Crawford Gates
Encyclopedia
Crawford Gates is a musician, composer, and conductor known for his contributions to the body of LDS music.
.
. They have 4 children and 15 grandchildren.
“with great distinction” from San Jose State University
, a MA from Brigham Young University
and a PhD from Eastman School of Music
of the University of Rochester
.
He studied composition with two Pulitzer Prize
composers, Howard Hanson Ernst Toch, and with Leroy Robertson
. Crawford studied conducting with Eleazar de Carvalho
at Tanglewood
and Hans Swarowsky
of the Vienna State Opera
.
summers of 1948-60, full time 1950-66. He was the Chair of BYU’s Music Department 1960-66. Crawford was a Professor of Music and Artist in Residence
at Beloit College
(WI) from 1966-1989.
(IL) 1970-86.
, Chicago Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic
and major orchestras in Dallas, Kansas City
, Rochester
and Milwaukee. Gates has had musical relationships (guest conducting, recording, commissioned compositions and premieres) with five major musical organizations in Utah
: the Utah Symphony, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
, Orchestra at Temple Square
, Ballet West
, Utah Opera and the Oratorio Society of Utah.
He wrote the music score to the play Promised Valley (1947) celebrating the centennial entrance of Utah pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley
. This stage work has been produced over 2,700 times, across six languages and five continents.
Of Gates' 800 and counting compositions he is most known for his works with religious themes. He wrote the musical score to the Hill Cumorah Pageant (1957-current).
He composed two hymns in the current LDS hymn book
, #113 Our Savior’s Love and #215 Ring Out, Wild Bells
, and wrote the music for two hymns in the current LDS Children's Songbook, "On a Golden Springtime" and "Baptism".
Early life
Gates was born in San Francisco, December 1921, and grew up in Palo Alto, CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Family
Crawford Gates is married to the former Georgia Lauper, who is the sister of Bonnie Goodliffe and Claudia Lauper BushmanClaudia Lauper Bushman
Claudia Marian Lauper Bushman is an American historian with specialty in the history of the Latter-day Saints.-Background:A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint herself, she is the wife of fellow historian Richard Lyman Bushman. The Bushmans are the parents of six children...
. They have 4 children and 15 grandchildren.
Education
Gates received a BABachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
“with great distinction” from San Jose State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
, a MA from Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
and a PhD from Eastman School of Music
Eastman School of Music
The Eastman School of Music is a music conservatory located in Rochester, New York. The Eastman School is a professional school within the University of Rochester...
of the University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
.
He studied composition with two Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
composers, Howard Hanson Ernst Toch, and with Leroy Robertson
Leroy Robertson
Leroy Robertson was an American composer and music educator.Robertson was born in Fountain Green, Utah. One of his earliest instructors was Anthony C. Lund. He studied violin, composition, and public school music at the New England Conservatory and in Europe...
. Crawford studied conducting with Eleazar de Carvalho
Eleazar de Carvalho
Eleazar de Carvalho was a Brazilian conductor and composer.-Biography:De Carvalho's parents were Manuel Alfonso de Carvalho and Dalila Mendonça...
at Tanglewood
Tanglewood
Tanglewood is an estate and music venue in Lenox and Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It is the home of the annual summer Tanglewood Music Festival and the Tanglewood Jazz Festival, and has been the Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer home since 1937. It was the venue of the Berkshire Festival.- History...
and Hans Swarowsky
Hans Swarowsky
Hans Swarowsky was an Austrian conductor of Hungarian birth and Jewish descent.Swarowsky was born in Budapest, Hungary. He studied the art of conducting under Felix Weingartner and Richard Strauss...
of the Vienna State Opera
Vienna State Opera
The Vienna State Opera is an opera house – and opera company – with a history dating back to the mid-19th century. It is located in the centre of Vienna, Austria. It was originally called the Vienna Court Opera . In 1920, with the replacement of the Habsburg Monarchy by the First Austrian...
.
Music faculty
He was a member of the Music Faculty at Brigham Young UniversityBrigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
summers of 1948-60, full time 1950-66. He was the Chair of BYU’s Music Department 1960-66. Crawford was a Professor of Music and Artist in Residence
Artist in residence
Artist-in-residence programs and other residency opportunities allow visiting artists to stay and work so that they may apply singular focus to their art practice....
at Beloit College
Beloit College
Beloit College is a liberal arts college in Beloit, Wisconsin, USA. It is a member of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest, and has an enrollment of roughly 1,300 undergraduate students. Beloit is the oldest continuously operated college in Wisconsin, and has the oldest building of any college...
(WI) from 1966-1989.
Conducting
In addition to being a professor, Gates was also the Music Director of the Beloit Janesville Symphony Orchestra (WI) for 34 years (1963–64, 1966–99) where he prepared 45 orchestral and orchestral-choral arrangements for annual Children’s and Pops Concerts. He was the Music Director of Quincy Symphony 1969-70 and the Rockford Symphony OrchestraRockford Symphony Orchestra
The Rockford Symphony Orchestra is a symphony orchestra in Rockford, Illinois, USA.-History:The Rockford Symphony Orchestra, incorporated in 1943, began performing concerts in 1934 under the direction of Arthur Zack. He continued to lead the orchestra as Music Director and Manager until...
(IL) 1970-86.
Composing
He has composed or arranged over 800 titles since age eight. His works have been performed by the Philadelphia OrchestraPhiladelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
, Chicago Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Los Angeles Philharmonic
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
and major orchestras in Dallas, Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
and Milwaukee. Gates has had musical relationships (guest conducting, recording, commissioned compositions and premieres) with five major musical organizations in Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
: the Utah Symphony, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Mormon Tabernacle Choir
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, sometimes colloquially referred to as MoTab, is a Grammy and Emmy Award winning, 360-member, all-volunteer choir. The choir is part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . However, the choir is completely self-funded, traveling and producing albums to...
, Orchestra at Temple Square
Orchestra at Temple Square
The Orchestra at Temple Square is a 110-member orchestra located in Salt Lake City, UT. The Orchestra was created in 1999 under the direction of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Church President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of the creative initiative to continually strengthen and...
, Ballet West
Ballet West
Ballet West, Salt Lake City, Utah was founded in 1963 by Glenn Walker Wallace, who served as its first president. It was called the Utah Civic Ballet company. Willam F...
, Utah Opera and the Oratorio Society of Utah.
He wrote the music score to the play Promised Valley (1947) celebrating the centennial entrance of Utah pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley
Salt Lake Valley is a valley in Salt Lake County in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Utah. It contains Salt Lake City and many of its suburbs, notably West Valley City, Murray, Sandy, and West Jordan; its total population is 1,029,655 as of 2010...
. This stage work has been produced over 2,700 times, across six languages and five continents.
Of Gates' 800 and counting compositions he is most known for his works with religious themes. He wrote the musical score to the Hill Cumorah Pageant (1957-current).
He composed two hymns in the current LDS hymn book
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1985 book)
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the official hymn book of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
, #113 Our Savior’s Love and #215 Ring Out, Wild Bells
Ring Out, Wild Bells
"Ring Out, Wild Bells" is a poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Published in 1850, the year he was appointed Poet Laureate, it forms part of In Memoriam, Tennyson's elegy to Arthur Henry Hallam, his sister's fiancé who died at the age of twenty-two....
, and wrote the music for two hymns in the current LDS Children's Songbook, "On a Golden Springtime" and "Baptism".