Pastorale

Katherine Kennicott Davis (June 25, 1892 – April 20, 1980) was an American former teacher, who was a classical music composer, pianist, and author of the famous Christmas tune "The Little Drummer Boy".

Davis was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, on June 25, 1892. She composed her first piece of music, "Shadow March," at the age of 15. She graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1910, and studied music at Wellesley College in Massachusetts. In 1914 she won the college's Billings Prize. After graduation she continued at Wellesley as an assistant in the Music Department, teaching music theory and piano. At the same time she studied at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. Davis also studied with Nadia Boulanger in Paris.

She became a member of ASCAP in 1941, and was granted an honorary doctorate from Stetson University, in DeLand, Florida. Katherine K. Davis continued writing music until she became ill in the winter of 1979–1980. She died on April 20, 1980, at the age of 87, in Littleton, Massachusetts.

Many of her over 600 compositions were written for the choirs at her school. She was actively involved in The Concord Series, multiple-volume set of music and books for educational purposes.

She wrote "The Little Drummer Boy" (originally titled "The Carol of the Drum"), in 1941. Another famous hymn by Katherine Davis is the Thanksgiving hymn "Let All Things Now Living" which uses the melody of the traditional Welsh folk song The Ash Grove.

I confess that I had sort of a prejudice against Davis, as the "Concord Series" was not my thing, but what an important contribution to musical life in America stemmed from her work.

I received this lovely "Pastorale" from Carson Cooman yesterday, and was pleased to have a chance to play it.

It was published by The Boston Music Co. in 1918, and is dedicated: "To Mr. Hamilton C. Macdougall".

It has all the typical aspects of the form, and the PB Hill adds to the rustic effect.

THANKS, Carson!

Photos are attached.