Background
Headley was born in West Virginia in 1906. When he was six his mother, an organist, moved the family to California.
Headley was born in West Virginia in 1906. When he was six his mother, an organist, moved the family to California.
He studied music at the University of the Pacific, graduating in 1928, and then at the Eastman School of Music until 1937.
At ten years old he was introduced to Maurice Ravel, whose music had a strong effect on him. From 1939 to 1954 Headley taught at the University of Santa Barbara. During that time he succeeded Maurice Faulkner as conductor of the University of California Symphony Orchestra in Santa Barbara, becoming known both as a composer and as a pianist and giving concerts in which he conducted his own works, for example in Paris, London, Budapest and Prague.
After 1954 he moved to Seattle to teach at the Cornish School of Applied Arts.
After a short period in Seattle, Headley moved to Vancouver. He also moved to Sudbury, Ontario, Canada where he developed the music program at Cambrian College in the late 60"s and early 70"son
He left for Vancouver where he remained until his death. In 2006 his music resurfaced by accident.
Robert Buckley, one of his students, and Stan MacDaniel took joint responsibility for the recordings of his music in 2007.
In 2006, for the 100th anniversary of Headley"s birth, Russian State television performed several of its compositions, including the California Suite, conducted by Dmitry Yablonsky, a conductor who has focussed on bringing forgotten or unknown music to audiences. After this, the Naxos record label published a Civil Defense of Headley"s music in an "American Classics" series. Orchestral
1939 California Suite, for orchestra (composed for the inauguration of the 1939 Golden Gate Exposition in San Francisco)
Golden Gate
Yosemite
Fiesta
1941 Concerto Number.
1 (Argentango), for piano and orchestra
1945 Concerto Number.
2, for piano and orchestra
1946 Symphony Number. 1 (for Radio), for orchestra
1950 Symphony Number.
2 (Prelude to a Manitoba), for soprano, alto, tenor, bass solo, mixed chorus, speaking chorus, orchestra and ballet (also known as: Prelude to Manitoba, a symphonic cycle in four parts) – text: Chard Powers Smith
Operas
1946 Noche Serena
1961-1962 The darkened city, opera in 3 acts – libretto: Robert Glynn Kelly
Choral
Chamber
1954 Sonate, for cello and piano
1954 Sonata Ibérica, for cello and piano
1957 Quintet in two parts, for piano, strings and clarinet
Septet, for winds and strings.