Barney Childs, composer and music educator, died at his home in Redlands, California, on January 11, at the age of 73. Born in Spokane, Washington, on February 13, 1926, he moved with his family to Palo Alto in 1939. He earned the BA from the University of Nevada, a BA and MA in English and literature as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, and PhD in English and music from Stanford University. As a composer he studied at Tanglewood with Carlos Chaves and Aaron Copland and in New York with Elliott Carter. He taught English at the University of Arizona 1956-65, and then became dean of Deep Spring College (CA). From 1969-71 he was composer in residence (acting dean, 1971) at the Wisconsin College Conservatory, Milwaukee. In 1971, be began teaching literature and music at the University of Redlands, becoming a full professor in 1973 and a faculty research lecturer in 1979. He was visiting lecturer at the University of London, Goldsmith College in 1989. Childs was editor of Perspectives of New Music, and with composer Elliott Schwartz edited the book Contemporary Composers on Contemporary Music. Among his large output are two works for organ, Organ Piece and Edge of the World, for bass clarinet and organ.
Related Articles
