Hubert Klyne Headley (1906–1996) was an American composer,

pianist A pianist ( , ) is an individual musician who plays the piano. Since most forms of Western music can make use of the piano, pianists have a wide repertoire and a wide variety of styles to choose from, among them traditional classical music, ja ...

and

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Early life and education

Headley was born in

West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the B ...

in 1906. When he was six his mother, an organist, moved the family to California. At ten years old he was introduced to Maurice Ravel, whose music had a strong effect on him. He studied music at the University of the Pacific, graduating in 1928, and then at the

Eastman School of Music The Eastman School of Music is the music school of the University of Rochester, a private research university in Rochester, New York. It was established in 1921 by industrialist and philanthropist George Eastman. It offers Bachelor of Music ...

until 1937.

Career

From 1939 to 1954 Headley taught at the University of Santa Barbara. During that time he succeeded Maurice Faulkner as conductor of the University of California Symphony Orchestra in Santa Barbara, becoming known both as a composer and as a pianist and giving concerts in which he conducted his own works, for example in Paris, London, Budapest and Prague. After 1954 he moved to

Seattle Seattle ( ) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest regio ...

to teach at the Cornish School of Applied Arts.

Death and legacy

After a short period in Seattle, Headley moved to

Vancouver Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...

. He also moved to Sudbury, Ontario, Canada where he developed the music program at Cambrian College in the late 60's and early 70's. He left for Vancouver where he remained until his death. His music is today virtually unknown, and many of his works are lost. In 2006 his music resurfaced by accident. Robert Buckley, one of his students, and Stan MacDaniel took joint responsibility for the recordings of his music in 2007. In 2006, for the 100th anniversary of Headley's birth, Russian State TV performed several of its compositions, including the ''California Suite'', conducted by

Dmitry Yablonsky Dmitry Albertovich Yablonsky (russian: Дмитрий Альбертович Яблонский) (born 1962) is a Russian classical cellist and conductor, who was educated at the Juilliard School of Music and Yale University. Early life and ...

, a conductor who has focussed on bringing forgotten or unknown music to audiences. After this, the

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record label published a CD of Headley's music in an "American Classics" series.

Compositions (selection)

;Orchestral * 1939 ''California Suite'', for orchestra (composed for the inauguration of the 1939 Golden Gate Exposition in San Francisco) *# Golden Gate *# Yosemite *# Fiesta * 1941 ''Concerto No. 1 (Argentango)'', for piano and orchestra * 1945 ''Concerto No. 2'', for piano and orchestra * 1946 ''Symphony No. 1 (for Radio)'', for orchestra * 1950 ''Symphony No. 2 (Prelude to a Man)'', for soprano, alto, tenor, bass solo, mixed chorus, speaking chorus, orchestra and ballet (also known as: ''Prelude to Man, a symphonic cycle in four parts'') – text: Chard Powers Smith ;Operas * 1946 ''Noche Serena'' * 1961-1962 ''The darkened city'', opera in 3 acts – libretto: Robert Glynn Kelly ;Choral * 1968 ''Peace'', for orchestra and children's choir ;Chamber * 1954 ''Sonate'', for cello and piano * 1954 ''Sonata Ibérica'', for cello and piano * 1957 ''Quintet in two parts'', for piano, strings and clarinet * ''Septet'', for winds and strings

Sources

"My Musical Background"
Stan McDaniel * Publication

2008
Album descriptionAlbum review
{{DEFAULTSORT:Headley, Hubert Klyne 1906 births 1996 deaths American male classical composers American classical composers American male conductors (music) American classical pianists American male classical pianists 20th-century classical composers American opera composers Male opera composers Musicians from West Virginia University of the Pacific (United States) alumni Eastman School of Music alumni University of California, Santa Barbara faculty 20th-century American conductors (music) 20th-century classical pianists 20th-century American pianists 20th-century American composers 20th-century American male musicians