Stevens, Halsey, 1908-1989

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Biographical Note

Halsey Stevens was born on December 3, 1908, in Scott, New York. Educated at Homer Academy as a youth, Stevens took to composing at a young age and completed his first work, The Frogs at School, sometime around 1920-1921. He studied composition with William Berwald at Syracuse University, earning his B.A. in 1931 and his M.M. in 1937. Shortly after graduation, Stevens accepted a position as associate professor of music at Dakota Wesleyan University, where he remained until 1944. He continued his composition studies with Ernest Bloch at the University of California, Berkeley, before settling into a professorship at the University of Southern California in 1946. Over the course of his thirty-year tenure at the school, Stevens served as chairman for its department of composition (1949-1975), composer-in-residence (1972-1976), and as Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities (1974-1976). He was named professor emeritus in 1976.

As a musicologist, Stevens spent a considerable portion of his academic career dedicated to documenting the music and legacy of Hungarian composer Béla Bartók. His signature monograph, The Life and Music of Béla Bartók, was first published in 1953, with a second edition in 1964. His scholarly success fueled a robust career as visiting professor and guest lecturer at nearly seventy American and European universities, including the University of Cincinnati and Yale University. Stevens was the recipient of Guggenheim Fellowships in 1964 and 1971, with which he traveled and composed a handful of his hundreds of instrumental and vocal works. His Sonata for Trumpet and Piano (1956), Sonata for Solo Cello (1956), and Symphonic Dances (1958) are among his most performed works. Stevens appears to have stopped composing by the early 1980s, at which point he was living in Inglewood, California. He died on January 20, 1989.

From the guide to the Halsey Stevens Papers, circa 1920-1987, (bulk 1930-1972), (Music Division Library of Congress)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf American Music Edition records, 1920-1997, 1951-1991 Music Library
creatorOf Stevens, Halsey, 1908-1989. [Letter] [manuscript] : La Tronche [to] S. Edvi-Illes, East Malvern. Libraries Australia
creatorOf Stevens, Halsey, 1908-1989. [Letter], 1955 Mar 30 [manuscript]: La Tronche [to] S. Edvi-Illes, East Malvern. University of Queensland, UQ Library
referencedIn Kirkpatrick, John, 1905-1991. The John Kirkpatrick papers, 1836-1993 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
referencedIn The Moldenhauer Archives at Harvard University: Correspondence, literary manuscripts, sound recordings, and other material, 1873-2001. Houghton Library
creatorOf Stevens, Halsey, 1908-1989. Forty-eight hours / [words by] John Pudney ; [music by] Halsey Stevens. Washington University in St. Louis, .
referencedIn Society for the Publication of American Music. Papers of the Society for the Publication of American Music, 1924-1974 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
referencedIn Rudolf Kolisch papers, 1886-1978. Houghton Library
creatorOf Stevens, Halsey, 1908-1989. [Six Millay songs] / Halsey Stevens ; [words by] Edna St. Vincent Millay. Washington University in St. Louis, .
referencedIn The Richard Donovan Papers, 1913-1971 (inclusive) Irving S. Gilmore Music Library
referencedIn Donovan, Richard, 1891-1970. The Richard Donovan papers, 1913-1971 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
referencedIn Hewitt, James, 1770-1827. In a far distant clime / James Hewitt ; freely transcribed by Halsey Stevens. Washington University in St. Louis, .
creatorOf Halsey Stevens Papers, circa 1920-1987, (bulk 1930-1972) Library of Congress. Music Division
creatorOf Stevens, Halsey, 1908-1989. If luck and I should meet : SSAATTBB, a cappella / Halsey Stevens ; poem by Clemence Dane. University of Cincinnati - Main Campus, Langsam Library
referencedIn The John Kirkpatrick Papers, 1836-1993 (inclusive) Irving S. Gilmore Music Library
creatorOf Stevens, Halsey, 1908-1989. A secret love / [words], anon., ca. 1500 ; [music], Halsey Stevens. Washington University in St. Louis, .
referencedIn Porter, Quincy, 1897-1966. The Quincy Porter papers, 1897-1975 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
referencedIn E. Robert Schmitz Papers, 1909-1991 (inclusive) Irving S. Gilmore Music Library
referencedIn The Moldenhauer Archives at Harvard University: Manuscript music compositions, 1880-1985. Houghton Library
creatorOf Stevens, Halsey, 1908-1989. When I am dead, my dearest / [words by] Christina Rossetti ; [music by] Halsey Stevens. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Stevens, Halsey, 1908-1989. Sonatina 2 for violin and piano (1944) / Halsey Stevens. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Haverlin, Carl, 1899-1985. [American composers collection]. Northwestern University
creatorOf Stevens, Halsey, 1908-1989. Trio no. 2 for piano, violin, and cello / by Halsey Stevens. Yale University, Music Library
referencedIn Porter, Quincy, 1897-1966. The Quincy Porter papers, 1897-1975 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
referencedIn Quincy Porter Papers, 1897-1975 (inclusive) Irving S. Gilmore Music Library
creatorOf Stevens, Halsey, 1908-1989. Hommage à Arthur Honegger / by Halsey Stevens. Bowling Green State University, BGSU Libraries
creatorOf Stevens, Halsey, 1908-1989. Early one morning : English folksong (17th century) / arranged by Halsey Stevens. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Tait, Margaret. Student recital [sound recording]. University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Semans Library
referencedIn Atkins, Irene Kahn, 1922-. Major figures in American music [S-Z] : [oral history]. Yale University Library
creatorOf Clarion Wind Quintet. Faculty recital [sound recording]. University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Semans Library
referencedIn The Papers of the Society for the Publication of American Music, 1924-1974 Irving S. Gilmore Music Library
creatorOf Stevens, Halsey, 1908-1989. Sonatina no. 3 : for violin and piano [manuscript] / Halsey Stevens. University of Southern California, USC Libraries
referencedIn Donovan, Richard, 1891-1970. The Richard Donovan papers, 1913-1971 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
creatorOf Stevens, Halsey, 1908-1989. Magnificat : for chorus, trumpet, and keyboard / by Halsey Stevens. University of North Texas Library, UNT
referencedIn Society for the Publication of American Music. Papers of the Society for the Publication of American Music, 1924-1974 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
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associatedWith García Caturla, Alejandro, 1906-1940 person
associatedWith Gaul, Harvey B. (Harvey Bartlett), 1881-1945 person
associatedWith Giannini, Walter, 1917-2001 person
associatedWith Glanville-Hicks, Peggy person
associatedWith Goebels, Franzpeter person
associatedWith Goldman, Richard Franko, 1910-1980 person
associatedWith Goodman, Alfred, 1920-1999 person
associatedWith Grant, Parks person
associatedWith Green, Harold Bellman, 1921-2007 person
associatedWith Green, Ray, 1908-1997 person
associatedWith Griffis, Eliot person
associatedWith Griggs, Betty Lew person
associatedWith Grofé, Ferde, 1892-1972 person
associatedWith Gruenberg, Louis, 1884-1964 person
associatedWith G. Schirmer, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Gusikoff, Michel person
associatedWith Gyring, Elizabeth, 1909-1970 person
associatedWith Hadley, Henry Kimball, 1871-1937 person
associatedWith Haines, Edmund person
associatedWith Hamlet, Alice person
associatedWith Hanson, Howard, 1896-1981 person
associatedWith Harmati, Sandor, 1892-1936 person
associatedWith Harrison, Guy Fraser, 1894-1986 person
associatedWith Harrison, Lou, 1917-2003 person
associatedWith Harris, Roy, 1898-1979 person
associatedWith Haubiel, Charles, 1892-1978 person
associatedWith Haverlin, Carl, 1899-1985. person
associatedWith Haynie, John J. (John James) person
associatedWith Hedge, Grace person
associatedWith Heilner, Irwin, 1908-1991 person
associatedWith Hemmer, Eugene, 1929-1977 person
associatedWith Herrmann, Bernard, 1911-1975 person
associatedWith Hewitt, James, 1770-1827. person
associatedWith Hill, Edward Burlingame, 1872-1960 person
associatedWith Hiller, Lejaren, 1924-1994 person
associatedWith Hinson, Maurice person
associatedWith Hodghead, Lillian, 1886-1972 person
associatedWith Holford, Franz, d. 1994. person
associatedWith Holloway, Jack person
associatedWith Horsky, Edward L. person
associatedWith Howard, John Tasker, 1890-1964 person
associatedWith Huerter, Charles, 1885-1974 person
associatedWith Huffman, Walter Spencer, 1921-2005 person
associatedWith Hughes, Edwin, 1884-1965 person
associatedWith Humphrey, Doris, 1895-1958 person
associatedWith Hunsley, Robert person
associatedWith Ives, Charles, 1874-1954 person
associatedWith Ivey, Jean Eichelberger person
associatedWith Jackson, George Pullen, 1874-1953 person
associatedWith Jacobi, Frederick, 1891-1952 person
associatedWith Jolas, Jacques person
associatedWith Jones, Charles, 1910-1997 person
associatedWith Jones, Homer, composer person
associatedWith Josten, Werner, 1885-1963 person
associatedWith Kabalevsky, Dmitry Borisovich, 1904-1987 person
associatedWith Kelly, Robert, 1916-2007 person
associatedWith Kerr, Harrison person
associatedWith King-Smith, Grace person
associatedWith Kirkpatrick, John, 1905-1991. person
associatedWith Klauss, Kenneth person
associatedWith Knowlton, Dorothy G. (Dorothy Gillespie), 1903- person
correspondedWith Kolisch, Rudolf, 1896-1978 person
associatedWith Korn, Peter Jona person
associatedWith Korn, Richard, 1908-1981 person
associatedWith Kouguell, Arkadie, 1898-1985 person
associatedWith Koutzen, Boris, 1901-1966 person
associatedWith Kraft, William person
associatedWith Kushner, David Z., 1935- person
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associatedWith Lee, Dai-Keong, 1915- person
associatedWith Leet, Lucie person
associatedWith Lieberson, Samuel A. person
associatedWith Limón, José person
associatedWith Lipscomb, Edna person
associatedWith Lipscomb, Helen, 1921-1974 person
associatedWith Lipsky, Alexander, 1900-1985 person
associatedWith Lockwood, Normand, 1906-2002 person
associatedWith Loeffler, Charles Martin, 1861-1935 person
associatedWith Lombardo, Robert, 1932- person
associatedWith Lopatnikoff, Nikolai, 1903-1976 person
associatedWith Lora, Antonio, 1899-1965 person
associatedWith Lubin, Ernest person
associatedWith Luening, Otto, 1900-1996 person
associatedWith MacDowell, Edward, 1860-1908 person
associatedWith Mainville, Denise person
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associatedWith Mason, Daniel Gregory, 1873-1953 person
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associatedWith Michalsky, Donal R. person
associatedWith Milhaud, Darius, 1892-1974 person
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correspondedWith Moldenhauer, Hans, collector. person
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associatedWith Mumma, Gordon, 1935- person
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associatedWith Nee, Thomas person
associatedWith Nelhybel, Vaclav person
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associatedWith Piston, Walter, 1894-1976 person
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associatedWith Rohe, Robert, 1916- person
associatedWith Rorem, Ned, 1923- person
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associatedWith Rothenberg, Esther person
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associatedWith Salinger, Pierre person
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associatedWith Schiek, Florence person
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associatedWith Shanet, Harold person
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associatedWith Wiggins, Mary person
associatedWith Wiser, John person
associatedWith Wuorinen, Charles person
associatedWith Yessin, Gerson person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
Choruses, Sacred (Mixed voices), Unaccompanied
Choruses, Sacred (Mixed voices) with string orchestra
Folk music
Folk songs
Magnificat (Music)
Music
Music
Musical sketches
Piano music
Piano trios
Sonatas (Violin and piano)
Sonatas (Violin and piano)
Songs (High voice) with piano
Songs (Medium voice) with piano
Songs with piano
Occupation
Musicians
Arrangers
Collector
Activity

Person

Birth 1908-12-03

Death 1989-01-20

Americans

English

Information

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