John Barnes Chance
From Wind Repertory Project
Biography
John Barnes Chance (1932-1972, born in Beaumont, Texas) was an American composer. He began composing while still a high school student, while playing percussion in the school band and orchestra. He received the Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the University of Texas, where he studied with Clifton Williams, Kent Kennan, and Paul Pisk. After studies at the University of Texas, Chance played with the Austin Symphony Orchestra, and also performed with the Fourth U.S. Army Band in San Antonio and the Eighth U.S. Army Band in Korea.
After leaving the army, Chance was selected by the Ford Foundation to be a part of the Young Composers Project. From 1960-1962 he was composer-in-residence at the Greensboro, North Carolina public schools. It is there that he composed seven pieces for school ensembles including his first work for wind band. Throughout his short career, Chance composed for band, orchestra, chorus, chamber groups and solo instruments. His career was tragically ended when he was accidentally electrocuted in the back yard of his home in Lexington, Kentucky in 1972 at the age of 40.
Works for Wind Band
- Blue Lake Overture (1971)
- Elegy (1972)
- Incantation and Dance (1960)
- Symphony No. 2 (1972)
- Variations on a Korean Folk Song (1967)
References
