Background
Born in Boston, the son of the noted Orientalist William Elliot Griffis, he attended public schools in Ithaca, New York as well as The Manlius School before going to Ithaca College.
Born in Boston, the son of the noted Orientalist William Elliot Griffis, he attended public schools in Ithaca, New York as well as The Manlius School before going to Ithaca College.
Student Ithaca (New York) High School, and Ithaca College (music), 1909-1913, Yale School Music, 1913-1915 (studied under Horatio Parker), Yale School Fine Arts, 1915-1916, North.E. Studied under G. Studied in London, Paris, Vienna.
He went to Yale University to work with Horatio Parker from 1913 until 1915, and studied at the New England Conservatory of Music with Daniel Gregory Mason, Harry Newton Redman, and George Whitefield Chadwick before serving in the United States Army. He taught at Grinnell College, the Westchester Conservatory of Music and the Saint Louis Conservatory of Music before settling in Los Los Angeles Much of his output was chamber music, especially piano pieces and songs.
He did, however, compose some works for orchestra and one opera, 1963"s The Portuguese of Pleasure.
Served as judge for the Guild of Piano Teachers. Served with Chemical Warfare Service, United States Army, 1918-1919. Member A.S.C.P., American Society Composers and Condrs., Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Club: Bohemians (president 1961— Los Angeles).