Composers
David Baker
1931 - 2016About
David Baker (1931-2016) He graduated from Crispus Attucks High School in Indianapolis before attending Indiana University, earning a Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1953 and a Master of Music Education degree in 1954. He studied with a wide range of master teachers, performers, and composers, including Thomas Beversdorf, Bobby Brookmeyer, Bernard Heiden, J. J. Johnson, George Russell, William Russo, Gunther Schuller, and Janos Starker, among others. Originally a gifted trombonist, he switched to the cello after sustaining jaw injuries in a car accident. He began his teaching career at Missouri’s Lincoln University in 1955. David was a regular on the thriving Indianapolis jazz scene of the era—especially on its historic Indiana Avenue—with the likes of fellow jazz giants Jimmy Coe, Slide Hampton, Freddie Hubbard, J. J. Johnson, Wes Montgomery, Larry Ridley, and David Young. They are all included in the “Jazz Masters of Indiana Avenue” mural on Capitol Avenue in Indianapolis. Top in his field in several disciplines, David taught and performed throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. He co-founded the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra and served as its conductor and musical and artistic director from 1990 to 2012, becoming maestro emeritus on December 1, 2012. As a composer, David was commissioned by more than 100 individuals and ensembles, including Josef Gingold, Harvey Phillips, Ruggiero Ricci, Janos Starker, Beaux Arts Trio, New York Philharmonic, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Fisk Jubilee Singers, Louisville Orchestra, Ohio Chamber Orchestra, Audubon String Quartet, and International Horn Society. His compositions, tallying over 2,000 in number, range from jazz pieces and symphonic works, to chamber music and film scores. A dedicated music educator as well as composer and performer, David’s involvement in music organizations included membership on the National Council on the Arts; board positions for the American Symphony Orchestra League, Chamber Music America, Arts Midwest, and the Afro-American Bicentennial Hall of Fame/Museum; and past chairmanships of the Jazz Advisory Panel to the Kennedy Center and the Jazz/Folk/Ethnic Panel of the National Endowment for the Arts. He was past president and past vice president of the International Association for Jazz Education, past president of the National Jazz Service Organization, and senior consultant for music programs for the Smithsonian Institution. He served six times on the Pulitzer Prize Music Jury. David’s prolific body of work includes more than 65 recordings, 70 books, and 400 articles.
Related Information
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/30/arts/music/david-baker-who-helped-bring-jazz-studies-into-the-academy-dies-at-84.html
Works by David Baker
Title | Published | Size | Solo with Ensemble | Duration Range | Level | Orchestration |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama Landscape | Yes | Full Orchestra | Bass-Baritone | 10-20 | Professional | 3333-4331-timp-2perc-str |
Alto Saxophone Concerto "Lee Konitz" | Yes | Full Orchestra | Alto Saxophone | 20+ | Professional | Alto Saxophone Solo: 2(+Picc).2(+EH).2(+BCl).2(+CBsn): 4.3.3(+BTbn).1: Timp.Perc(2): Str |
Black America: To The Memory of Martin Luther King | Yes | Chamber | Soprano | 10-20 | Professional | |
Concertino for Cellular Phones | Yes | Full Orchestra | Cell Phone Soloists | 10-20 | Professional | 2[1.2/pic] 22 2[1.2/Cbn]-4331-timp-perc-str Cell phone soloists |
Concerto for Brass Quintet and Orchestra | Yes | Full Orchestra | Brass Quintet | 10-20 | Professional | 3333-4323-timp-perc(2)-str |
Concerto for Cello | Yes | Orchestra | Cello | 20+ | Professional | Cello Solo: AATTB Saxes: 0.5.4.1: Piano, Drums, Double Bass |
Concerto for Tenor Saxophone and Chamber Orchestra | Yes | Chamber | Tenor Sax | 20+ | Professional | 2222-1210-tmp-perc-pf-dm-str Solo Tenor Saxophone |
Concertpiece for Viola and Orchestra | Yes | Full Orchestra | Viola | 20+ | Professional | Viola Solo: 3.3.3.3: 4.3.3.1: Timp.Perc(2).Hp: Str |
Homage: Bartok, Bird, Duke | Yes | Full Orchestra | 10-20 | Professional | 1111-0211-2perc-2hp -str | |
Images of Childhood | Yes | Full Orchestra | 10-20 | Professional | 3333-4331-timp-2perc-str | |
Jazz Suite for chamber orchestra and rhythm section | Yes | Chamber | 20+ | Professional | 2111-2210-perc-hp-pf-gtr-str | |
Jazz Suite for Clarinet and Orchestra: Three Ethnic Dances | Yes | Full Orchestra | Clarinet | 20+ | Professional | Clarinet Solo: 2+Picc.2.2.2: 4.3.3.1: Timp.Perc(2).Pno.Jazz Double Bass: Str |
Kosbro | Yes | Full Orchestra | 10-20 | Professional | 3333/4331/timp.perc.xyl/pf/str | |
Le Chat Qui Peche | Yes | Full Orchestra | Soprano, Jazz Quartet | 20+ | Professional | 2+pic.2+ca.2+bcl.2+cbn/432+btbn.1/timp.perc/hp/str |
Life Cycles | Yes | String Orchestra | Tenor, Horn | 10-20 | Professional | Tenor, Horn Soli: String Orchestra |
Parallel Planes | Yes | Chamber | Alto Saxophone | 20+ | Professional | 1.1.1.1: 1.1.1.0: Timp.Perc(2).Pno: Str |
Refractions | Yes | String Orchestra | 20+ | Professional | str | |
Shades of Blue | Yes | Full Orchestra | 20+ | Professional | 2222-4331-timp-3perc-pf-str | |
The Masque of the Read Death Ballet Suite | Yes | Full Orchestra | 20+ | Professional | 2[1.2/pic] 22 2[1.2/Cbn]-4331-timp-2perc-str | |
The Soul of '76 | Yes | Stage Band + Jazz-Blues-Rock ensemble | 20+ | Professional | 5-sx (2-asx, 2-tsx, 1bsx), 5-tpt, 4-trb, 1-tb, ebgt, prc, pn, db | |
Through This Veil of Tears | Yes | Chamber | Soprano | Tenor | 20+ | Professional | Piano Quintet |