William H. Hill

1977: Danses Sacred and Profane

William H. Hill (1930–2000) graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a bachelor of arts degree in 1952 and a master of arts degree in 1955. After graduating, he worked as a woodwind instructor and director of bands at East Texas State University before beginning a PhD program at UCLA, where he taught saxophone and arranging techniques. From 1972 to 1982, Hill was band director and chairman of the instrumental music program at California State University. While teaching, he also conducted and led band clinics throughout the world.

Hill was first runner-up in the 1976 ABA Ostwald Competition for his piece Sonitus Revelationis. The following year, Hill won the ABA Ostwald Award for Danses Sacred and Profane, which was performed by the U.S. Marine Band at the 1977 ABA Convention. The piece contains three movements: a lively May Danse featuring solos for flute and percussion, a slow Danse Macabre, and a rhythmically active Estampie.

Special Collections in Performing Arts also has a collection of Hill's scores and other papers. A finding aid is available here: http://hdl.handle.net/1903.1/20845.