Skip to main content

Brigham Young University. Department of Music

 Organization

Dates

  • Existence: 1920 - 1998

Biography

Department of Music (1920-1998) was responsible for teaching a variety of courses in music.

The Department of Music was established and made a department within the School of Arts and Sciences in 1920 when the Church Teachers College was split. It was transferred to the College of Arts and Sciences in 1921, then to the College of Fine Arts in 1925, before becoming part of the College of Arts and Communications in 1964. The department was renamed the School of Music in 1998. Department chairs included Florence Jepperson (1920-1946), Leroy F. Robertson (1946-1948), John R. Halliday (1948-1959), Crawford Gates (1960-1966), A. Harold Goodman (1966-1981), James A. Mason (1981-1983), K. Newell Dayley (1983- 1994), and Clyn D. Barrus (1994-1998).

The department was administered by a department chair, under the direction of a college dean. The department was associated with various colleges, including the School of Arts and Sciences (1920-1921), the College of Arts and Sciences (1921-1925), the College of Fine Arts (1925-1964), and the College of Fine Arts and Communications (1964-1998).

The courses included basic voice, choir, military band, piano, orchestra, band, solfeggio, and composition. Private courses were available to students at an additional cost in violin, clarinet, and cornet. Beginning in 1921 music theory courses were added to the curriculum.

Citation:
BYU Organization History, via WWW, accessed 2013 May 30 (responsible for teaching variety of courses in music including basic voice, choir, military band, piano, orchestra, band, solfeggio, and composition; private courses were available to students at an additional cost in violin, clarinet, and cornet; 1921 music theory courses were added to the curriculum; department was administered by a department chair, under the direction of a college dean; department was associated with various colleges, including the School of Arts and Sciences (1920-1921), the College of Arts and Sciences (1921-1925), the College of Fine Arts (1925-1964), and the College of Fine Arts and Communications (1964-1998); established and made a department within the School of Arts and Sciences in 1920 when the Church Teachers College was split; transferred to the College of Arts and Sciences in 1921, then to the College of Fine Arts in 1925, before becoming part of the College of Arts and Communications in 1964; renamed the School of Music in 1998; department chairs included Florence Jepperson (1920-1946), Leroy F. Robertson (1946-1948), John R. Halliday (1948-1959), Crawford Gates (1960-1966), A. Harold Goodman (1966-1981), James A. Mason (1981-1983), K. Newell Dayley (1983- 1994), Clyn D. Barrus (1994-1998)).

Found in 6 Collections and/or Records:

Oral history interview with John Homer Wakefield

 File — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2989
Scope and Contents

Typescript of an interview taken from the eight included audiocassettes. The interview was conducted by Alonzo J. Morley on July 24 and 29, 1984 for the Joint Oral History Program of Brigham Young University Archives, BYU Alumni Association Emeritus Club, and Charles Redd Center for Western Studies. Wakefield talks about his life, friends, and his many experiences in the Brigham Young University Music Department.

Dates: 1984 July 24-29

Oral history interview with John R. Halliday

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA OH 113
Scope and Contents Professor Halliday was interviewed by Alma Heaton on August 29, 1983 as part of the Joint Oral History Project for the Brigham Young University Archives and Brigham Young University Alumni Association Emeritus Club. The interview was transcribed in 1984. The material gives a brief sketch of Halliday's life and concentrates on the time he served as a professor of Music at Brigham Young University. He mentions serving as the mission president for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
Dates: 1983-1984

Oral history interview with Lawrence W. Sardoni

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA OH 141
Scope and Contents

Interview by Bertrand Harrison with Lawrence Sardoni concerning his childhood, education, and experinces as a professor at Brigham Young University. He elaborates on the Deptarment of Music and his association with LeRoy Robertson. Also talks about Church service. Includes transcript and sound recording.

Dates: 1981

Oral history interview with Ralph A. Britsch

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA OH 67
Scope and Contents

Interview by Thomas E. Cheney with Ralph A. Britsch concerning his experiences as a student at Brigham Young University, including comments about his teachers, and the development of BYU from 1931 to the present, particularily in the areas of music and drama. Includes transcript and sound recording.

Dates: 1979

School of Music faculty histories, 2008-2011

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 5538 Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains histories of faculty members who taught in the Brigham Young University School of Music between 1925 and 2011. The histories consist of oral histories, scrapbooks, reminiscences and musical performances. The oral histories are in both DVD format and printed. The music is on DVDs. Dates range from 2008-2011.

Dates: 2008-2011

School of Music records

 Collection
Identifier: UA 5538
Scope and Contents

Contains administrative files and faculty histories for Brigham Young University School of Music. Included are annual reports, faculty responsibilities, curriculum changes, oral histories, scrapbooks and musical performances. Creation dates range from 1986 to 2011.

Dates: 1986-2011