Childs, Gordon B., 1927-
Dates
- Existence: 1927-
Biographical History
Gordon Childs (born 1927) is a well-known viola d'amore performer and teacher and was one of the co-founders of the International Viola d'Amore Society/Congress.
Born on October 22, 1927 in Springville, Utah, Gordon B. Childs has B.A. and M.A. degrees in Music Education and Musicology from Brigham Young University and the Ed.D. degree in Music Administration from the University of Montana.
A violist and violinist, he was introduced to the Viola d’Amore by Professor Homer Wakefield in a music history class at BYU in the fall of 1951. He subsequently wrote his master's thesis on the History, Technique and Literature of the Viola d'Amore, and played a graduate recital of viola d'amore music using Professor Wakefield's instrument.
From solo to chamber music to concerti, he has given solo recitals, chamber music concerts and played concertos with symphony orchestras in most of the mid-west and western states in America and in Mexico, Poland and Germany.
Assisted by Myron Rosenblum of New York and Daniel Thomason of California, the directors of the Viola d'Amore Society of America, Dr. Childs hosted the first International Viola d'Amore Congress in 1982 at the University of Wyoming in Laramie where he was on the music faculty. Since the success of this first Congress, others have been held every other year in many cities in the United States, in England, Germany, and Poland including two he organized in Utah after retiring there in 1993.
Even after 21 years of retirement in Orem, Utah, Dr. Childs still teaches and performs on this beautiful "Viola d'Amore, Viole d'Amour, Viola of Love."
UPB files, July 14, 2014 (born in Springville, Utah; where he studied; where he has performed; hosted the first International Viola d'Amore Congress in 1982; retired 21 years ago to Orem, UT)
Found in 6 Collections and/or Records:
Gordon Childs correspondence on the Viola d'Amore, 1969-2014
Contains letters and emails between Gordon Childs and others about the viola d'amore. Dated 1969-2014.
Gordon Childs papers on donation of materials from the First International Viola d'Amore Congress to the University of Wyoming, 1982-2009, bulk: 2008-2009
This sub-series contains correspondence relating to the donation of materials from the first viola d'amore congress to the University of Wyoming. Dated 1982-2009 with the bulk of the materials being from 2008-2009.
Gordon Childs papers on the discovery of Walter Voigtlander's Viola d'Amore and music, 2001-2009
This series contains correspondence between Dr. Childs and others on the discovery of Walter Voigtlander's papers on the viola d'amore in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Also contains other materials including appraisals, music lists, and articles on the subject. Dated 2001-2009.
Gordon Childs papers on the International Viola d'Amore Congresses, 1926-2014, bulk: 1996-2014
This series contains correspondence, articles, lecture notes, and pictures relating to the 1st and 15th International Viola d'Amore congresses. Dated 1926-2014 with the bulk of the materials being from 1996-2014.
Gordon Childs papers on the research of the Viola d'Amore for master's thesis, 1952-1954, bulk: March 1952-July 1952
This series contains correspondence between Dr. Childs and other viola d'amore players about the viola d'amore for his master's thesis. Dated 1952-1954 with the bulk of the materials being from March 1952-July 1952.
Gordon Childs Viola d'Amore papers from Karl Stumpf, 1968-2005
Contains correspondence between Dr. Childs and Karl Stumpf on the viola d'amore. Also includes articles and programs relating to the viola d'amore. Dated 1968-2005.
Filtered By
- Subject: Correspondence X