Since 1903, members of Arts and Letters have delivered commemorative tributes to fellow members who have passed away. These remarks celebrate and reflect on the lives and work of the members being honored and acknowledge their contribution to the arts. A selection of tributes is now available in the digital archive below. As we prepared this archive, we were reminded that these tributes reflect their times, and, in some instances, include terminology and social and moral judgments we do not endorse.
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Philip James, distinguished composer, conductor, scholar, and beloved teacher—senior member of the Institute's department of music, both in age and date of induction—died at his home in Southampton, Long Island, November 1, 1975, at the age of 85.
As his immediate junior in the Institute's department of music, I am honored to be invited to pay him this too long delayed tribute.
Philip James was born in Jersey City on May 17, 1890. He graduated from New York City College, later studying with Goldmark, Norris, Scalero, and Schenck in New York, London, and Paris.
He began his teaching career at Columbia University, later becoming Professor of Music and Chairman of the music department of New York University, retiring as professor emeritus in 1955.
In the First World War he served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. infantry and later as bandmaster and commanding officer of the American Expeditionary Force Headquarters Band.
As a young man, in the days in which it was a misdemeanor, if not a felony, for an American to aspire to the post of orchestral conductor, he began as a conductor of the Victor Herbert Light Opera Company. He founded the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, conducted the Brooklyn Orchestral Society, and later became conductor of the Bamberger Little Symphony where he contributed greatly to American music and to music in America through his radio programs, particularly on Station WOR.
He appeared as guest conductor with some of the country's most famous orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic-Symphony and the Philadelphia Symphony orchestras, the National Symphony of Washington and the N.B.C. orchestra.
As a young composer he won the famous $5,000 prize offered by the National Broadcasting Company for his satiric suite, "WGZBX," a citation from the New York Philharmonic for his overture, "Bret Harte," and the Juilliard publication award.
Over the years I have conducted many of his works but I came to know him best through a performance of his latest symphony. He was already, as I remember, in his eightieth year, when a former student brought me the news that this work had never been performed. I asked to see the score and immediately arranged for a premiere at our next Festival of American Music in Rochester. He came, with his charming family, for the rehearsals and concert and it was for me a delightful and rewarding experience.
We, as composers, are a strange crew—and, as a composer, I humbly confess to my own faults. We are endowed with the famous composers' syndrome, "What have you done for me lately?" Philip James was not such a one. He was a scholar but he was also modest, generous, humane. I hesitate to use the word, but he was a sweet man, in every sense a gentleman. It is not difficult to understand why his students had for him such esteem and affection. He must have been in every respect that unique individual, a great teacher.
I am reminded of the lines which occur at the end of the Morris and Wyatt translation of Beowulf,
The mildest of all men,
Unto men kindest.
We salute his memory and lament his passing.