Glenn Spring
1939 -
Glenn Spring, professor of strings and advanced theory at Walla Walla College, now Walla Walla University, for 36 years, the longest tenure for any music teacher at WWC since its founding, retired in 2001. Spring came to WWC after teaching for a year at Otterbein College in Ohio. A 1962 graduate of La Sierra University and a composition student of Perry Beach, he completed a masters degree at Texas Christian University in 1964 and a Ph.D. in composition at the University of Washington in 1972.
An award-winning published composer, Spring\'s works for diverse media are widely performed internationally (see selected list below). The recipient of many commissions from performing groups and artists, Spring has received annual ASCAP (American Society of Composers and Publishers) awards since 1988.
Spring was the primary author of the first new textbook on musical form in years, Musical Form and Analysis. The Co-author was Jere T. Hutcheson of Michigan State University. Released in 1995 by Wm. C. Brown (now McGraw-Hill), it is widely used and has been praised for its clarity and creative approach to the subject.
A conductor, string performer, and teacher, Spring conducted the college orchestra and was active as concertmaster and performer in the Walla Walla Symphony during his tenure at WWC. His contributions to the college were recognized in 1991 when he was given the Burlington Northern Foundation Award for both his teaching and composing.
He and his wife, Kathleen, maintained teaching studios in the Denver, Colorado, Metro area before retireing to Switzeland. Glenn continues to compose, mostly on a commission basis.
ds/2013
Sources: Faculty Records, Walla Walla College (now university) Music Department; Articles in WWC Music Department newsletter, Opus, 1986-2000; personal knowledge; updated information provided by Glenn Spring (2013)
Music by Glenn Spring
A Selective Listing
Contact: springlenn@yahoo.com 20442 E. Union Circle, Aurora, CO 80015 303-484-1332
ORCHESTRA
Hold in your memory the land . . . for soprano, horn, and strings, 1990. Commissioned by the Walla Walla Symphony; first performance 1/29/91: Sonja Gourley, soprano; Carlyle Manous, horn; Yaacov Bergman, conductor.
Dona Nobis Pacem for baritone and orchestra, 1984. An 18-minute work based on texts by Wilfred Owen, St. Francis of Assisi, and the composer. A statement against the Romanticization of war.
Perceptions, 1977 (2-2-2-2; 2-2; 1; strings). Premiere, Spokane Concert Orchestra,Donald Thulean, conductor. Many subsequent performances nationwide.
Shapes: a short symphony, 1973. The subject of a Washington State Arts Commission grant, this work was premiered by the Walla Walla Symphony in 1974. Subsequent performances by the Indianapolis and Spokane Symphonies.
CHORUS & ORCHESTRA
Mysterious Manger, 2002. A Christmas cantata with texts by Gerard Manley Hopkins, Richard Wilbur, and Dan Lamberton. Mixed Choir, Orchestra, and Childrens voices. Commissioned for the combined choirs of Augustana Lutheran Church, Colorado Christian University, and Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Denver, Colorado.
CHORUS
Saying Grace, 2006. SATB and percussion. Commissioned by Greeley Central High School Choirs, Jeremy Francisco, conductor.
Messe pour I\'humanite, 1993. Mixed chorus a cappella. First performance by the Iowa State University Singers, April 1994.
Missa Brevis, mixed choir, two pianos, timpani, 1968n2. Premiere by Indiana State University Singers, Ramon E. Myer, conductor. Later performed by I Cantori, College Place, Washington.
Christmas Lullaby, SATB a cappella, 1964. Bourne Co. Music Publishers, 1985. Performed widely throughout the U.S. and on NPR. In speaking of the 1974 performance in Kennedy Center by the Paul Hill Chorale, Paul Hume in the Washingtton Post called this "music of special beauty."
STRING ORCHESTRA
Chiquita, 1987. Commissioned by the Rogers School String Ensemble.
Amazing Grace, arr. 1982. Vocal or instrumental solo with string orchestra. CPPBelwin, 1988.
Bluebell Fantasy, 1980. Strings and Handbells. Commissioned by Walla Walla School District # 140. National Music Publishers, 1989.
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen, 1974. Wynn/Music Publishers, 1988.
Fantasia on "Dulcimer", 1972. CPP-Belwin, 1988.
CHAMBER MUSIC
Suite Animalito: a concert/theater piece for young string players, with narrator and piano, 2005. Commissioned by St. Annes Episcopal School, Denver. Published by Young Musicians.
Images from Wallace Stevens, 2003. Violin and Harpsichord.
The Bremen Town Musician, 2000. For Cellist/Story Teller. Commissioned by Carol Tarr.
Contemplation, violin and piano, 1996. Written for and dedicated to the composer\'s wife.
Fantasy for Paul, string trio, 1995. Commissioned by Swiss violist Paul Mattmann.
Cameos for violin and piano, 1994. Commissioned by Dr. Susan Pickett; first performance April 1, 1995 by Susan Pickett and Debra Richter.
Remembrances, for cello and piano, 1989. Commissioned by cellist Benjamin Gish for performance during his 1990 U.S. concert tour.
Intrada, Intermezzo and Dance, for cello quartet, 1987. Commissioned by the University of Idaho Cello Quartet, William Wharton, Director.
Alpine Suite, for horn and piano, 1985.
Remembrances, for clarinet and piano, 1984. Commissioned by clarinetist Sherrick Hiscock, who played the premieres in Lamorlaye, France and at the International Clarinet Society Convention in London, August, 1984.
Old-Time Hymns for Two Violins, arr. of 19th-century American hymn tunes for unaccompanied violin duo, 1977-86.
Suite for Two Violins, 1968.
HARPSICHORD
In Memoriam Georgia OKeeffe, 2008. Commissioned by Southern Methodist University for Harpsichord Workshop XVIII in Santa Fe, NM.
Hommages, 2006. Diverse movements paying tribute to Schumann, Bartok, Debussy, Stravinsky, and Mahler. Commissioned by Larry Palmer.
Images from Wallace Stevens. Cf. under chamber music.
Suite 3-D, 2002. Harpsichord, 4 hands. Commissioned by Larry Palmer for the dedication of Richard Kinstons Millennium Harpsichord, opus 300.
Trifles, 1999. Intended for amateurs, but widely played by professionals. Alienor Harpsichord Composition Contest finalist, 2004.
William Dowd: His Bleu, 1982. This widely-performed work was a 1990 winner of the Alienor Harpsichord Composition Award sponsored by the Southeastern Historical Keyboard Society. Subsequently published in the Diapason magazine.
ORGAN
Up the Wandering Stair, 1999. Commissioned by Kraig Scott.
12 Progressive Etudes, 1988/96.
Contrasts, 1986. Commissioned by the late Leonard Raver. Premiere and subsequent performances by Raver at the Walla Walla College Church (3/29/87); St. Bavokerk, Haarlem, the Netherlands (7/14/87); St. Gangolf, Trier, Germany (5/6/88), St. Peter\'s Lutheran, NYC, and many others. Also performed by other American organists, including Lynn Zeigler-Dickson, Iowa State University.
Suite for Organ, 1983; commissioned by Robert Tupper; revised and expanded for Leonard Raver, 1989.
PIANO
See also: Trifles and Hommages under HARPSICHORD. Both works adapt well to piano performance.
Festival Sonatina, 2004. Commissioned by the Aurora Music Teachers Association.
RAD! recitative, aria, and dance, 1997. For Oksana Ezhokina.
Prelude, Fugue, and Allegro, 1974. Commissioned for first WWC Faculty Interdisciplinary Colloquium; performed by Robert Hunter.