# Ivan Davis

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{{Short description|American musician (1932–2018)}}
{{For|the unionist in Northern Ireland|Ivan Davis (politician)}}
{{Infobox person
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| name                      = Ivan Davis
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| birth_date                = {{Birth date|1932|02|04}}
| birth_place               = [Electra, Texas](/source/Electra%2C_Texas), USA
| death_date                = {{Death date and age|2018|03|12|1932|02|04}}
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| education                 =
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| occupation                = [Pianist](/source/Pianist) and [professor](/source/professor)
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| employer                  = [University of Miami](/source/University_of_Miami)-[Frost School of Music](/source/Frost_School_of_Music) 
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| awards                    =[St. Cecilia](/source/Accademia_Nazionale_di_Santa_Cecilia) Piano Competition <br> [Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition](/source/Ferruccio_Busoni_International_Piano_Competition) <br> [Fulbright Scholar](/source/Fulbright_Scholar)  
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'''Ivan Roy Davis, Jr.''' (February 4, 1932 – March 12, 2018)<ref>{{cite web|last1=Cohen|first1=Howard|title=Ivan Davis, longtime UM music professor, world-renowned pianist, dies at 86|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/obituaries/article204825919.html|website=[Miami Herald](/source/Miami_Herald)|access-date=13 March 2018}}</ref> was an American [classical](/source/Classical_music) [pianist](/source/pianist) and longstanding member of the faculty at the University of Miami's [Frost School of Music](/source/Frost_School_of_Music).

==Early life==
Davis was born in [Electra, Texas](/source/Electra%2C_Texas). He received his [Bachelor of Music](/source/Bachelor_of_Music) in 1952 from [University of North Texas College of Music](/source/University_of_North_Texas_College_of_Music),<ref>"NTSU Graduate Will Play at Alma Mater", ''[The Dallas Morning News](/source/The_Dallas_Morning_News)'', February 15, 1971</ref> and an Artist's Diploma, as a [Fulbright Scholar](/source/Fulbright_Scholar), from the [Santa Cecilia Academy](/source/Santa_Cecilia_Academy) in Rome. He won second prize in the 1956<ref>"Dallasite Winner of Piano Prize", ''[The Dallas Morning News](/source/The_Dallas_Morning_News)'', September 7, 1956</ref> and 1957 [Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition](/source/Ferruccio_Busoni_International_Piano_Competition) and first prize in the 1958 [St. Cecilia](/source/Accademia_Nazionale_di_Santa_Cecilia) Piano Competition. In April 1960, Davis won the Franz Liszt Competition at [Town Hall](/source/The_Town_Hall_(New_York_City)), New York City.<ref>Ivan Davis Wins Prize; Texan, 28, Gets Top Award in Liszt Sesquicentennial Event, ''[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)'', April 26, 1960</ref><ref name=pl>Plaskin, Glenn (1983) Biography of Vladimir Horowitz, p. 305: "He had won the first prize in the Busoni and Cecilia competitions and in 1960 he won the Franz Liszt Competition, and received a surprise phone call from Horowitz the day after the announcement." "...with 60 concerts planned for his first cross-country tour and a CBS record contract, Davis intrigued Horowitz."</ref> Davis studied under [Silvio Scionti](/source/Silvio_Scionti), [Carlo Zecchi](/source/Carlo_Zecchi) and [Vladimir Horowitz](/source/Vladimir_Horowitz).<ref>Plaskin, Glen (1983) Biography of Vladimir Horowitz p. 10: "...interviews with all six of Horowitz's students: Gary Graffman, Byron Janis, Ivan Davis..."</ref>

==Performance and recording career==
{{ external media|float=center|width=270px|audio1=You may hear Ivan Davis playing [Franz Liszt](/source/Franz_Liszt)'s:<br> [Étude No. 3 in D-flat major (''Un sospiro'')](/source/Three_Concert_Etudes) <br> ''[La Campanella](/source/La_Campanella)'' <br> ''[Liebestraum No. 3](/source/Liebestr%C3%A4ume)'' <br> ''[Mephisto Waltz No. 1](/source/Mephisto_Waltzes)''<br> ''[Funerailles](/source/Funerailles)''<br> [Étude No. 2 in F minor (''La leggierezza'')](/source/Three_Concert_Etudes) <br> [Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6](/source/Hungarian_Rhapsody_No._6) in D-flat major <br> in 1961 [https://archive.org/details/IvanDavisPlayingLiszt_201807/05+Funerailes.mp3 '''Here on archive.org''']}}

He debuted at New York City's Town Hall in 1959.<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=q19931|pure_url=yes}}|title=Biography: Ivan Davis|last=Lewis|first=Uncle Dave|publisher=[AMG](/source/All_Media_Guide)|access-date=16 May 2010}}</ref> Davis made his international debut at the [Festival dei Due Mondi](/source/Festival_dei_Due_Mondi) in Spoleto. In 1960, he signed with CBS Records and began a 60 concert cross-country tour.<ref name=pl/> He toured the world with several major orchestras including the [New York Philharmonic](/source/New_York_Philharmonic), the [Cleveland Orchestra](/source/Cleveland_Orchestra), the [Chicago Symphony Orchestra](/source/Chicago_Symphony_Orchestra), the [Philadelphia Orchestra](/source/Philadelphia_Orchestra) and the [Spanish National Orchestra](/source/Spanish_National_Orchestra). He performed under such world-famous [conductor](/source/Conducting)s as [Leonard Bernstein](/source/Leonard_Bernstein), [Eugene Ormandy](/source/Eugene_Ormandy) and [Lorin Maazel](/source/Lorin_Maazel). He received the [Handel Medallion](/source/Handel_Medallion) from New York City for contributions to the city's cultural life.<ref name="miami1"/> He recorded for [London Records](/source/Decca_Records) in the 1970s. From 1965, Davis was a professor of music at the [University of Miami](/source/University_of_Miami) in [Coral Gables, Florida](/source/Coral_Gables%2C_Florida).<ref name="miami1">{{cite web|url=http://www.music.miami.edu/faculty/mkp/davis/davis.html |title=Ivan Davis |publisher=Music.miami.edu |date=1996-04-21 |access-date=2010-08-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612110334/http://www.music.miami.edu/faculty/mkp/davis/davis.html |archive-date=June 12, 2010 }}</ref> According to ''[Grove Music Online](/source/Grove_Music_Online)'': "His Queen Elizabeth Hall début recital in London in 1968 caused a sensation, and has become a collector's item on record. Further recordings, largely of 19th-century showpieces, have confirmed his exceptional exuberance and technical brilliance, most notably a [Gottschalk](/source/Louis_Moreau_Gottschalk) recital of true virtuoso flair."<ref>{{Cite Grove |last=Morrison |first=Bryce |title=Ivan Davis}}</ref> The American classical pianist [Richard Kastle](/source/Richard_Kastle) was his student for more than three years.<ref>[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-03-24-ca-1154-story.html "Spike-Haired Pianist Richard Kastle Shows How You Can't Judge an Album by His Jacket"] by Steve Appleford, ''[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)'', March 24, 1991</ref>

==Discography==
*"Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2, Ivan Davis with Henry Lewis conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra", Decca Phase 4 stereo concert series, PFS 4214 1971
*"Davis Plays Czerny, Schumann, Liszt", Audiofon, CD 72004
*"The Wind Demon and other 19th century piano music", New World, 80257-2
*"Piano Music of Grieg – Ivan Davis", Audiofon, CD 72022
*"Liszt – Piano Concertos – Ivan Davis", [Royal Philharmonic Orchestra](/source/Royal_Philharmonic_Orchestra) conducted by [Edward Downes](/source/Edward_Downes). Coupled with solo performances of [Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6](/source/Hungarian_Rhapsody_No._6) and Paraphrase on ''Wedding March and Dance of the Elves'' from Mendelssohn's incidental music to ''A Midsummer Night's Dream''. London Weekend Classics, 421-629-2
*"[Souvenir de Porto Rico](/source/Souvenir_de_Porto_Rico) – Piano Music of Gottschalk – Ivan Davis", London Weekend Classics, 436-108-2
*"Gershwin – Rhapsody in Blue – Cleveland Orchestra – Maazel", London Jubilee, 417-716-2
*"Digital George – Gershwin Classics", Musical Heritage Society, 513380w
*"Chopin – Favourite Piano Works – Ivan Davis", Castile Communications, CCD-106
*"Tchaikovsky – Piano Concerto No. 1 – Davis", Castile Communications, CCD-103
*"Liszt's Greatest Hits – Hungarian Fantasy with Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra, CBS-MLK-39450
*''Great Galloping [Gottschalk](/source/Louis_Moreau_Gottschalk): America's First Superstar'', London Records/Decca (1975) CS 6943
*"Music of George Antheil", Music Masters Classics (BMG), 67094-2<ref name="miami1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cduniverse.com/classical.asp?performer=Ivan+Davis |title=Performer – Ivan Davis at CD Universe |publisher=Cduniverse.com |date=2010-06-08 |access-date=2010-08-06}}</ref>

== Family ==
* On August 6, 1960, in [New Canaan, Connecticut](/source/New_Canaan%2C_Connecticut), Davis married Betty Lou Saxton, who studied at the [Juilliard School](/source/Juilliard_School) and [Columbia University](/source/Columbia_University).<ref>"Betty Saxton and Pianist are Wed in Connecticut", ''[The Plain Dealer](/source/The_Plain_Dealer)'', August 28, 1960</ref>

== References ==
'''General references'''
* ''The Art of the Piano. Its Performers, Literature, and Recordings'', third edition, by [David Dubal](/source/David_Dubal), Pompton Plains, New Jersey: [Amadeus Press](/source/Amadeus_Press), 2004
* ''[Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians](/source/Baker's_Biographical_Dictionary_of_Musicians)'', sixth edition, revised by [Nicolas Slonimsky](/source/Nicolas_Slonimsky) (1894–1995), London: [Collier Macmillan Publishers](/source/Macmillan_Publishers)
* ''Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians,'' Seventh edition, revised by [Nicolas Slonimsky](/source/Nicolas_Slonimsky) (1894–1995), New York: [Macmillan Publishing Co.](/source/Macmillan_Publishing_Co.), Schirmer Books, 1984
* ''Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians,'' Eighth edition, revised by [Nicolas Slonimsky](/source/Nicolas_Slonimsky) (1894–1995), New York: [Macmillan Publishing Co.](/source/Macmillan_Publishing_Co.), 1992
* ''Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians,'' Ninth edition, edited by Laura Kuhn, New York: [Schirmer Books](/source/G._Schirmer), 2001
* ''Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Twentieth-Century Classical Musicians,'' by [Nicolas Slonimsky](/source/Nicolas_Slonimsky) (1894–1995), New York: [Schirmer Books](/source/G._Schirmer), 1997
* ''International Who's Who in Music and Musicians' Directory,'' Ninth edition, edited by Adrian Gaster (1919–1989). Cambridge, England: International Who's Who in Music, 1980
* ''International Who's Who in Music and Musicians' Directory. 12th edition, 1990–1991,'' Cambridge, England: International Who's Who in Music, 1990. [Taylor and Francis International Publication Services](/source/Taylor_and_Francis), [Bristol, Pennsylvania](/source/Bristol%2C_Pennsylvania)
* ''The New Grove Dictionary of American Music,'' Four volumes, edited by [Hugh Wiley Hitchcock](/source/Hugh_Wiley_Hitchcock) (1923–2007) and [Stanley Sadie](/source/Stanley_Sadie) (1930–2005) London: [Macmillan Press](/source/Macmillan_Publishers), 1986
* ''[The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians](/source/The_New_Grove_Dictionary_of_Music_and_Musicians)'', 20 volumes, edited by [Stanley Sadie](/source/Stanley_Sadie) (1930–2005), London: Macmillan Publishers, 1980
* ''The Penguin Dictionary of Musical Performers. A biographical guide to significant interpreters of classical music – singers, solo instrumentalists, conductors, orchestras and string quartets – ranging from the seventeenth century to the present day,'' by [Arthur David Jacobs](/source/Arthur_David_Jacobs) (1922–1996) London: [Viking](/source/Viking_Press), 1990
* ''Ivan Davis: Pianist and teacher'' (DMA Dissertation), by Jeffrey Scott Hodgson, [University of Miami](/source/University_of_Miami), 2001

==Inline citations==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.ivandavis.com/}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Davis, Ivan}}
Category:1932 births
Category:2018 deaths
Category:Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia alumni
Category:American male classical pianists
Category:Prize-winners of the Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition
Category:Classical musicians from Texas
Category:University of Miami faculty
Category:University of North Texas College of Music alumni
Category:20th-century American classical pianists
Category:21st-century American classical pianists
Category:People from Electra, Texas
Category:20th-century American male musicians
Category:21st-century American male pianists

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ivan Davis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Davis) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Davis?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.