Word: davisons
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Church music in its present state calls for neither pride nor optimism, according to Archibald T. Davison '06, James Edward Ditson Professor of Music...
...study Davison points out what he thinks has led to the degradation of the works. Following the 16th century, the composers writing for highly trained choirs surrendered to the advances in musical techniques calculated to produce dramatic and sentimental effects "suitable to the opera, but not to the church...
...ideal church music," says Davison, "should never be a distracting end in itself, but should exist to heighten the significance of the texts to which it is set and to be an ally of the attitude of worship...
...best church music, Davison finds that the technical elements which make a "sacred" style include an irregular rhythmic structure which fulfills the texts, rather than a distracting, strongly-accented, steadily-beaten pulse. He thinks music written in modes other than the familiar major and minor scales is effective in producng an other-worldly, non-secular atmosphere...
...John Davison, 1G, wrote his Violin Sonata in an appealing, pastoral style, strongly reminiscent of Vaughan Williams. The first three movements became slightly monotonous because of the similarity of their musical ideas, though this impression may be due to the uniformity of the tempi with which they were performed. In the fourth movement, Mr. Davison departs from his hitherto placid style and attempts, I think successfully, a more elaborate plan. Especially noteworthy are the many long, beautifully constructed melodies which appear in the course of this composition...