James D. Ployhar

James D. Ployhar (born December 22, 1926 in Valley City , North Dakota - † January 2, 2007 ) is an American composer and conductor .

Career

First, Ployhar studied at Valley City State College before completing his music studies at the University of Northern Colorado with a Master of Arts . He completed his composition studies at California State University in Long Beach with Morris Hutchins Ruger . A private study with Knud Hovalt , a member of the Royal Danish Philharmonic Orchestra, rounded off his advanced training.

For 17 years he was the conductor of the middle school wind orchestra in Fargo , North Dakota . For twenty years he was a music teacher and wrote instructional works and manuals for young musicians. This was the best tool to lead seminars and so-called clinics in the whole of the United States of America and Canada , which made him famous as a conductor and composer for young musicians and school wind orchestras.

In terms of composition, he has been devoting his attention to the creation and dissemination of didactic literature for wind orchestras for many years. His school for all instruments in the wind orchestra (Contemporary Band Course) developed into a real bestseller .

Works

Works for wind orchestra

• 1970 March of the Irish Guards
• 1972 1836, A New Land - A New Nation
• 1973 Hammerfest March
• 1976 Devonshire Overture
• 1976 The Original Thirteen March
• 1978 Variations on a Sioux Melody
• 1981 Sakura
• 1981 Songs of the Fjords
• 1985 Duncannon Overture
• A Hundred Pipers
• A Mighty Fortress is our God
• A New Wrinkle on Tinkle
• An old English Christmas
• Beguine for Shimmerin Flutes
• Bugler Rocks
• Chapel Chimes
• Crazy Clock
• Christmas in distant lands
• Christmas Round the World
• Concerto for Faculty and Band
• Crusader's hymn
• D. Kinmount Overture
• You-wah you-wah
• El Festivo
• Fanfare, Promenade & March
• Flickertail Concert-March
• Hymn Fantasy
• Impressions on a Welsh Air
• Kid stuff
• Kingswood Overture
• Korean Folk Song Medley
• Liszt goes Latin
• Little rock
• Morning has broken
• National Holidays Folio
• Noêl Français
• Norland Overture
• Overture de Argentina
• Panorama USA
• Poor wayfaring stranger
• Praise to the Lord
• Pyramid rock
• safari
• Salute to the Patriots
• Shenandoah
• Simple Gifts
• Soul Trumpets
• Sounds of Sousa
• Sultan's Saber
• Swing your partner
• Tailgate Rag
• Testimonials to Liberty
• Trail West
• Ukrainian Bell Carol
• Wintermere Overture
• Wuld Walk

Books and writings

• Practical Hints on Playing the Alto (Tenor & Baritone) Saxophone joint edition by Eugene Rousseau and James D. Ployhar