronicle. p. B7.

Further reading edit

  • J. T. Howard: Our American Music (New York, 1931, 4th enlarged ed. 1965)
  • B. Phillips: "Saluting the American Composer: Burrill Phillips", Music Clubs Magazine, National Federation of Music Clubs, 1 (1970–71), 6, 8–9, 19 [incl. autobiographical statement]
  • Claire Raphael Reis: Composers in America (New York, 1938, 2nd revised ed. 1947)

External links edit

December 18, 2023
burrill, phillips, leroy, november, 1907, june, 1988, american, composer, teacher, pianist, contents, biography, death, selected, works, references, further, reading, external, linksbiography, editphillips, born, omaha, nebraska, studied, college, music, unive. Leroy Burrill Phillips November 9 1907 June 22 1988 1 was an American composer teacher and pianist Contents 1 Biography 2 Death 3 Selected works 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksBiography editPhillips was born in Omaha Nebraska He studied at the College of Music at the University of Denver with Edwin Stringham and at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester New York with Howard Hanson and Bernard Rogers 1 On September 17 1928 he married Alberta Corinne Mayfield 1907 1979 who wrote many of his librettos 1 In 1931 the couple had a daughter who under the stage name Ann Todd became a child actress in films She continued acting into her early twenties but left the entertainment industry in 1954 and died in 2020 A second child son Stephen was born in 1937 He died in 1986 two years before his father Phillips s first important work was Selections from McGuffey s Reader for orchestra based on poems by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr 2 Immediately successful the work established his reputation as a composer with a consciously American style 2 By the 1940s he had turned to a more astringent and expressive idiom 2 In 1960 his String Quartet No 2 was premiered at the Library of Congress in Washington D C by the Paganini Quartet with the composer present and broadcast on live FM radio In the early 1960s he turned to free serial techniques less sharply accented rhythms and increasing fantasy 2 Phillips taught composition and theory at Eastman School of Music 1933 49 the University of Illinois 1949 64 the Juilliard School of Music 1968 69 and Cornell University 1972 73 1 His students include Jack Beeson William Flanagan Kenneth Gaburo Ben Johnston H Owen Reed Daria Semegen Mary McCarty Snow 3 Steven Stucky David Ward Steinman and Charles Whittenberg 4 as well as Jerry Amaldev He was a Fulbright Lecturer in Barcelona in 1960 61 and received Guggenheim fellowships in 1942 43 and 1961 62 5 Death editHe died in Berkeley California in 1988 aged 80 of complications after a heart attack 6 His scores and sketches are housed in the Burrill Phillips archive Special Collections Sibley Music Library Eastman School of Music Rochester New York 7 Selected works editHis major works include Selections from McGuffey s Reader Suite for orchestra 1933 String quartets No 1 1939 40 No 2 1958 Piano Concerto 1942 Don t We All Opera buffa 1947 text by Alberta Phillips Concert Piece for bassoon and string orchestra or piano 1942 Four piano sonatas 1942 60 Music for This Time of Year for wind quartet 1954 A Rondo of Rondeaux for viola and piano 1954 The Return of Odysseus for baritone narrator chorus and orchestra 1956 text by Alberta Phillips Conversations for violin and viola 1962 Perspectives in a Labyrinth for 3 string orchestras 1962 Dialogues for violin and viola 1963 The Unforgiven opera in a prologue and 3 acts 1982 libretto by Alberta Phillips Various choral works including That Time May Cease from Marlowe s Doctor Faustus 1967 Various works for solo voice and instruments including Eve Learns a Little 1974 References edit a b c d Anon 2019 5 a b c d Basart 2001 Cohen Aaron I 1987 International Encyclopedia of Women Composers Books amp Music USA ISBN 978 0 9617485 1 7 Butterworth 2005 34 149 163 365 406 440 495 515 Butterworth 2005 350 Commanday 1988 Anon 2019 Sources Anon 2019 Burrill Phillips Collection Processed by Tomoko Shibuya Summer 2000 additions by David Peter Coppen Winter 2018 revised by Gail E Lowther Summer 2019 Rochester University of Rochester Eastman School of Music Sibley Music Library accessed 30 April 2021 Description Basart Ann Phillips 2001 Phillips Burrill Grove Music Online doi 10 1093 gmo 9781561592630 article 21575 Butterworth Neil 2005 Dictionary of American Classical Composers 2nd ed New York and Abingdon Routledge ISBN 9781136790249 Commanday Robert June 23 1988 Burrill Phillips obituary San Francisco Chronicle p B7 Further reading editJ T Howard Our American Music New York 1931 4th enlarged ed 1965 B Phillips Saluting the American Composer Burrill Phillips Music Clubs Magazine National Federation of Music Clubs 1 1970 71 6 8 9 19 incl autobiographical statement Claire Raphael Reis Composers in America New York 1938 2nd revised ed 1947 External links editPhillips American Dance for Bassoon and String Orchestra performed by the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and Vincent Pezzi bassoon conducted by Howard Hanson 1941 Interview with Burrill Phillips October 19 1986Portals nbsp Biography nbsp Classical music Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Burrill Phillips amp oldid 1184218168, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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