KPFA-FM Music Dept. ➔ Morning Concert: An Interview with William Ward
Analog Audio
Event Type
InterviewsOrigin
KPFAIdentifier
MC.1978.04.07.c1Program Series
Morning ConcertProgram Length
29 minDates
1978-04-07 | broadcast| 1978-04-04 | created
Description
Charles Amirkhanian interviews William Ward on the subject of one of his oratorios, Fray Junípero Serra, a Franciscan priest who founded many of the Catholic Missions in California. Amirkhanian also questions Ward on his own experiences as a student and teacher of music in the United States. Dr. William R. Ward holds a Ph.D. degree from the Eastman School of Music, and for many years served as chairman of the Music Department of San Francisco State University and later as the Associate Dean of the School of Creative Arts. Originally from Kansas, Ward began his formal music education when he met Charles Sanford Skilton, after the American composer heard Ward perform with his high school band. Skilton encouraged Ward to obtain a book on music and to send him, through the mail, some harmony exercises which Skilton promised he would look over and send back with corrections and comments. This act of generosity set Ward upon a path that saw him later study with Howard Hanson, another distinctly American composer, and eventually leading to Ward’s position with San Francisco State University. In this interview Ward offers insights into the lives of American composers whose works were far removed from the avant-garde experimentation that would later dominate 20th century American music.Genres
20th century classicalCurrent Events
Subjects
Franciscans -- Missions -- CaliforniaMusic -- Instruction and study
Related places
San Francisco (Calif.) (was recorded at)Berkeley (Calif.) (was broadcast at)
Related Entities
Amirkhanian, CharlesWard, William R. (William Reed), 1918-