Philip Greeley Clapp

Full biography Philip Greeley Clapp

Philip Greeley Clapp (1888-1954) was an American composer , conductor, and pianist. He was born in Whitinsville, Massachusetts, and studied music at Harvard University, the New England Conservatory, and the Royal Conservatory in Berlin before earning his PhD in musicology at the University of Munich.

Clapp was known for his compositions, which often blended modernist and neoclassical elements. He wrote for a variety of musical genres, including orchestral works, chamber music, vocal music, and operas. Some of his best-known works include his Piano Concerto No. 1, Symphony No. 1, and the opera "The Tempest."

In addition to his work as a composer, Clapp was also a respected conductor and pianist. He conducted several orchestras during his career, including the Boston Pops Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. He was also a faculty member at several universities throughout his career, including the University of Iowa, where he was the director of the School of Music from 1919 to 1948.

Clapp was a valued member of the musical community during his lifetime and his work continues to be performed and studied today. His legacy as a composer, conductor, and educator lives on through the many musicians he taught and the audiences who continue to enjoy his music.