Walter Sinclair Hartley (February 21, 1927 – June 30, 2016) was an American composer of contemporary classical music.
Life and career He was born in Washington, D.C., began composing at age five and became seriously dedicated to it at sixteen. All his college degrees are from the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester. He received his Ph.D. in composition there in 1953. Some of his teachers were Burrill Phillips, Thomas Canning, Herbert Elwell, Bernard Rogers, Howard Hanson and Dante Fiorillo.
He and the former Sandra Mount married June 17, 1960; the couple is survived by two daughters and five grandchildren.
Hartley was Professor Emeritus of Music at the State University of New York at Fredonia in Fredonia, New York. He also taught piano, theory and composition at the National Music Camp (now Interlochen Arts Camp) in Interlochen, Michigan from 1956 to 1964. He then became composer-in-residence at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte located in Charlotte, North Carolina until his death.
List of compositions His list of compositions and arrangements is over 300, dating from 1949 on, and most of these are published. He was a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), from which he received an annual award for achievement in serious music since 1962.
His music has been performed by many ensembles, including the National Symphony Orchestra, Oklahoma City Symphony, Eastman-Rochester Orchestra and the Eastman Wind Ensemble. His Chamber Symphony of 1954 was commissioned by the Koussevitzky Foundation; his Concert Overture for orchestra received a prize from the National Symphony Orchestra in 1955; and his Sinfonia No. 3 for brass choir won for him the 1964 Conn Award. Since then, he had received many commissions from college and high school musical organizations. A lately published orchestral work, Symphony No. 3, was commissioned by the Greater Buffalo (New York) Youth Orchestra; several band works were commissioned by U.S. service bands. There have been many recordings.
He wrote Concerto for 23 Winds at the age of thirty in 1957.
Hartley was also considered one of the most prolific composers of music for the saxophone.
Catalogue of works
1949 Ballet Music for orchestra (or two pianos) (publ. Wingert-Jones) Improvisations for piano (manuscript) Prologue and March for band (publ. Wingert-Jones) [excerpted and arranged from Ballet Music] 1950 Quartet for Woodwinds (publ. Wingert-Jones) Sinfonietta for orchestra (publ. Wingert-Jones) Sonata da Camera for Solo Trombone, Oboe, 2 Clarinets and Bassoon (publ. Wingert-Jones) String Quartet No. 1 (publ. Wingert-Jones) 1951 Arioso for Trombone and Piano (publ. Wingert-Jones) Concertino for Flute, Trombone, Percussion, Piano and 12 strings (publ. Wingert-Jones) Sonata for violin and piano (publ. Wingert-Jones) Suite for 5 Winds for flute, oboe, clarinet, trombone and alto saxophone (publ. Wingert-Jones) Three Patterns for [chamber] orchestra (publ. Wingert-Jones) Triptych for orchestra (publ. Wingert-Jones) 1952 Concerto (No. 1) for Piano and orchestra (publ. Wingert-Jones) Elegy for strings (publ. Wingert-Jones) Prelude and Dance for 3 cellos (publ. Wingert-Jones) Sonatina for Trumpet and [chamber] orchestra (or piano) (publ. Accura) [also in version with band accompaniment, arr. Bullock] Three Piano Pieces (manuscript) 1953 Sonata for Viola and piano (publ. Wingert-Jones) Trio for Strings (Violin, Viola, Cello) (publ. Wingert-Jones) 1954 Carillon for piano (manuscript) Chamber Symphony for [chamber] orchestra (publ. ECS) Concert Overture for orchestra (publ. Wingert-Jones) How Excellent Thy Name for SATB chorus (manuscript) Two Songs of Blake for medium-high voice and piano (manuscript) 1955 Sonata (No. 1) in A for piano (manuscript) 1956 Divertimento for Cello Solo and Woodwind Quintet (publ. Wingert-Jones) Jota from "Blood Wedding" for piano (manuscript) Meditation and Dance from "Blood Wedding" for violin and harp (publ. Wingert-Jones) Quintet Movement for clarinet and string quartet (publ. Wingert-Jones) Scenes from Lorca's "Blood Wedding" for orchestra (publ. Wingert-Jones) 1957 Concerto for 23 Winds (for standard orchestral winds and brass) (publ. Accura) Sonatina for tuba and piano (publ. Wingert-Jones) 1958 Sonata Concertante for trombone and piano (publ. Wingert-Jones) Two Pieces for Woodwind Quintet (publ. Wingert-Jones) 1959 Little Duet for piano 4 hands (manuscript) Sonatina for Flute (publ. Wingert-Jones) Three Duets for Violin and Viola (publ. Wingert-Jones) Two Little Pieces for Clarinet (publ. Wingert-Jones) 1960 Chamber Music for Alto Saxophone and Woodwind Quintet (publ. Wingert-Jones) Miniature Suite for piano (manuscript) Orpheus for brass quintet (publ. Wingert-Jones) Orpheus With his Lute for SATB chorus (manuscript) Rondo for Winds and Percussion (publ. Wingert-Jones) Suite for Flute and Piano (publ. Wingert-Jones) Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano (publ. Wingert-Jones) 1961 Fantasia for Flute and Piano (publ. Wingert-Jones) Petite Suite for Alto Saxophone (publ. Wingert-Jones) Sinfonia No. 1 for band (publ. Wingert-Jones) Two Pieces for piano (manuscript) 1962 Duet for Tuba and Flute (publ. Presser) Elizabethan Dances for orchestra (publ. Wingert-Jones) Introit and Choral Amen for chorus (publ. Accura) String Quartet No. 2 (publ. ECS) Suite for tuba (publ. Presser) 1963 Festive Music for orchestra (publ. Wingert-Jones) Quintet No. 1 for brass quintet (publ. Presser) Serenade for Woodwind Quintet and String bass (publ. Wingert-Jones) Sinfonia No. 3 for brass choir (publ. Presser) 1964 Duo for Alto Saxophone and Piano (publ. Presser) Four Sketches for flute and piano (publ. Presser) Psalm for Strings (publ. Kalmus/Masters) Partita for [chamber] orchestra (publ. ECS) 1965 Divertissement for brass quintet (publ. Ensemble) Prelude and Fanfare for organ (publ. Presser) Sinfonia No. 4 for band (publ. Wingert-Jones) Sonata for Flute and Harpsichord (publ. Presser) 1966 Concerto for 3 Trombones and band (publ. Ensemble) Concerto No. 1 for Saxophone and band (or piano) (publ. Presser) Three Dances after Telemann for Flute and Tuba (publ. Ensemble) Three Pieces for Oboe (publ. Accura) 1967 Aria for Tuba and piano (publ. Presser) Caprice for trumpet and piano (publ. Ensemble) O Sing a New Song for SATB chorus (manuscript) Poem for Tenor Saxophone and piano (publ. Presser) Psalm Cycle for medium-high voice, flute and piano (Presser) Sonata for tuba and piano (publ. Presser) They That Put Their Trust for chorus and opt. organ (manuscript) 1968 Sinfonietta for band (publ. Philharmusica) Solemn Music for brass quartet and brass choir (manuscript) Sonata No. 2 for piano (publ. Presser) 1969 Canzona for 8 trombones (publ. Ensemble) Capriccio for Trombone and band (publ. Philharmusica) Concertino for Trumpet and small wind ensemble (publ. Philharmusica) Concertino for Tuba and small wind ensemble (publ. Presser) Double Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Tuba and Wind Octet (publ. Philharmusica) Sonata Breve for Bass trombone (publ. Presser) 1970 Symphony No. 1 for band (publ. ECS) Te Deum (No. 2 from 5 Canticles) for Baritone solo, SATB chorus and band (publ. Accura) Two Pastiches for trumpet, horn and trombone (publ. Philharmusica) Venite (No. 1 from 5 Canticles) for SATB chorus and band (publ. Accura) 1971 Bivalve Suite for Euphonium and tuba (publ. Philharmusica) Jubilate Deo (No. 5 from 5 Canticles) for chorus, soloists and band (publ. Accura) Magnificat (No. 3 from 5 Canticles) for SSAA chorus, soprano solo and band (publ. Accura) Nunc Dimittis (No. 4 from 5 Canticles) for TTBB chorus, Tenor solo and band (publ. Accura) Partita for winds (for wind ensemble, no percussion) (publ. Accura) 1972 Antiphony for Brass Choir and Band (publ. Accura) Song (from Southern Tier Suite) for alto saxophone and piano (publ. Presser) Sonorities for Tuba and Piano (publ. Philharmusica) Southern Tier Suite for Band (publ. Presser) Suite for SATB Saxophones (publ. Philharmusica) Two Anthems for TTBB chorus and organ (publ. Bardic) 1973 In Memoriam for band (publ. Accura) Music for Tuba Solo (publ. Philharmusica) Variations for orchestra (publ. Wingert-Jones) 1974 Concerto for Tuba and Percussion Orchestra (publ. Accura) Largo for tuba and piano (publ. Philharmusica) Little Suite for baritone saxophone and piano (publ. Dorn) The Saxophone Album for SATB saxophones and piano (publ. Presser) Sonata for tenor saxophone and piano (puybl. Dorn) 1975 Bacchanalia for band (publ. Accura) Chorale "Ach Gott und Herr (Nicolai-Bach, arranged for saxophones: SAATBBass) (publ. Dorn) Chorale "Wachet Auf" (Nicolai-Bach, arranged for saxophones: SAATBBass) (publ. Dorn) Fantasia for Brass and Percussion (publ. Accura) [Published with Prelude for Brass and Scherzo for Tuned Percussion as "Music for Brass and Percussion"] Love Song of the Bride for soprano and piano (publ. Bardic) Metamorphoses for clarinet and piano (publ. Ethos) Octet for saxophones (SAAATTBBass) (publ. Dorn) Saturday Afternoon (vocalise) for soprano or alto and vibraphone (manuscript) Sonorities II for horn and piano (publ. Presser) Three Modes for piano (manuscript) 1976 Miniatures for 4-Valve Instruments (2 Euphoniumns, 2 Tubas) (publ. ECS) Prelude for Brass and Drums (brass choir and percussion) (Publ. Accura) [Published with Prelude for Brass and Scherzo for Tuned Percussion as "Music for Brass and Percussion"] Saxophrenia for Alto Saxophone and Band (or piano) (publ. Dorn) Scherzo for Tuned Percussion (timpani, mallets) (publ. Accura) [Published with Prelude for Brass and Scherzo for Tuned Percussion as "Music for Brass and Percussion"] Sonata for Baritone Saxophone and piano (publ. Dorn) Sonatina for piano (manuscript) Sonorities III for Trombone and Piano (publ. Presser) Sonorities IV for alto saxophone and piano (publ. Dorn) Two Pieces for Euphonium and piano (publ. Presser) 1977 Quartet for Reeds (Oboe, clarinet alto saxophone and bassoon (publ. Dorn) Quintet No. 2 for brass quintet (publ. Dorn) Sinfonia No 5 for band (publ. Accura) Sonorities V for trumpet and organ (publ. Presser) Three Preludes for piano (publ. Bardic) Tricinia for 3 trombones (publ. Presser) Tuba Rose (Polka) for tuba and piano (publ. Presser) 1978 Concertino for Tenor Saxophone and Band (or piano) (publ. Dorn) Sonorities VI for Bassoon and Harpsichord (publ. Presser) Symphony No. 2 for band (publ. Accura) Valse Vertigo for alto saxophone and piano (publ. Dorn) 1979 Diversions for soprano saxophone and piano (publ. Ethos) Meditation for horn and piano (publ. Presser) Quartet for Brass (cornet, horn, euphonium, tuba) (publ. Presser) Rhapsody Tenor Saxophone and strings (or string quartet) (publ. Dorn) Sonata Euphonica for Euphonium and piano (publ. Presser) 1980 Euphonium Concerto for Euphonium and orchestra (or band or piano) (publ. Accura) 1981 Coast Guard Overture for band (publ. Accura) Quintet for Saxophones (SAATB) (publ. Dorn) 1982 Concertante for Timpani and orchestra (or band) (publ. ECS) 1983 Catskill Suite for band (publ. Accura) Shall I Compare Three for medium high voice and piano (publ. Bardic) Suite for Diverse Trumpets (6 trumpets) (publ. Presser) Symphony No. 3 for orchestra (publ. ECS) 1984 Antiphonal Prelude for SATB saxophones and organ (publ. Ethos) Cantilena for alto saxophone and marimba (publ. Ethos) Suite for Clarinet, trumpet and piano (publ. Ehtos) Trio for Saxophones (ATB) (publ. Presser) Two Dances: Rag Tango, Slow Drag for Clarinet, Trumpet and Piano (publ. ECS) 1985 Aubade for SAATBBass saxophones (publ. Ethos) Dance Suite for violin, alto saxophone and piano (pubnl. Ethos) Sinfonia No. 6 for saxophones (SSAAAATTBBBass) (publ. Ethos) Solemn Postlude for SATB saxophones and organ (publ. Ethos) Sonorities VII for Tenor Saxophone and piano (publ. Ethos) Toccata Concertante for SATB saxophones and organ (publ. Ethos) 1986 Duet-Sonatina for Alto and Tenor Saxophones (publ. Ethos)