In addition to his composition study with Helen Gunderson at Louisiana State University, Dr. Reed studied composition at the Eastman School of Music with Howard Hanson and Bernard Rogers, conducting with Paul White, musicology with Harold Gleason and theory with Allen I. McHose. In the summer of 1947, he studied privately with Roy Harris in Colorado Springs, and, at the Berkshire Music Center (Tanglewood), he studied composition with Bohuslav Martinu, and contemporary music with Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein and Stanley Chappel.
Dr. Reed spent six months (1948-49) in Mexico composing and studying folk music and returned to Mexico for a month's study in the summer of 1960. He also continued his study of folk music in the Caribbean in February 1976, the summer of 1977 in Norway, and extensive study of American Indian music in New Mexico and Arizona.
He has been a member or officer of a number of regional and national music organizations including the Music Teachers National Association where he served as Chairman of the Theory-Composition Section. He is a member of ASCAP, The American Music Center, The Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (Honorary Member), and a member of the National Council of the National Association of Composers, USA. He is also an Orpheus Award member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and recipient of the National Arts Award from Sigma Alpha Iota.
Dr. Reed's first wife, Esther M. Reed, died in Lansing, Michigan in 1981. Their surviving children are Sara Jo Ferrar of Worthington, Ohio and Carol Ann Wetters of Traverse City, Michigan. In 1982, Dr. Reed married Mary L. Arwood of Lansing, Michigan. They now reside in Green Valley, Arizona.
1948-49 Guggenheim Fellowship for Creative Work in Musical Composition
1949 Composers Press Symphonic Award for Concerto for Cello and Orchestra
1960 Resident Fellowship, Huntington Hartford Foundation, Pacific Palisades, California
1962 Michigan State University Distinguished $1000 Award
1963 George Romney and the Greater Michigan Foundation Citation for Distinguished Contributions in the Arts
1967 Resident Fellowship, Helene Wurlitzer Foundation, Taos, NM
1975 Neil A. Kjos $3000 Memorial Award for For The Unfortunate
1976 Orpheus Award, Phi Mu Alpha (Gamma Epsilon Chapter)
1978 Youth Arts Festival Award of Merit
1978 Honorable Mention and Boosey & Hawkes publication in the Brown University Choral Composition Competition for "Rejoice! Rejoice! "
1983 Sigma Alpha Iota, National Arts Associate Award
1985 First Place Award for Butterfly Girl and Mirage Boy in the Brooklyn College Chamber Opera Competition, Six New York performances
1994 American Bandmasters Association Edwin Franco Goldman Memorial Citation for conspicuous service in the interest of bands and band music in America
1999 Michigan State University Recognition and Honors for Scholarly Contributions and Publication of La Fiesta Mexicana
Since 1978 Annual ASCAP Awards
1939-76 Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
1939-67 Chairman of Theory and Composition
1957-58 Acting Head of Music Department
1967-76 Chairman of Music Composition
1976- Professor Emeritus
1950 Montana State University (summer)
1969 Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA (spring)
1980 Michigan State University (January-June)
1983 University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA (January - May)
Assistant Conductor and Arranger for "The Louisiana Kings" (Professional 30-piece Brass Ensemble)
Advanced conducting study with Paul White, Eastman School of Music
Many guest conducting engagements
Piano study for approximately 20 years; trumpet for approximately 15 years, played trumpet with the University of Missouri Band; principal trumpet with the Louisiana State Symphony Orchestra; and second trumpet with the Lansing Symphony Orchestra
International Who's Who in Classical Music
Who's Who in American Education
Directory of American Scholars
Our American Music by John Howard
Ricordi's Encyclopedia Della Musica
Dictionary of International Biography
Directory of American Scholars
Royal Blue Book
Riemann Musiklexicon
RILM Abstracts of Music Literature
The Groves Dictionary of Opera
Dictionary of Contemporary Music by John Vinton
International Who's Who in Music and Musicians' Directory, Eighteenth Edition
MUSIClassical.com Composer Directory
Orchestral Works
Date Title Publisher Duration
1938 EVANGELINE H O Reed Music (rental) 15:00
1939 SYMPHONY NO. 1 G. Schirmer 20:00
1940 OVERTURE G. Schirmer (r¨ental) 6:00
1942 SYMPHONIC DANCE H O Reed Music ((Rental) 4:00 1949 CONCERTO FOR CELLO AND ORCHESTRA H O Reed Music (rental) 19:00
1955 MICHIGAN MORN Warner Bros. (rental) 4:00
1961 OVERTURE FOR STRINGS H O Reed Music (rental) 8-10:00
1968 LA FIESTA MEXICANA Warner Brothers 20:00
1968 THE TURNING MIND Warner Bros. (rental) 10:00
1979 UT RE MI, a variation on the hymn H O Reed Music (rental) 8:00 to St. John the Baptist, "Ut queant laxis," for orchestra and taped or live men's voices
2001 CHRISTMAS EVE H O Reed Music 8:00 A Big Band arrangement with optional male and female vocalists of a Christmas song by H. Owen Reed and Johnny Kidd. String parts are available for performing Christmas Eve with symphony orchestra and large jazz ensemble. Dramatic possibilities!
2001 SONG OF ACAPULCO H O Reed Music 8:00 A Big Band arrangement with optional male vocalist of a song by H. Owen Reed and Johnny Kidd. String parts are available for a perforance with symphony orchestra and large jazz ensemble.
Winds and Percussion
1947 SPIRITUAL H O Reed Music (rental) 5:00
1951 MISSOURI SHINDIG Ballerbach Music 6:00 1954 THEME AND VARIATIONS, Ballerbach Music 8:30 from the Beethoven String Quartet in A-Major, Op. 18, No. 55
1949 LA FIESTA MEXICANA Warner Bros 20:00
1959 RENASCENCE Ballerbach Music 10:00
1959 CHE-BA-KUN-AH ("Road of Souls") G. Schirmer (rental) 7:00 for wind ensemble and string quartet, (Designed for choreography)
1971 THE TOUCH OF THE EARTH H O Reed Music (rental) 26:00 for concert band, chorus and soloist (or band alone)
1972 FOR THE UNFORTUNATE Neil A. Kjos 13:00 for concert band and tape (or live choir) 1980 UT RE MI, a variation on the hymn Ballerbach Music (rental) 10:00 "Ut queant laxis," for wind ensemble and taped or live men's voices
1985 THE AWAKENING of the ENTS Ludwig 8:00 for winds and percussion
1986 LA FIESTA MEXICANA Warner Bros 2:28 arranged for marching band by Jim Prime and Fred Magro
1987 OF LOTHLORIEN Ballerbach Music (rental) 9:00 for winds and percussion 1987 THE HEART of the MORN H O Reed Music 4:00 (formerly "Michigan Morn"), for bandor band and voices, from the opera PETER HOMANS DREAM and the suite THE TOUCH OF THE EARTH Big Band (Jazz))
2001 CHRISTMAS EVE H O Reed Music 8:00 A Big Band arrangement with optional male and female vocalists of a Christmas song by H. Owen Reed and Johnny Kidd. Dramatic possibilities! Also available with orchestral strings for symphony orchestra.
2001 THE SONG OF ACAPULCO H O Reed Music 8:00
A Big Band arrangement with optional male vocalist of a song by H. Owen Ê Reed and Johnny Kidd. Also available with orchestral strings for symphony orchestra.
Further information sent on request.
Chamber Works
1934 PIANO SONATA H O Reed Music 9:00
1937 STRING QUARTET H O Reed Music (rental) 15:00
1947 SCHERZO for CLARINET & PIANO H O Reed Music 4:00
1948 WONDROUS LOVE, for Tenor and H O Reed Music (rental) 6:00 woodwind quintet
1939 A PSALM OF PRAISE, for sop., H O Reed Music (rental) 3:00 ÊÊ ¡ 2 fls., ob., 2 cls., bsn.,hrn 1945 THE PASSING OF JOHN ÊÊ BLACKFEATHER, for low voice H O Reed Music 2:00 and piano. Lyrics by Merrick F. McCarthy, M.D.
1947 THREE NATIONALITIES, for piano H O Reed Music 4:00
1947 DUSK, for low voice & piano. H O Reed Music 3:00 Lyrics by Tom Boggs
1948 MOUNTAIN MEDITATION, H O Reed Music 2:30 Lyrics by Marion Cuthbertson
1953 NOCTURNE, for piano H O Reed Music 2:30 1954 SYMPHONIC DANCE, for piano and H O Reed Music 4:00 woodwind quintet
1954 CHRISTMAS EVE, for voice and H O Reed Music 2:00 piano--with John W. Kidd
1954 THE SONG OF ACAPULCO, for H O eed Music 2:00 male voice and piano--with John W. Kidd
1955 MICHIGAN MORN, for voice and H O Reed Music 3:30 piano, from the opera PETER HOMANS DREAM
1955 THE OX-DRIVING SONG, for voice H O Reed Music 2:30 and piano
1962 EL MUCHACHO, for piano H O Reed Music 2:00
1965 EL MUCHACHO , 7 handbells & 3 Percussion H O Reed Music 2:20
1965 EL MUCHACHO, for Flute, Clarinet & Piano H O Reed Music 2:00 1975 EL SON DE LA NEGRA, for piano H O Reed Music 2:30
1986 FANFARE FOR REMEMBRANCE Triplo Press (1992) 11:00 for 6 trumpets, flugelhorn, percussionist & narrator
Choral Works
1939 A PSALM OF PRAISE H O Reed Music (rental) 3:30 for a cappella choir
1950 TWO TONGUE TWISTERS H O Reed Music (rental) 2:30 for mixed voices
1955 MICHIGAN MORN,ê from the opera Warner Bros 4:00 PETER HOMANS DREAM, for mixed voices (SSA & TTBB out of print) Available with accompaniment of harp, piano, orchestra, or band
1957 CLOSE BESIDE THE WINDING H O REED MUSIC 4:00 CEDAR Arr. by H. Owen Reed
1955 THE OX-DRIVING SONG, for mixed H O Reed Music (rental 2:30 voices or men's voices. Available with accompaniment of banjo, string bass, clarinet, bass clarinet, or piano 1958 RIPLEY FERRY, for women's voices H O Reed Music (rental) 8:30 ÊÊ & wind septet. Text by Merrick F. McCarthy, MD
1958 PROUD CHIEFTAINS and Allyn & Bacon (1967) 1:00 OKEMOS FIGHT SONG, published in MUSIC FOR THE SCHOOL CHORUS, by Niblock & Hutcheson
1963 A TABERNACLE FOR THE SUN G. Schirmer (rental) 18.00 an oratorËio for a lyrical chorus of mixed voices, a speaking chorus of men's voices, contralto, and orchestra. Libretto by Merrick F. McCarthy, M. D.
1963 LORD GOD of SEA, a hymn from H O Reed Music 2:40 A TABERNACLE FOR THE SUN, text by Merrick F. McCarthy, M. D., for mixed chorus
1977 REJOICE! REJOICE!, for chorus, Boosey & Hawkes (1979) 8-10:00 taped chorus, soloist, vibe (orch. bells), and double bass
Stage Works
1936 THE MASQUE of the RED DEATH H O Reed Music (rental)20:00 a ballet-pantomime for symphony orchestra and cast
1949 LA FIESTA MEXICANA, Warner Bros. 20:00 a symphonic work for wind ensemble or full symphony orchestra, based on Mexican folk music. May be performed with dance group, choreographed by Forrest W. Coggan
1955 MICHIGAN DREAM (aka PETER ì Warner Bros.(rental) 2 hours HOMANS DREAM), A two-act opera ÊÊÊÊÊÊ revised 1959, book and libretto by John Jennings, for orchestra and cast
1960 EARTH TRAPPED, an Indian spirit G. Schirmer (rental) 18:00 legend on a story by Hartley Alexander. A chamber dance-opera for contralto, fifteen instruments, and two dancers. Staging & choreography by Forrest W. Coggan
1959 CHE-BA-KUN-AH ("Road of Souls") G. Schirmer (rental) 7:00 for wind ensemble and string quartet. Staging & choreography by Forrest W. Coggan
1974 LIVING SOLID FACE, an Indian spirit legend. H O Reed Music (rental)27:00 on a story by Hartley Alexander, libretto and staging by Forrest W. Coggan. For a chamber orchestra of eighteen, narrator, two small men's choirs, two solo dancers, and dance chorus
1980 BUTTERFLY GIRL and MIRAGE BOY, H O Reed Music (rental)24:00 An Indian spirit legend on a story by Hartley Alexander, libretto & staging by Forrest W. Coggan. For soprano, contralto, Rhodes electric piano, three percussion, three dancers, and alto flute.
1947 A Workbook in the Fundamentals of Music Warner Bros. 1954 Basic Music, a college theory text Warner Bros.
1954 Basic Music Workbook, a companion Warner Bros. to Basic Music
1958 Composition Analysis Chart H O Reed Music
1964 Basic Contrapuntal Technique, co-authored Warner Bros. with Paul Harder (text)
1964 Basic Contrapuntal Technique Workbook, Warner Bros. a companion to Basic Contrapuntal Technique (text) 1969 Scoring for Percussion and the Instruments of Warner Bros. the Percussion Section, co-authored with Joel T. Leach, Prentice Hall, 1969. Revised and published by Warner Bros 1979
1978 The Materials of Music Composition Addison-Wesley co-authored with Robert G. Sidnell (out of print, available from Book I: Fundamentals (1978) H. Owen Reed)
Book II: Exploring the Parameters (1980) 2003 Basic Contrapuntal Techniques, revised by Warner Bros, H. Owen Reed & Greg Steinke
EL TORO MARCH and AZTEC DANCE, from LA FIESTA MEXICANA Eastman Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Frederick Fennell, conducting. Mercury Records, No. 706678 (78rpm) and Mercury Records,No. 706778x (45 rpm).
MICHIGAN MORN, from the opera PETER HOMANS DREAM, and THE OX DRIVING SONG, Michigan State University State Singers and the MSU Symphony Orchestra, composer conducting. Continuing Education Services, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI.
CONCERTO FOR CELLO AND ORCHESTRA, Michigan State University Symphony Orchestra, composer conducting with Louis Potter, cellist. Dorian Records LP-1009.
OVERTURE FOR STRINGS, AF of M. Congress of Strings, Thor Johnson, conducting. American Federation of Musicians Recording, (1962)
SPIRITUAL FOR BAND, National Music Camp Band, Interlochen, MI. ,George Wilson, conducting
SPIRITUAL FOR BAND, Alumni Concert Band, John L. Whitwell, conducting. Michigan State University Recording Services (1999) Compact Disk
MISSOURI SHINDIG, Alumni Concert Band, David L. Catron, conducting. Michigan State University Recording Services (1999) Compact Disk
EL MUCHACHO, On album So–a Libra by Cal Tjader, arranged and performed by Clare Fischer. Fantasy FSY 33 (S) 9533.
FOR THE UNFORTUNATE, Michigan State University Symphonic Band, Kenneth C. Bloomquist, conducting. Mark Records MC 1158, stereo.
FOR THE UNFORTUNATE, Westlake High School Band, Lee Boyd Montgomery, conducting. Austin, Texas, Crest Recojrds MID-75-9, (1975).
FOR THE UNFORTUNATE, Wind Symphony, John L. Whitwell, conducting. (Dr. Johnathan Reed, choir), Michigan State University Recording Services (1999) Compact Disk
THE TOUCH OF THE EARTH, Music of H. Owen Reed, Michigan State University Wind and Vocal groups, Stanley E. DeRusha, Charles Smith, Paul Schultz, conducting. Album includes: THE TOUCH OF THE EARTH, RENASCENCE, MISSOURI SHINDIG, and UT RE MI. Mark Records MC 23566, (1981).
OF LOTHLORIEN, Grand Ledge High School Symphonic Winds, Michael Kaufman, conducting. Les's Recording Service, cassette No. CN 1209, (1988), LP & CD.
LA FIESTA MEXICANA, Eastman Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Frederick Fennell, conducting. Mercury Records, MG-40011, (1954)
LA FIESTA MEXICANA, U. S. Air Force Band, Col. George Howard, conducting. U.S. Air Force Band, Washington, D. C.
LA FIESTA MEXICANA, Eastman Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Donald Hunsberger, conducting. Decca Records, Stereo DL 710157, (1969)
LA FIESTA MEXICANA, University of Illinois Concert Band, Harry Begian,conducting. University of Illinois Recording, No. 69, (1974).
LA FIESTA MEXICANA, University of Illinois Concert Band, Mark Hindsley, conducting. University of Illinois Recording, No. 22, No. 36, (1964).
LA FIESTA MEXICANA, Eastman Wind Ensemble, Donald Hunsberger, conducting. Westminster MCA 1409, (1980).
LA FIESTA MEXICANA, Michigan State University Symphonic Band, Kenneth C. Bloomquist, conducting.Audio Tape Productions, ATP 1257 stereo,
LA FIESTA MEXICANA, THE BRILLIANCE OF ALFORD, WAGNER AND REED LIVE, The Troy State University Concert Band, William D. Revelli, conducting. Concert Band Recordings, Inc., Vol. 2.
LA FIESTA MEXICANA, Eastman Wind Ensemble, Frederick Fennell, conducting. Mercury Living Presence 289462960-2.
LA FIESTA MEXICANA, The Concordia College Band, Russell Pesola, conducting. Mark Custom Recording, MC 5268B stereo.
LA FIESTA MEXICANA, Eastman Wind Ensemble, Donald Hunsberger, conducting. Crest Records, CBDNA-77-4.
LA FIESTA MEXICANA, The Jackson (Michigan) Symphony Orchestra, Jerry Bilik, conducting. Audio Arts Records, 670111.
LA FIESTA MEXICANA, The Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra, Frederick Fennell, conducting. Compact Disc KOCD-2814 (Dist: Elf Enterprises, Inc., Cleveland, OH).
LA FIESTA MEXICANA, The Dallas Wind Symphony, Howard Dunn, conducting. 1991 Reference Recordings, Box 77225X, San Francisco, CA 94107. CD RR38, LP RR38.
LA FIESTA MEXICANA, Alumni Concert Band, John L. Whitwell, conducting. Michigan State University Recording Services, (1999) Compact Disc
LA FIESTA MEXICANA, Eastman Wind Ensemble, Donald Hunsberger, conducting Mercury CD 289 4629602
LA FIESTA MEXICANA, AMERICAN DREAMS, Cincinnati Wind Symphony, Eugene Corporon, conducting, Klavier Records K11048 LA FIESTA MEXICANA, Trenton State College Wind Emsemble, William H. Silvester, Mark Custom Recording.
THE MUSIC OF H. OWEN REED (Symphony No. 1, La Fiesta Mexicana, A Tabernacle for the Sun, Overture, Michigan Morn), The Great Miami Youth Symphony Orchestra (Paul Stanbery), The Fairfield High School Wind Ensemble (David Birchfield), The Fairfield Choir (Dan Prior). (2001) Tri-State Productions, 333 Western Ave., Covington, KY 41011 859-431-3069
LA FIESTA MEXICANA, Peazbody Wind Ensemble, Harlan D, Parker, cond.ucting, Peabody Wind Ensemble Series, "Orff, Bird and Reed," Peabody Conservatory of Music, Baltimore, MD 21202
LA FIESTA MEXICANA, OLE! Dallas Wind Symphony, Jerry Junkin, conducting, Klavier Records, Meyer Symphony Center, Dallas, TX
LA FIESTA MEXICANA,
The University of Texas Wind Ensemble, Jerry F. Junkin, conducting
CHRISTMAS EVE
For Big Band, Orchestral strings and two vocalists. Lima Symphony Orchestra, Paul Stanbery, conducting. on CD "HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA" DEC. 2, 2001, Soundwaves Recording, 4708 Surfside Dr., Huron, Ohio 44639
LA FIESTA MEXICANA
Visual representation & choreography by Forrest Coggan, Michigan State University Concert Band, Leonard Falcone, conducting. WMSB-TV, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, (1958)
EARTH-TRAPPED
A chamber dance-opera for contralto and fifteen instruments plus two dancers, based on an Indian spirit legend by Hartley Alexander. Choreographed by Forrest Coggan. Ethel Armeling, contralto; Ferial Deer, dancer; Forest Coggan, dancer; Michigan State University Chamber Orchestra, composer conducting, (1962).
EARTH-TRAPPED
Michigan State University Chamber Orchestra, June Law, contralto; composer conducting. Theatro Internacional, Inc., 16mm.
CHE-BA-KUN-AH, ("Road of Souls")
for wind ensemble, string quartet, and dancers. Western Michigan University Wind Ensemble, Carl Bjerregaard, conducting. Produced by Theatro Internacional, Inc., (1975).
LIVING SOLID FACE
a chamber dance-opera for narrator, two small men's choirs, audience, two solo dancers, dance chorus, and chamber orchestra. South Dakota State University. Brookings Symphony Orchestra and the Statesmen, Douglas Lyrens, conducting. Theatro Internaciaonal, Inc., (1977), (3/4 inch cassette),
also available in 8mm silent film.
MICHIGAN DREAM (aka PETER HOMANS DREAM) Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Chorus, Orchestra, Cast, James Niblock, conducting, Russell Hosler, director. Twin Lake, MI 49457, (1992).
CHRISTMAS EVE
For Big Band, Orchestral strings and two vocalists or Big Band alone
Lima Symphony Orchestra, Paul Stanbery, conducting
Soundwaves Recording (2001), 4708 Surfside Dr., Huron, Ohio 44639
Note: Many of the above recordings may be out of print
