Composers

William Foster McDaniel

1940 -

About

William Foster McDaniel born in Columbus, Ohio in 1940.  Studied piano at Capital University Conservatory of Music. Attended Boston University for his masters to study piano and composition. Further study as a pianist in France. First place winner in the NANM (National Association of Negro Musicians national piano competition in 1965. According to author Gayle Sherwood, McDaniel's composing career has focused on adapting traditional art music genres and instrumental combinations to a modernist musical vocabulary. His musical output includes large scale works for orchestra, concertos for piano, flute and alto saxophone. He has also written for chamber ensemble and solo voice. His career has encompassed both composing, arranging for on and off Broadway musicals, conducting and continuing to perform as a pianist.  He has arranged and directed shows for such notables as Nell Carter, Eartha Kitt and Melvin Van Peebles.  (Source:  International Dictionary of Black Composers)

Related Information

Works by William Foster McDaniel

Title Collection Voice Type Range Poet
Central Park at Dusk Four Love Songs Voice D4 - Ab5 Sara Teasdale
Coney Island Four Love Songs Voice F4 - D6 Sara Teasdale
Gramercy Park Four Love Songs Voice D4 - A5 Sara Teasdale
Union Square Four Love Songs Voice F4 - Bb5 Sara Teasdale
Title Published Size Solo with Ensemble Duration Range Level Orchestration
Violin Concerto Yes Full Orchestra Violin Professional 2222, 2000, timp, str