User:Tjarrett/Donald MacInnis (composer)

Murdock Donald MacInnis (d. April 20, 2003) was an American composer and associate professor of music at the University of Virginia. He directed the Virginia Glee Club, sometimes with the assistance of David Davis, from 1952 to 1964.

MacInnis attended Princeton University, completing his music degree as an undergraduate in 1948 and a masters in 1950. His studies were interrupted by World War II, during which he served with the 13th Armored Division of the United States Army, seeing combat in Germany. While at Princeton, he was musically active, directing the band, managing the Princeton Glee Club, and organizing the Tigertones.

MacInnis was elected as an instructor in the faculty of music of the University of Virginia in 1950, and rose to assistant professor in 1952 and associate professor in 1959. He was granted a leave of absence in 1968 to serve as composer in residence with Robert Shaw and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. As an instructor, he conducted the University of Virginia Band; later, he was tapped as acting department head in 1955.

As a composer, MacInnis employed early electronic music techniques, including computer-synthesized music and tape loops (winning an award from Bowdoin College for his "Variations for Cello and Two-Channel Tape" in 1973).

Dr. MacInnis was the driving force behind the procurement of an ARP 2500 electronic music synthesizer for the UVa Department of Music. He established a rigorous training program for students who aspired to use the 2500. In classes, he sometimes demonstrated techniques on his personal ARP 2600 and, on rare occasion, would play his cello in class. The ARP 2500 is now part of the Virginia Center for Computer Music.