Hubert Klyne Headley

Hubert Klyne Headley (1906–1996) was an American

Headley was born at Parkersburg, West Virginia on June 19, 1906.^[2] When he was six, his family moved to Fresno, California. His father, Lewis Lee Headley, was Superintendant of Schools, and his mother, Belle Cook Headley, was an organist.^[2][3] At the age of ten he was introduced to Maurice Ravel, whose music had a strong effect on him. He studied music at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, graduating in 1928.^[4] While there, he met Flora Denius of Vallejo, also a student at the college's music conservatory, whom he married in 1929.^[5]

For eight years, Headley served as director of instrumental music for California high schools,

Headley's most famous work is the California Suite, an orchestral work commissioned by Standard Oil of California for the Golden Gate International Exposition in 1939. The work was premiered by the San Francisco Symphony, conducted by Pierre Monteux.^[7] Monteux later conducted part of the work in a radio concert for The Standard Symphony Hour.^[8] Headley's works would be performed regularly on this program for the next several years.^[9] Howard Hanson conducted the Rochester Civic Orchestra^[i] performing the California Suite for the NBC Radio Network in January of 1941.^[10]

Also in 1939, Headley joined the faculty at Santa Barbara State College, and succeeded Maurice Faulkner as conductor of the University of California Symphony Orchestra in Santa Barbara.^[9] Here he began to hone his reputation as a composer and pianist, giving various concerts at which he conducted his own works.^[11]

In 1942, José Iturbi conducted the premiere of Headley's Argentango, a concerto for piano and orchestra, with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.^[12][13] Later that year, Headley performed a "piano sketch" of what would eventually become his Symphony No. 2, Prelude to Man, based on the poem by Chard Powers Smith, about the stages of the development of life on earth prior to the advent of mankind.^[12] The work would not be completed until 1951, at which time Headley took it to New York to present to Howard Hanson, Leonard Bernstein, and other leading figures in the musical world.^[9]

Headley enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces in January, 1943, training to become a transport pilot during World War II, and receiving military leave from Santa Barbara State College.^[11] After his wartime service concluded, the U.S. State Department asked him to report on the familiarity of Europeans with American cultural life during a visit to France and England. Based on his experiences, Headley concluded that Europeans were most familiar with American culture through Hollywood films and Swing music, and recommended that funds be expended to acquaint them with the nation's other cultural developments.^[14] Headley subsequently gave performances in Paris, London, Budapest, and Prague.

In 1948, Headley was invited to serve as guest conductor of the Standard Symphony Hour, which had regularly performed his compositions.^[15] He continued to premiere new works into the 1950s.^[16][17] He was named conductor of the Fresno Municipal Symphony Orchestra, and was also a guest conductor of the Duluth Symphony Orchestra.^[3]

In 1953, Headley married Joan Stechman of

• 1935 The Jester's Dream[4]
  1. Dance
  2. Love Song
  3. Processional
• 1939 California Suite, for orchestra (composed for the inauguration of the 1939 Golden Gate Exposition in San Francisco)
  1. Golden Gate
  2. Yosemite
  3. Fiesta
• 1941 Concerto No. 1 (Argentango), for piano and orchestra^[12]
• 1945 Concerto No. 2, for piano and orchestra
• 1946 Symphony No. 1 (for Radio), for orchestra
• 1951 Symphony No. 2 (Prelude to 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)^[12]
  1. Fountain of Being
  2. Pan, the Body
  3. Jehovah, the Mind
  4. Brahma, the Spirit
  5. The Fountain of Being

Operas

• 1946 Noche Serena
• 1961-1962 The darkened city, opera in 3 acts (libretto: Robert Glynn Kelly)

Piano

• 1942 Prelude to Man, piano sketch that would later become his Symphony No. 2
• 1945 Caprice Espagnole
• 1945 Reminiscences^[12]
  1. Sculpture
  2. Old Music
  3. Turbulence
  4. The Poet
  5. Mirage
• 1950 Variations on a Theme from the Hebrides

Choral

• 1945 Pastorale Sililoquy
  1. Like Cathedral Trees
  2. Like Lakes and Streams
  3. Like a Boy Whistling
  4. Like a Boy and his God
• 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

Ballet

• 1945 Vignettes for Ballet
  1. Flute at Evening
  2. Cups of Jade
  3. Bell at Evening
  4. Puppets
  5. The Pool
  6. Song of Songs

Other^[19]

• 1927 "The Fairies Have Never A Penny To Spend"
• 1927 "Lullaby"
• 1927 "A Mood"
• 1927 "Ballet Burlesque"
• 1928 "Sweetheart Why Don't You Answer Me?" (waltz ballad)

Notes

References