Thomas Canning

Biography

Thomas Canning was
born in Brookville, Pennsylvania in 1911. He received the Bachelor of Music
degree from Oberlin College in 1936 and the Master of Music degree from the
Eastman School of Music of University of Rochester in 1940. At Oberlin he
studied composition with Normand Lockwood and at Eastman with Howard Hanson and
Bernard Rogers. From 1936 to 1941 he taught at Morningside College in Sioux
City, Iowa and in 1945 and 1946 he taught at Indiana University of
Pennsylvania. He was on the music faculty of the Royal Conservatory of Music at
the University of Toronto during the 1946-1947 academic season and from there
went to Eastman School of Music where he taught until 1963. Canning taught at
West Virginia University from 1963 until his retirement in 1977 at which time
he was named Professor Emeritus. He was a Fulbright Scholar in England in
1961-1962.

Canning was a member of the American Composers Alliance, The Hymn Society of
America, Pi Kappa Lambda (National Music Honorary Society), and in 1966 was named
a National Honorary Member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Most of his compositions
were written for specific occasions or organizations. Canning died in 1989.

  • ACE Publications

    53 title(s)
    Composer Title SCORING/INSTRUMENTATION Year
    Thomas Canning ALL ABOARD FOR ARARAT(CHILDREN'S OPERA IN 1 ACT)
    Children's voices, flute, recorder (3, SAT), contrabass, percussion, trumpet, piano OR voices, trumpet, snare, piano
    Thomas Canning AN OFFERING OF CAROLS & ROUNDS
    SATB, brass, percussion
    Thomas Canning ANTHEM:ALL CREATURES OF OUR GOD AND KING
    SATB, organ, trumpet descant
    Thomas Canning ANTHEM (On the Tune 'Hyfrydol')
    SATB, soprano descant, trumpet (3), trombone (2), bass trombone, strings
    Thomas Canning ANTIPHON AND PSALM
    SATB, trumpet (3), horn (4), trombone (3), tuba, percussion
    Thomas Canning AURELIA:PROCESSIONAL SATB,3 tpt,org
    Thomas Canning BACCALAURATE PROCESSIONAL tpt,tbn,org
    Thomas Canning BLESS THE LORD, ALL WORKS OF THE LORD chil voices, org, glock(opt)
    Thomas Canning BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL satb, cel & org
    Thomas Canning BUILDERS, THE satb, brass qnt
    Thomas Canning CAROL OF PRAISE mez sop,brass qrt,org
    Thomas Canning CHAMBERED NAUTILLUS
    TTBB
    Thomas Canning CHILD THIS DAY IS BORN Children's Choir, piano
    Thomas Canning CHRISTMAS GREETING
    Women's voices
    Thomas Canning COVENANT HYMN satb
    Thomas Canning FOUR CHRISTMAS PIECES
    Brass quintet
    Thomas Canning GOD IS MY STRONG SALVATION
    SATB, harp
    Thomas Canning GOOD KYTT HATH LOST HER KEY
    SSA, horn, snare drum, keys on a large ring
    Thomas Canning GRATITUDES TO THE GOD OF NATURE
    SATB
    Thomas Canning HOPE COLLEGE SERVICE,no.11,7-FOLD AMEN
    SATB
    Thomas Canning HOPE COLLEGE SERVICE, no.13 MEDITATION FOR STRINGS (on 'O God Our Help in Age Past')
    str qrt, str qnt
    Thomas Canning HOW BEAUTIFUL UPON THE MOUNTAINS
    Soprano (2), string quartet, organ
    Thomas Canning HYMN FOR OUR NATION
    SATB, brass, percussion
    Thomas Canning INAGURAL FANFARE
    Trumpet (3), trombone (3)
    Thomas Canning LITTLE CHILD THERE IS BORN
    Soprano, piano

    Additional Works