McCauley, William (Alexander)

McCauley, William (Alexander), Canadian conductor and composer; b. Tofield, Alberta, Feb. 14, 1917; d. Alliston, Ontario, May 18, 1999. He studied at the Univ. of Toronto (M.B., 1947), with Parsons (piano, 1947) and Willan (composition) at the Toronto Cons., and with Hanson and Rogers at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. (M.M., 1959; D.M.A., 1960). He also was a conducting pupil of Monteux in Hancock, Maine (summer, 1959). He was first trombone for the Ottawa Phil, and the National Film Board (1947–49), and then music director of Crawley Films (1949–60), where he composed and conducted music for over 100 television films and documentaries. He then was music director of York Univ. (1960–69), the O’Keefe Centre (1960–87), Christopher Chapman Films (1969–70), Seneca Coll. (1970–78), and the North York Sym. Orch. (1972–88).

Works

orch.: Newfoundland Scene (1952); Saskatchewan Suite (1956); 5 Miniatures for Flute and Strings (1958); Contrasts (1958); Horn Concerto (1959); 5 Miniatures for Bass Trombone, Harp, and Strings (1959); Theme and Deviations (1960); Wilderness, music from the film (1963); Canadian Folk Song Fantasy for Symphonic Band (1966); Metropolis, concert suite for Symphonic Band (1967); 2 Nocturnes for Strings (1968); Sunday Morning at Wahanowin for Strings (1968); Concerto grosso for Brass Quintet and Orch. (1973); Christmas Carol Fantasies (1975). chamber: 5 Miniatures for 6 Percussionists (1962), for 10 Winds (1968), for 4 Saxophones (1972), and for Brass Quintet (1974); Miniature Overture for Brass Quintet (1973); Kaleidoscope québécois for Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, and 2 Pianos (1974). p i a n o :Space Trip (1968). vocal: Choruses; songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire