David Fenwick Wilson

Wilson was born on August 31, 1929, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Carnegie Mellon University, his Master of Music from Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester in New York, and his Doctor of Philosophy from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

Wilson moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1957. In 1961, he became the first full-time professor of music at Dalhousie University. Wilson's work led to the formation of the [https://www.dal.ca/faculty/arts/school-of-performing-arts.html Department of Music], and he served as the Founding Chairman from 1968 to 1971. During his academic tenure, Wilson directed the Dalhousie Chorale and also established an early music ensemble, which eventually grew into Musica Antiqua, an umbrella group of vocal and instrumental groups, involving students and interested members of the wider community, with a repertoire that included Baroque opera.{{cite journal |last1=Kemp |first1=Walter |title=Music at Dalhousie University |journal=The Canadian Encyclopedia |date=2011 |issue=Historica Canada |url=https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/music-at-dalhousie-university-emc |accessdate=28 January 2020}}

In 1978, Wilson co-founded the [http://earlymusic.chebucto.org/ Early Music Society of Nova Scotia] (EMSNS) with a view to providing focus, disseminating information, promoting concerts of early music and the playing of period instruments. By 1980, Wilson published the EMSNS newsletters, which within three years grew into "Consort", an illustrated magazine of some 20 pages, featuring both music news and musicological articles. Consort continued to appear at least three times a year until Wilson retired.{{cite web |last1=Anonymous |title=History of the Early Music Society of Nova Scotia |url=http://earlymusic.chebucto.org/history.htm |website=Early Music Society of Nova Scotia |accessdate=28 January 2020 |archive-date=28 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128173113/http://earlymusic.chebucto.org/history.htm |url-status=dead }}

Wilson's other contributions to musical life include Music Director of the Halifax Baroque Ensemble, member of the Halifax Symphony Orchestra (1957–61), President of Musique Royale, President of the Royal Canadian College of Organists ([https://www.rcco.ca/halifax-ns RCCO Halifax Branch] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128173112/https://www.rcco.ca/halifax-ns |date=2020-01-28 }}), Lecturer on French Organ Music at the Schola Cantorum in Paris (1999), and Organist/Choir Director at Saint James Anglican Church, Armdale (1992-2018).

Wilson's 1990 book on medieval music represents an approach that focuses on the compositional process. Wilson's preface asserts "the belief that the historical study of music begins with the music itself". The combined publication comes in three parts: the text, Style and Structure,{{cite book |last1=Wilson |first1=David Fenwick |title=Music of the Middle Ages: Style and Structure |date=1990 |publisher=Shirmer Books |location=New York |pages=xxii + 403 pp}} which includes 124 musical examples; An Anthology for Performance and Study,{{cite book |last1=Wilson |first1=David Fenwick |title=Music of the Middle Ages: An Anthology for Performance and Study |date=1990 |publisher=Shirmer Books |location=New York |pages=xii + 275 pp}} with 80 compositions; and two 90-minute cassettes of music{{cite book |last1=Wilson |first1=David Fenwick |title=Recording to Accompany Music of the Middle Ages. |date=1990 |publisher=Shirmer Books |location=New York |pages=Two cassettes}} recorded by the Hilliard Ensemble and specifically produced for the set.{{cite journal |last1=Gerber |first1=Rebecca L. |title=Review of Music of the Middle Ages by David Fenwick Wilson |journal=College Music Symposium |date=1991 |volume=31 |pages=132–136 |jstor=40374131 }}{{cite journal |last1=Summers |first1=Bill |title=Review of Music of the Middle Ages by David Fenwick Wilson |journal=Plainsong and Medieval Music |date=1992 |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=100–103|doi=10.1017/S0961137100000310 }} Wilson also contributed a chapter on "English notation of the 13th and 14th centuries" in a 2007 compendium.{{cite book |last1=Vela |first1=Maria Caraci |last2=Sabiano |first2=Daniele |last3=Aresi |first3=Stefano |title=Le notazioni della polifonia vocale dei secoli IX-XVII |date=2007 |publisher=Università di Pavia}}

• In 1993, Wilson was awarded a Certificate of Merit from the [https://www.halifaxseaport.com/cultural-federations-of-nova-scotia/ Cultural Federations of Nova Scotia] for his contribution to the Arts in Nova Scotia.
• In 2011, Wilson received the Mainland North Champion Award to recognize outstanding volunteers who consistently dedicate their time and talents to improving the lives of others. This recognition was recorded as Resolution No. 1839 in the Nova Scotia Legislature.{{cite web |last1=Hansard |first1=Debates and Proceedings |title=#11-34, May 19, 2011, page 2843 |date=20 May 2011 |url=https://nslegislature.ca/legislative-business/hansard-debates/assembly-61-session-3/house_11may19#HPage2843 |publisher=Nova Scotia Legislature |accessdate=30 January 2020}}
• In 2019, the [https://amemg.wordpress.com/ Atlantic Medieval and Early Modern Group] presented the [http://www.heliosvocal.ca/ Helios Vocal Ensemble] in a concert about the life and times of Elizabeth Stuart, daughter of James I of England, entitled "[http://www.heliosvocal.ca/event/the-winter-queen-featuring-helios-vocal-ensemble/ The Winter Queen: Words and Music for a Renaissance Heroine] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130233714/http://www.heliosvocal.ca/event/the-winter-queen-featuring-helios-vocal-ensemble/ |date=2020-11-30 }}", followed by a recognition of Wilson's founding role in EMSNS on the occasion of Wilson's 90th birthday.

{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, David Fenwick}}

Category:1929 births

Category:Living people

Category:Case Western Reserve University alumni

Category:Musicians from Pittsburgh