Born in Spokane, Wash. on Feb. 13, 1926, Barney Childs led a colorful life as both a scholar and a composer. Childs attended the University of Nevada where he earned his B.A. As a Rhodes Scholar, Childs went on to earn a B.A. and M.A. in English language and literature at Oxford University. In addition, he earned a Ph.D. in English and music from Stanford University. Childs was largely a self-taught composer. In the 1950's he did, however, have the opportunity to study with Carlos Chavez and Aaron Copland at Tanglewood. He also spent time studying with Elliott Carter in New York. Many of his pieces were performed throughout the United States by the late 1950's.
As a teacher, he began his career in the English Department at the University of Arizona from 1961-65. He later advanced to dean of Deep Springs College from 1965-69. From 1969-71, Childs served as composer-in-residence at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in Milwaukee. The remainder of his career was spent teaching with Johnston College and the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Redlands from 1971-93. During his career, Childs was active with a number of publications. He served as poetry editor of "Genesis West" and co-editor of "The New Instrumentation" book series. He was co-founder of Advance Recordings and served as an associate editor for "Perspectives of New Music."
Together with Phillip Rehfeldt (University of Redlands), Childs was a performing participant in the commissioning series "Music for Clarinet and Friend." He also served as co-editor (with Elliott Schwartz) of the book "Contemporary Composers on Contemporary Music." Barney Childs passed away on Jan. 11, 2000, leaving behind some 160 compositions and the poetry text "The Poetry-I Book. A Collection of childs' Manuscripts" is currently held and being processed in a special collection at the University of Redlands.
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ACE Publications
Composer | Title | SCORING/INSTRUMENTATION | Year | |
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Barney Childs | EDGE OF THE WORLD | bscl, org
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Barney Childs | SKY VISIT | vcl
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Barney Childs | CLAY MUSIC | 4 performers using clay whistles,flutes,etc.
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Barney Childs | SINCE THEN | improvising/speaking pianist
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Barney Childs | MOSAIC ON A THEME OF BALAKIREV | (Eb)alto sax
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Barney Childs | QUARTET/FANTASY |
4 Tubas |
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Barney Childs | CLARINET PIECE | Solo Clarinet
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Barney Childs | QUESTION OF SUMMER | Tuba, harp
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Barney Childs | BRASS QUINTET No. 4 | 2 tpt, hn, tbn, tba
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Barney Childs | WHEN LILACS LAST IN THE DOORYARD BLOOM'D | Chorus,stb,cl,tpt,bsn,perc.,soli, pic-2-2e.hn-(Eb)cl,3(Bb)cl,al.-2b.cl,2al.-ten-bar.sx, 4-3(1 d/Bb)-3(2 ten,1f-att)-2,bar.hn,+Stage Band: 4tpt,4tbn,timp,str.b,2al.-2ten-bar.sx,b,drums,4perc.
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Barney Childs | THIRTY-SEVEN SONGS | pf (prepared)
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Barney Childs | KEET SEEL | satb a cap.
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Barney Childs | CONCERTO FOR CLARINET & ORCHESTRA | solo cl (Bb), fl/pic, ob, EH, Heckelphone, Alto Sax, BsCl, Bsn, 4 hn, 3tpt, 2tbn, baritone horn, tuba, timp, perc(5) hp, strings
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Barney Childs | J.D. | pf, 2 audio recordings
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Barney Childs | VARIATIONS ON POEMS OF JOHN NEWLOVE | satb, tape
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Barney Childs | DAY SEQUENCE: 1 | vla,pf
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Barney Childs | BARNARD 1 | cl,pf
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Barney Childs | STRING QUARTET, SEVENTH | string quartet
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Barney Childs | BARNARD 2 | ob,bsn
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Barney Childs | GLASSE OF TRUTH | choir, and performer-generated audio
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Barney Childs | VARIATIONS | chor, tape, bells
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Barney Childs | QUODLIBET FOR SINGERS | multiple voices
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Barney Childs | LYNN VALLEY | cl,vla,pf,spkr
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Barney Childs | WIND QUINTET, FOURTH | 1-1-1-1-hn
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Barney Childs | MR T. HIS FANCY | double bass solo
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