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Donald H. White papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSD-0000-079

Collection Statement

Numerous music scores composed by Donald H. White for orchestra, chamber, band and vocal performance.

Dates

  • 1946 - 1994

Creator

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Usage Restrictions

Copyright interests for this collection are held by DePauw University or the United Methodist Church.

Biographical Sketch

Donald H. White, a noted composer and music educator taught in the DePauw University School of Music for more than 30 years and served as its director from 1974-78.

Born February 28, 1921 in Narberth, Pennsylvania, White studied music education at Temple University, composition at the Philadelphia Conservatory, and earned the M.M. and Ph.D. from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York.

Professor White served in World War II as a navigator on B-17s and was awarded the Air Medal and two Oak Leaf Clusters for "exceptionally meritorious achievement while participating in 15 separate bomber combat missions over enemy occupied continental Europe." He was shot down on March 26, 1944 on his 19th mission over Germany/France (bombing V-2 rocket emplacements in Pas de Calais area in Northern France), was captured and held in a prison camp for 13 months.

In 1947, White joined the DePauw faculty, and served as chairman of composition and theory studies from 1948-81, spending four years leading the School of Music. He left DePauw to chair the music department at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington, serving from 1981-90.

Dr. White composed many works for orchestra, chamber, band and vocal performance, including Kennebec Suite (1947); 3 to 5 for Woodwind Quintet (1964); Terpsimetrics (1968); Song of Mankind for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1970); Concertino for Timpani, Winds, and Percussion (1973); From the Navajo Children for Chorus and Wind Ensemble (1978).

Donald H. White died October 4, 2016 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was 95 years old.

Extent

4.68 Cubic Feet (6 document cases)

Language of Materials

English

DPU vertical file - Vincent Persichetti

Music scores of Vincent Persichetti autographed/signed to Donald H. White

Title
Donald H. White papers
Status
Completed
Author
Jenney Taylor
Date
7/18/2017
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Description is in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Archives of DePauw University and Indiana United Methodism Repository

Contact:
Roy O. West Library
405 S. Indiana St.
Greencastle Indiana 46135 United States