John Joseph Davye

Professor Davye's larger works include, Cry of Anguish, Song of Praise (Psalm 22) for chorus of Mixed Voices, Organ and Brass Quartet, which was commissioned by the First Lutheran Church of Norfolk in commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the birth of Martin Luther; Symphony in One Movement, commissioned by ODU in celebration of its Golden Anniversary, and Four Days From My Life, a ballet in five scenes which had its premiere performances funded partially by the National Endowment for the Arts, Virginia Commission for the Arts, and the Norfolk Commission on the Arts and Humanities.

For nearly 30 years Professor Davye was a renowned choral director at University and High School levels.

John Joseph Davye (October 19, 1929 – September 25, 2007) was an American choral conductor and a composer of choral and chamber music.

Commissioned by the First Lutheran Church, Norfolk, VA, in commemoration of the 500th Anniversary of the birth of Martin Luther

He finished his career as a teacher, composer, director, and festival adjudicator as Professor Emeritus of Music at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA. He held degrees from the University of Miami (FL) 1952 and Ithaca College (NY) 1965 where he studied composition with Warren Benson.

His compositions, both published and unpublished, were played at a wide variety of universities and churches, and on the radio; his work was funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts as well as the arts commissions of Virginia and Norfolk.

For almost 40 years John J. Davye had his music published by Associated Music Publishers, Inc. (NYC/London); Augsburg Publishing House (Minneapolis, Minn.); Crystal Spring Music Publishers, Inc. (Roanoke, VA); Mark Foster Music Co. (Champaign, Ill.); muSic eSpreSS, inc. (Tempe, AZ) and World Library Publications, Inc. (Cincinnati, Ohio).

Prior to publication his compositions had been performed on the campuses of Capital University (Ohio); East Carolina University (N.C.); Hollins College (VA); University of Kansas; James Madison University (VA); Manhattan School of Music (NYC); ODU; Penn State University; University of South Florida; St. Olaf College (Minn.); Tennessee Tech University, and West Virginia University, among others.

PSALM 93 – 1957 (APH)

Introit for the first Sunday after Christmas for Chorus or Solo Voices of any combination

Before coming to ODU in 1966, Professor Davye was for 11 years a public school music educator at the secondary level.

Nine of those years as director of one of the most highly rated and acclaimed high school music programs in New York state, while teaching at Owego Free Academy, Owego, N.Y. There he directed 5 choirs that had a total enrollment of 250, in a school that had a student population of 800.

Listed among many prestigious appearances, his group's broadcast around the world over Voice-of -America Radio; performed in two different years in the New York State Pavilion at the New York World's Fair, and appeared in Concert for the United States Senate in Washington, D.C.

For 17 years (1966–83) Professor Davye was the Director of the ODU Concert-Choir.

During this time the Choir made numerous appearances with the Norfolk Symphony Orchestra; performed several times over 7 of the world's largest radio networks; appeared at state, regional, national and international conferences and conventions.

In the fall of 1967, Davye founded the Tidewater Chorale which he directed until 1976.

MISSA BREVIS -1967 (AMP)

Mass for chorus of Mixed Voices

A CHILD IS BORN TO US -1968 (AMP)

Christmas Choral Cycle for full chorus of Treble Voices

CANONIC FANTASY FOR TWO FLUTES -1974

In 1975-76 the ODU Choir performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. as part of the Bicentennial Parade of American Music, and also at the Loyola University Bicentennial Collegiate Choral Festival in New Orleans, LA.

The Choir regularly toured in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.

He was a member of the American Choral Directors Association, American Society of University Composers, American Association of University Professors, Music Educators National Conference, and an honorary life member of Iota Tau chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternity.

THREE EPISODES FOR BRASS CHOIR -1975

Professor Davye was one of nine original founding members of the Tidewater Composer's Guild in 1979.

CRY OF ANGUISH, SONG OF PRAISE - Psalm 22 -1983

for chorus of Mixed Voices, Organ and Brass Quartet.

In 1985 he founded the Composition program at the newly established Governor's School for the Arts, in Norfolk, VA. Professor Davye was also a frequent festival adjudicator throughout the eastern U.S. and Canada.

John Davye is included in several biographical sources, among them International Who's Who in Music and Musicians Directory, 1990/91 and Who's Who in American Music: Classical.

FOUR DAYS FROM MY LIFE -1990

Ballet in five scenes (chamber orch. of 11)

Premiere performances funded partially by the National Endowment for the Arts, Virginia Commission for the Arts, and the Norfolk Commission on the Arts and Humanities

FANFARE for Trumpets and Timpani -1992 (DHQ)

Commissioned by the Office of the president, Old Dominion University for the dedication of the Fine and Performing Arts Center and the Visual Arts Building

SONATINA FOR CLARINET, VIOLIN AND CELLO

PRAYER OF SAINT FRANCIS -1995

for Four-Part Choir of Mixed Voices, Two-Part Ensemble of Treble Voices and Organ.

On December 31, 1997 Professor Davye suffered a stroke.

On September 25, 2007, Professor John J. Davye died in his home in Norfolk, Virginia.