Douglas Townsend facts for kids
Douglas Townsend (born November 8, 1921, in New York – died August 1, 2012, in New York) was an American composer and musicologist. A musicologist is someone who studies music history and theory. Douglas grew up in Manhattan, New York City. He became very interested in writing music while he was a student at the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. He taught himself how to compose music, how to arrange it for different instruments, and how to understand how different musical lines fit together. In 1941, he started taking private lessons in composition from famous teachers like Aaron Copland.
Douglas Townsend's Career
Douglas Townsend had a long and interesting career in music. He shared his knowledge by teaching at several colleges. These included Brooklyn College (from 1958 to 1969) and Lehman College (from 1970 to 1971). He also taught at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut (from 1973 to 1975) and Purchase College (from 1973 to 1976).
Music Research
Beyond teaching, Townsend was also a dedicated music researcher. From 1977 to 1980, he worked as an editor for a magazine called Musical Heritage Review. He spent a lot of time researching music from the 1700s and 1800s. His research helped bring old pieces of music back to life. For example, he helped create new versions, recordings, and performances of an overture (a piece of music played at the start of an opera or play) by Carl Czerny. He also worked on a mass (a type of religious musical composition) by Sigismund Neukomm. Douglas Townsend received special grants to help with his research, including one from the Martha Baird Rockefeller Fund in 1965.
His Compositions
Douglas Townsend wrote many different kinds of music. His works included pieces for full orchestras, smaller groups of instruments (called chamber music), and choirs. He also composed music for movies and television shows. He even wrote three operettas (short, light operas) and one full opera.
Early Success
Douglas showed his talent for music at a young age. While still in high school, he won a national contest for young composers. A famous conductor named Bernard Herrmann led the CBS Symphony Orchestra in a radio performance of Douglas's winning piece, called Contra Dances. This was a big achievement for a high school student!
Seven years later, Douglas became even more well-known as a composer. A pianist named Ray Lev performed his Sonatina No. 1 for the very first time at the famous Carnegie Hall. Douglas Townsend's music often used traditional forms and sounds, which means it followed classic musical structures and harmonies.
Personal Life
Douglas Townsend was married twice. With his first wife, Anne-Marie Findley, he had three children: Jonathan, Adam, and April. His second wife, Jean, and his children from his first marriage survived him when he passed away in 2012.
