James Curnow

James Curnow

Biography

James Curnow (born 1943 in Port Huron, Michigan) is an American composer. Curnow received his first musical instruction in the public schools of Michigan and The Salvation Army Instrumental Programs. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from Wayne State University and a Master of Music from Michigan State University, where he studied conducting with Harry Begian and euphonium with Leonard Falcone. Curnow studied composition with F. Maxwell Wood, James Gibb, Jere Hutchinson, and Irwin Fischer.

He has taught all areas and levels of instrumental music and has received numerous awards for teaching and composition: the Outstanding Educator of America (1974), the Citation of Excellence from the National Bandmaster’s Association (1980), the Volkwein Award (1977 & 1979), the Ostwald Award (1980 & 1984), and the International Competition for Original Compositions for Band (1985).

Currently he resides in Kentucky, and is the owner of Curnow Music Press, Inc. He also serves as Composer-in-Residence Emeritus for Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky.

Works for Winds

• Bridge of the Gods
• Day in Space, A
• Dimensions of Seven
• Fanfare and Flourishes
• Fantasia di Falcone
• Fantasy on a Colonial Air
• Freedom Road
• Jubilee (Variations on "Saints Bound for Heaven")
• Korean Folk Rhapsody
• Land of Tomorrow (2010)
• Lion of Lucerne
• Moment in Time, A
• Mutanza
• Praetorius Variations
• Rejouissance
• Rhapsody for Euphonium and Band
• Sovereign Variants
• Symphonic Triptych
• Symphonic Variants for Euphonium and Band
• Where Never Lark or Eagle Flew
• Winds of Change

References

• Camphouse, Mark (ed.) (2004). Composers on composing for band, volume two. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications. pp. 1–37.
• Kongs, Veronica Louise. (2008). Graduate band conducting recital: lesson plans and theoretical/historical analysis of literature [Master's Thesis].