John Verrall

Biography

John Weedon Verrall (b. 1908 - d. 2001) was an American composer of contemporary classical music.

Prior to his University studies, Verrall studied composition with Donald Ferguson, followed by studies with R. O. Morris in London and Zoltán Kodály in Budapest. He obtained a B.M. degree from the Minneapolis School of Music in 1929, and a B.A. from the University of Minnesota in 1934. In the early 1930s he spent several summers at the Berkshire Music Center at Tanglewood, where he studied composition with Aaron Copland, Roy Harris, and Frederick Jacobi. He taught at Hamline University from 1934–1942 and Mount Holyoke College from 1942–1946, during which time he briefly served in the U.S. Army during World War II. While teaching at Mount Holyoke College, Verall also worked as a music editor for G. Schirmer. In 1946 he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship.[1] In 1948 he joined the music faculty at the University of Washington, where he taught composition and music theory until he retired as professor emeritus in 1973. Several of Verrall's students have gone on to have successful careers, including William Bolcom, Alan Stout, and Gloria Wilson Swisher.

From the late 1940s, Verrall used as the tonal basis for his music a nine-pitch scale consisting of two tetrachords on either side of a central pitch, itself alterable (C–D–E–E, F or F, G–A–B–B). This collection lends itself to symmetrical harmonic formations and melodic contours which, with equivalent rhythmic and metrical formations, generate the global and local pitch and rhythmic relations in his music.

Verrall wrote numerous symphonic works and chamber music pieces including four symphonies, seven string quartets, a violin concerto, and a viola concerto, among many other works. He also wrote several vocal art songs, choral works, and three operas.

Composer's photo above: John Verrall at the piano, undated. Photo: James A. Young. Special
Collections, UW Libraries, UW23557z

ACE Publications

76 title(s)
Composer Title SCORING/INSTRUMENTATION Year
John Verrall SONATA for oboe and piano
Oboe (or violin), piano
John Verrall SONATA for violin and piano
Violin, piano
John Verrall SONATA NO.1 for viola and piano
Viola, piano
John Verrall SONATA NO.2 for piano
Piano
John Verrall SONATINA for 'cello and piano
Cello, piano
John Verrall SONATINA for viola and piano
Viola, piano
John Verrall SONATINA for violin and piano
Violin, piano
John Verrall SONGS OF NATURE
Medium voice, piano
John Verrall SONG OF REJOICING
Children's voices, bells
John Verrall STRING QUARTET NO.5
String quartet
John Verrall STRING QUARTET NO.7
String quartet
John Verrall SUITE for brass sextet
Brass sextet: horn, trumpet (2), trombone, euphonium, tuba
John Verrall SUITE for three clarinets
3 clarinets
John Verrall SUITE for two pianos
2 pianos
John Verrall SUITE NO.1 for orchestra
Flute (3), oboe (2), english hon, clarinet (2), bass clarinet, bassoon (3), horn (4), trumpet (3), trombone (3), tuba, timpani, percussion (2), harp, strings
John Verrall SUMMERLAND FANTASY(A BUCOLIC PRELUDE FOR ORCHESTRA)
Flute (3), oboe (2, english horn, clarinet (2), bass clarinet, bassoon (3), horn (4), trumpet (3), trombone (3), tuba, timpani, percussion, harp, strings
John Verrall SYMPHONY FOR CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, percussion, strings
John Verrall SYMPHONY No. 2 in E
Flute (3), oboe (2), english horn, clarinet (2), bassoon (3), horn (4), trumpet (3), trombone (3), tuba, timpani, percussion, harp, strings
John Verrall THEME and VARIATIONS Piano
John Verrall THEY SHALL NEVER THIRST
SATB
John Verrall THREE FANTASY LEGENDS
Horn, piano
John Verrall THREE NEW PRELUDES FOR PIANO
Piano
John Verrall THREE NOCTURNES
Violin, cello, piano
John Verrall WEDDING KNELL, THE
Soprano, alto, baritone, bass soli, piano
John Verrall WEDDING KNELL, THE
Soprano, alto, baritone, bass soli; flute, clarinet, bassoon, horn, piano, percussion, harmonium&harpsichord (optional), viola, cello

Additional Works