Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1934

Death

:

2003

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Keyboard

 

Dale Wood was an American composer and organist who was born on February 6, 1934, in Glendale, California. He was the son of a Baptist minister and grew up in a musical family. His father played the piano and his mother sang in the church choir. Wood began playing the piano at the age of four and started taking organ lessons at the age of 12. Wood attended the University of Redlands in California, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in organ performance. He then went on to study at the University of Southern California, where he earned a Master of Music degree in composition. While at USC, Wood studied with notable composers such as Ingolf Dahl and Halsey Stevens. After completing his studies, Wood began his career as a church musician. He served as the organist and choir director at several churches in California, including the First Baptist Church of Glendale and the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood. He also taught music at several colleges and universities, including the University of Redlands, the University of Southern California, and the Claremont Graduate School. Wood was a prolific composer who wrote music in a variety of genres, including choral music, organ music, and chamber music. He was particularly known for his sacred choral music, which was widely performed in churches throughout the United States. Some of his most popular choral works include "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing," "O Thou in Whose Presence," and "Sing We Now of Christmas." In addition to his choral music, Wood also wrote a significant amount of organ music. His organ works are known for their technical difficulty and their use of traditional hymn tunes. Some of his most popular organ works include "Prelude on 'Londonderry Air'," "Toccata on 'O Filii et Filiae'," and "Variations on 'Nettleton'." Wood's chamber music includes works for a variety of instruments, including the flute, clarinet, and trumpet. Some of his most popular chamber works include "Sonata for Flute and Piano," "Sonata for Clarinet and Piano," and "Sonata for Trumpet and Piano." Throughout his career, Wood received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to music. He was a fellow of the American Guild of Organists and was awarded the guild's highest honor, the S. Lewis Elmer Award, in 1980. He was also awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the University of Redlands in 1984. Wood continued to compose and perform music until his death on June 22, 2003, in Burbank, California. His music continues to be performed and recorded by musicians and choirs around the world.

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