John Garvey (musician) explained

John Garvey
Birth Name:John Charles Garvey
Birth Date:March 17, 1921
Birth Place:Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Death Place:Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.[1]
Genre:Chamber music, Jazz, Russian folk music
Occupation:Musician, academic
Instrument:Viola
Years Active:1940s–1990s

John Garvey (March 17, 1921[2] - July 18, 2006[3]) was an American musician, orchestra leader, and academic who played viola in the Walden String Quartet for 23 seasons, introduced a jazz curriculum at the University of Illinois, and created its Jazz Big Band which he led until his retirement from the university in 1991. The jazz band dominated collegiate jazz festival awards in its early days and in 1969 was chosen by the state department to tour the USSR and Eastern Europe. Many members of Garvey's jazz bands went on to successful careers as professional musicians and academics.

Early years

Inspired by a talk given by the violinist of the Chautauqua Trio, Garvey began studying violin at age 7. By 14 he was commuting from his home in Reading, PA every other week to Temple University in Philadelphia to study violin with Alfred Lorenz,[4] a violist with the Philadelphia Orchestra[5] He went on to major in music at Temple.[6]

As a Jobbing Musician

After college Garvey played with the Philadelphia Symphony and Columbus Philharmonic. In March 1943, Garvey joined a dance band that played pop-styled classical music led by a classically trained violinist named Jan Savitt, "The Stokowski of Swing".[7] [8] In the summer of 1948 he was director of the summer chamber music program at Ball State University.

Academia

In 1948, Garvey joined the Walden String Quartet in an until-then frequently changing viola chair. He was to remain with the quartet until 1971. The group had recently become quartet-in-residence at the University of Illinois.[9] [10] In addition to touring and recording, the Quartet were members of the music faculty. Garvey was hired as Instructor in the department[11] and within a few years was promoted to Assistant Professor.[12] In May 1952, Garvey became head of the music committee of the university’s Festival of Contemporary Arts.[13] [14] In 1959, he was made a full professor.[15]

The University Jazz Program

Work with Harry Partch on "The Bewitched", a music and dance piece for the 1957 festival, rekindled Garvey's interest in jazz,[14] [16] and for the 1959 festival he invited the Modern Jazz Quartet to play with a student jazz band and a string ensemble.[14] [17]

Because of student interest in continuing the jazz band, Garvey sought funding from the School of Music, but faced strong opposition. By October 1960 he was able to get $150 from the school, and obtained additional money and administrative support from the student union.[18] Garvey and the band made their debut at a routine Thursday morning School of Music function on December 8, 1960.[14] In April 1964, they entered the Collegiate Jazz Festival at Notre Dame University[19] for the first time and took the prize for Best Big Band.

In 1965 and 1966, they were finalists at the festival.[20] and in March 1967, the band won Best Overall Jazz Group.[21] In December 1967, Garvey's band was officially sanctioned by the School of Music.[14]

In 1968, and 1969 they again won "Best Overall Jazz Group", the first ensemble to do so three years in a row. The prize at the 1968 and 1969 festivals was an invitation to perform at the Newport Jazz Festival,[22] for which they received praise from critics Leonard Feather[23] and John S. Wilson.[24] The 1969 Downbeat Readers Poll ranked the band 16th place in the jazz Big Band category, the only college band in the entire poll.[14]

The accolades led to sponsorship by the US State Department for an eight-week tour of Eastern Europe and Scandinavia in 1968[25], and a six-week tour of the Soviet Union in 1969.[26]

By 1970 the School of Music was sponsor of four jazz bands.[14]

Many alumni of Garvey's bands went on to successful careers as musicians and teachers, including Cecil Bridgewater, Dee Dee Bridgewater,[27] Jim McNeely, Ron Dewar, Joel Helleny, and Howie Smith.

The Russian Folk Orchestra

During the tour of the U.S.S.R., Garvey became interested in Russian folk music. Upon returning he found funds through the university to purchase 25 balalaikas, and in 1973 formed the Russian Balalaika Orchestra,[28] soon to be renamed the Russian Folk Orchestra. Garvey led this ensemble for over a decade, touring the U.S and abroad.[29]

Sound Recordings

String Quartet No. 2. Arthur Shepherd: Triptych for Soprano and String Quartet. Performed By the Walden String Quartet of the University of Illinois. With Marie Kraft, Soprano. American Recording Society ARS-18, 1952.[30]

Quintet for Piano and Strings. Johana Harris and The Walden String Quartet. MGM Records E3239, 1955. LP, OCLC 3528792[31]

The Bewitched. Recording of first performance at Festival of Contemporary Arts March 26, 1957. Originally released on Partch's own label: Gate 5 Records HP-101 5701.[32]

External links

Notes and References

  1. John Garvey Memorial Celebration Held on Campus. Sonorities. Spring 2007. 4. 2016-10-01.
  2. Web site: John Garvey Music and Papers, The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music. University of Illinois Archive Holdings Database. University of Illinois. 2016-09-13.
  3. News: Former music professor championed jazz studies at UI. The News-Gazette. 2016-09-13. . August 3, 2006.
  4. News: Musical Talent Plentiful In Two Reading Families. . . pg 2, cols 6-8 . December 23, 1936 . 2016-09-13.
  5. Web site: Huffman. Larry. Principal Musicians of the Philadelphia Orchestra – Alfred Lorenz. The Stokowski Legacy (www.stokowski.org). 2016-09-13.
  6. News: Beethoven, Haydn, Season Starters for Waldens. 2019-07-16. The Daily Illini. . September 28, 1948. pg 5, col 4 .
  7. News: David Garvey Presents Recital in Virginia. 2016-09-13. . . August 19, 1943. pg 3, col 2 .
  8. ON THE STAND. The Billboard. July 8, 1944. 56. 28. p.17, col 2. 2016-09-13.
  9. News: Ridenour New Dean of Graduate School – Kuypers Named as Director of UI Music Department. By Board of Trustees. . . pg 1, cols 1-2. May 28, 1947 . 2019-07-20.
  10. Encyclopedia: Walden String Quartet . Oxford Music Online . 2016-09-13 . Oxford University Press .
  11. Book: Directory, Faculty and Students, 1948–1949. October 1948. The University of Illinois Press. Urbana, Illinois. 106. 2016-09-13.
  12. Book: Directory, Staff and Students, 1951–1952. 1974. The University of Illinois Press. Urbana, Illinois. 132. 2016-09-13.
  13. News: GARVEY HEADS COMMITTEE. . . pg 6, col 3. May 27, 1952 . 2016-09-30.
  14. Book: Harrison . Albert Dale . A History of the University of Illinois School of Music, 1940–1970 . 1986 . Ed.D. Thesis, University of Illinois . 281–285 . .
  15. Book: Transactions of the Board of Trustees, July 1, 1958 to June 30, 1960 . 1960 . University of Illinois Board of Trustees . 696 .
  16. News: The "Boo", or Bamboo. . . pg 1, col 2. March 19, 1957. 2016-10-09.
  17. News: U. OF I. TO GIVE JAZZ PLACE IN ARTS FESTIVAL. . . pg 32, col 4. February 22, 1959 . 2016-09-30.
  18. News: Union Board Agrees to Cosponsor Jazz Program with School of Music. . . pg 12, col 4-5. October 19, 1960 . 2016-09-30.
  19. Web site: Collegiate Jazz Festival 1964 Program. . April 1964 . pg 8. 2016-09-30.
  20. Web site: Collegiate Jazz Festival 1967 Program. . March 1967 . pg 12. 2016-09-30.
  21. Web site: Collegiate Jazz Festival 1968 Program. . March 1968 . pg 16. 2016-09-30.
  22. News: University Band Captures Ten Awards at Notre Dame Fest. . . pg 3 col 4. March 19, 1969 . 2016-09-30.
  23. News: Leonard Feather. Jazz Fest Amateurs Top Pros. . . pg 18, col 1. July 13, 1968 . 2016-09-30.
  24. News: John S. Wilson. It's Newcomers Day at Newport. . . pg 47, col 1. July 8, 1968 . 2016-09-30.
  25. Web site: Dixielandová skupina Big bandu University of Illinois USA - Praha 1968. YouTube. 2017-06-04.
  26. News: U. of I. Jazz Group to Tour Soviet Union. . . pg 6 col 3-4. November 1, 1969 . 2016-09-30.
  27. News: A Singer Is Returning to a Stage Where It All Began . Thomas . Jo . . September 22, 1998 . 2016-10-06.
  28. News: Garvey, Inspired by Trip to Russia, Forms Balalaika Band. . . pg 18, col 1-3, p20 col 1-2. December 6, 1973 . 2016-10-01.
  29. Web site: Garvey, John (1921–2006). University of Illinois Archives. 2016-10-01.
  30. Web site: William Bergsma - Walden String Quartet Of The University Of Illinois* / Arthur Shepherd (2) - Marie Kraft, Walden String Quartet Of The University Of Illinois* - String Quartet #2 / Triptych For Soprano And String Quartet. . 1952 .
  31. Web site: Ernest Bloch / Johana Harris And The Walden String Quartet - Quintet For Piano And Strings. . 1955 .
  32. Web site: Harry Partch - The Bewitched. . 1958 .
  33. Web site: Andrew Imbrie, The California String Quartet, The Walden String Quartet - String Quartets 2 And 3. . 1958 .
  34. Charles Ives & Alan Hovhaness. Folkways Records . FM 3369 . 1966 . 2016-09-14.
  35. Web site: Walter Piston / Alan Hovhaness - Earl Wild, The Walden String Quartet / William Masselos, Chamber Ensemble*, Izler Solomon - Quintet For Piano & Strings / Khaldis: Concerto For Piano, Four Trumpets & Percussion. . 1966 .
  36. University of Illinois Jazz Band - T-Bird 1968-12-17. . 1968 . 2017-01-16.

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