Doran, Matt (Higgins)

Doran, Matt (Higgins), American composer, teacher, and flutist; b. Covington, Ky, Sept. 1, 1921. He studied flute, attended Los Angeles City Coll., and pursued training in composition at the Univ. of Southern Calif, in Los Angeles (B.M., 1947; D.M.A., 1953). He taught at Del Mar Coll. in Corpus Christi (1953–55) and at Ball State Coll. in Muncie, Ind. (1956–57). In 1957 he became an instructor at Mount St. Mary Coll. in Los Angeles, where he served as a prof, from 1966 to 1986. While his output includes works in most of the major genres, he has composed many scores for flute.

Works

DRAMATIC 10 operas, including The Committee (1954–55; Corpus Christi, May 25, 1955) and Marriage Counselor (Los Angeles, March 12, 1977). ORCH.: 3 syms. (1946, c. 1960, 1977); Essay (1955); Youth Overture (1964); Piano Concerto (1970; rev. 1973); Double Concerto for Flute, Guitar, and Strings (1975); Cello Concerto (1976); 2 chamber syms. (1979, 1984); Concertino for Marimba and Chamber Orch. (1986); Double Concerto for Piano, Flute, and Strings (1991). CHAMBER: 7 Short Pieces for Clarinet (1966); Clarinet Sonata (1967); Sonatina for Flute and Cello (1968); Quartet for 4 Cellos (1976); Trio for Flute, Clarinet, and Piano (1979); Sonatina for Oboe and Piano (1982); Flute Sextet (1987); Octet for Flutes (1989); Faces of Jazz for Flute and Piano (1990); Flute Sonata (1993); Trio for Flute, Viola, and Harp (1998). Piano : 4 sonatas (1960; 1981–82; 1993; 1994). VOCAL: Song of Mercy and Judgment, oratorio (1953); Eskaton, oratorio (1976); To the Moon for Soprano, Horn, and Piano (1979).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire