Joseph Waddell Clokey (August 28, 1890, New Albany, Indiana – September 14, 1960, Covina, California) was a student of Edgar Stillman Kelley. He served as dean of the School of Fine Arts at his alma mater, Miami University 1939-46 and had previously been professor of organ at Miami University (1916–1923) and Pomona College. His work included two symphonies including the "Dorian" Symphony, two orchestral suites, a string quartet, a cello and violin sonata, twelve choral works in large form, five operas, organ suites, many organ pieces, and more than a hundred published choral works.
"Woodland Idyll" was published by the H. W. Gray Company Inc. in 1922 as No. 198, being part of their large "St. Cecilia Series".
It is cooling and impressionistic, enticing, and not yet without its technical difficulties. It acts as a sort of "prelude" to "Legende," the second piece in the opus.
The Salisbury Willis does very nicely with this music, although it doesn't really have some of the ultra-soft registers that Clokey had, but the beauty and grandeur of the sound more than does justice with this, and other such works.
I've actually done quite a few fine works by Clokey, and I particularly recommend these three:
"Fantasy on a Mountain Song ('He's gone away')"
https://www.contrebombarde.com/concerthall/music/17606
"Mountain Sketches, Op. 32, Nos. 1, 2, & 3"
https://www.contrebombarde.com/concerthall/music/17614
"The Little Red Lark (An Old Irish Air)"
https://www.contrebombarde.com/concerthall/music/20117
The score is attached below, as well as a photo of Joseph Waddell Clokey.
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