Bavicchi, John (Alexander)

Bavicchi, John (Alexander), American conductor, teacher, and composer; b. Boston, April 25, 1922. He studied at the New England Cons, of Music in Boston with Carl McKinley and Francis Judd Cooke (B.M., 1952), and then attended Harvard Univ. Graduate School, taking courses in theory with Davison, composition with Piston, and musicology with Gombosi (1952–55). He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and saw action in Guadalcanal, Okinawa, and Japan (1943–45). Returning to Boston after the War, he devoted himself to teaching, composing, and conducting. Bavicchi lectured on music history at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education (1960–73). He also conducted the Arlington-Belmont Chorale (from 1960), the American Festival Ballet Co. (1962–65), and the Arlington Phil. (1968–82). His music is couched in Classical forms, while presenting a variegated texture of decidedly modernistic invention.

Works

Orch.:Concerto for Clarinet and Strings (1954); Suite No. 1 (1955); A Concert Overture (1957); Fantasy for Harp and Chamber Orch. (1959); Concertante for Oboe, Bassoon, and Strings (1961); Caroline’s Dance (1974–75); Mont Blanc, overture (1976–77); Music for Small Orch. (1981); Fusions for Trombone and Orch. (1984–85); Pyramid (1986); Canto I for String Orch. (1987) and III for Concert Band (1991); Sherbrooke West (1988) Concerto for Tuba and Concert Band (1988); Dialogue for Piano and Orch. (1995); Icelandic Musings for Trumpet and Small Orch. (1997); Tobal II (1998). CHAMBER: 10 trios for a variety of instrumental combinations (1950–83); 2 cello sonatas (1953, 1956); 2 sonatas for Solo Clarinet (1956, 1959); Brass Quartet No. 1 (1956); A Musical Sketch-book for Flute, or for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, and Piano (1960); String Quartet (1960); 2 woodwind quintets (1961, 1973); Music for Horn and Piano (1980); Concertino for Tuba and Brass Quartet (1984); Flute Sonata (1986); Triptych for Multiple Horns (1987); Canto II for Clarinet (1990) and IV for Flute, Bassoon, Violin, and Piano (1992); Violin Sonatina (1993); Quintet for Clarinet and Strings (1995); piano pieces. VOCAL: 4 Songs for Contralto and Orch. (1952); 3 Psalms for Soloists, Chorus, 2 Trumpets, and String Orch. (1963); There is Sweet Music Here for Soprano and Orch. (1985); 6 Songs to Poems of William Blake for Soprano, Violin, and Piano (1987); Songs of Remembrance for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1990); Talk to Me for Chorus and Piano (1992); Infinite Patience for Mezzo-soprano, Clarinet, and Piano (1992); Psalm 96 for Chorus and Brass (1996); The Hallam Songs for Soprano, Mezzo- soprano, 2 Oboes, and Piano (1999).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire