Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Ray Downey Papers, 1972-2015
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Downey, Ray, -- 1953-2014.
- Title
- Ray Downey Papers
- Dates
- 1972-2015 (inclusive)19722015
- Quantity
- 2 linear ft. (5 boxes)
- Collection Number
- XOE_SC0017
- Summary
- Scores and recordings of compositions and arrangements by Bellingham musician Ray Downey. Also included are newspaper articles, concert programs, posters, and photographs documenting his life and career.
- Repository
-
Western Washington University, Special Collections
Wilson Library 6th Floor
516 High Street MS9103
Bellingham WA
98225-9123
Telephone: (360) 650-3193
Fax: (360) 650-3044
speccoll@wwu.edu - Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open to the public.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Award-winning composer Raymond J. Downey was born in Redwood City, California, on August 17, 1953. After graduating from high school in Lake Tahoe, California, Ray auditioned and received a four-year contract as a clarinetist for the United States Air Force Band at McChord Air Force Base near Tacoma, Washington. There he earned a reputation for his clever musical arrangements, gaining experience as both a performer and conductor. After his military service, Downey enrolled at Western Washington University, graduating in 1981 with a degree in Jazz Studies and Composition. He later taught saxophone and jazz theory at WWU, woodwinds at Olympic College in Bremerton, Washington, and saxophone at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma. In addition to teaching, Downey was an active performer, arranger, and composer, playing in numerous groups, including Eddie and the Atlantics, Saltwater Octet, Saxquatch, the Ray Downey Trio, and the klezmer group Millie and the Mentshn. He was principal clarinetist with the Whatcom Symphony Orchestra in Bellingham from 1989 to 2011. He maintained a successful music teaching studio for 34 years, writing arrangements for his students and other groups, and enriching their lives with his dedication to music education. In recognition of his contributions to the Bellingham community, Downey received a Mayor’s Arts Award in 2001 and 2013.
The Ray Downey collection contains works composed between 1970 and 2014. Ranging in scope from duets, trios, and quintets to orchestral, Big Band, and choral compositions, many were recorded during live performances, including Downey’s senior composition recital at Western Washington University in 1981. Two compositions, Struttin’ Around Downtown and Concerto for Jazzers and Orchestra, were commissioned by the Whatcom Symphony Orchestra and recorded live at the Mount Baker Theatre and WWU. Eleven works for brass ensemble composed between 2004 and 2014 were written for the International Chamber Music Contest at Humboldt State University in Arcata, California. Of these, Another Sweet for Brass Octet (2004) and Scenes from San Juan Island (2006) each received a third-prize award; Three Gnomes from Sonoma (2007) and Wind Dancers (2012) received honorable mentions. In 2011, Downey was awarded second prize for Woods in Winter, a composition for soprano voice and woodwind quartet, written for the Longfellow International Composers Competition in Portland, Maine. Muses of Chalumeau, written in 2012 for clarinet septet, was performed in London, England, by the London Concert of Winds.
Downey drew inspiration for at least two of his compositions from Bellingham-area sites. Scenes from San Juan Island, a piece for brass octet, was inspired by his reading about the Pig War of 1859 and early San Juan Island history. He composed a similar piece about the Peace Arch at the U.S.-Canada border crossing in Blaine.
A consummate musician until his death on December 26, 2014, Downey took great pride in his creative output, which has inspired players and audiences throughout his career. His family hopes that providing access to this rich body of compositions will ensure that they continue to be played and enjoyed in the future.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Ray Downey Papers document his career as a composer, arranger, and performer of jazz and other musical genres. The manuscript and printed music scores in Series II are primarily his original compositions but include a few arrangements of works by other composers.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Performing rights are available by request by contacting email@raydowneymusic.com.
Preferred Citation
Ray Downey Papers, Special Collections, Western Libraries Archives & Special Collections, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Acquisition Information
The collection was donated by Diana Murphy in 2019.
Processing Note
About Harmful Language and ContentTo learn more about problematic content in our collections, collection description and teaching tools (including how to provide feedback or request dialogue on this topic), see our Statement About Potentially Harmful Language and Content.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Series I: Biographical and Recordings, 1972-2015Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/1 | Newspaper articles about Ray
Downey |
1978-2015 |
1/2 | Newspaper articles, continued |
1978-2015 |
1/3 | Photographs |
1972-2014 |
1/4 | Concert programs, Western Washington
University |
1979-2014 |
1/5 | Concert Programs, Whatcom Symphony
Orchestra annd Whatcom Chorale |
1988-2011 |
1/6 | Concert programs,
miscellaneous |
1980-2015 |
1/7 | Live recordings (34 compact
discs) |
1976-2012 |
1/8 | MIDI recordings (12 compact
discs) |
2005-2014 |
Series II: Music Scores, 1970-2013Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
2/1 | All the Things You Are |
undated |
2/2 | Another Sweet for Brass Octet |
2004 |
2/3 | Blue Magnolia |
1980 |
2/4 | Blue Magnolia |
1980 |
2/5 | Blues for Diana Lee |
1997 |
2/6 | Brass Sextants |
2005 |
2/7 | The Cancellation Blues |
1999 |
2/8 | Clarion Quadrants |
2008 |
2/9 | Dreams for Brass Octet |
2009 |
2/10 | Eat Carrots |
1978 |
2/11 | Escape from Zone 12 |
1981 |
2/12 | Essay for Strings |
1981 |
2/13 | Five for Six |
2014 |
2/14 | For Four Horns |
1981 |
2/15 | Illusions / Delusions |
1981 |
2/16 | Jazzin’ Brass |
2013 |
2/17 | Jive at Five |
undated |
2/18 | Lady Bird / Half Nelson |
1980 |
2/19 | Listen Here |
2005 |
2/20 | Miniature |
2003 |
2/21 | Moon Eyes |
1979 |
2/22 | The Muses of Chalumeau |
2012 |
3/1 | The Other Brother |
2005 |
3/2 | Past Due |
1980 |
3/3 | Peace Arch |
2008 |
3/4 | Prelude #2 |
undated |
3/5 | Prelude to a RIF |
1981 |
3/6 | Primordial Vexation |
1980 |
3/7 | Primordial Vexation |
1980 |
3/8 | A Quiet Place: The Jewish Cemetery at
Newport |
2011 |
3/9 | Ray’s Clarinet Blues |
2004 |
3/10 | Sambaknowva |
1979 |
3/11 | Scenes from San Juan Island |
2006 |
3/12 | Sideshow Puppets |
2011 |
3/13 | Sketch for Gil |
1993 |
3/14 | Southside Steps |
1980 |
3/15 | Southside Steps |
1980 |
3/16 | The Sparrow and the Tortoise |
1981 |
3/17 | Suite for Spring |
1970 |
3/18 | Summertime |
undated |
3/19 | Summertime Blues |
1988 |
3/20 | Sunday Barbeque |
1999 |
4/1 | Teephor 2 |
2007 |
4/2 | That’s the Breaks |
1981 |
4/3 | Three Gnomes from Sonoma |
2007 |
4/4 | Trombalactica |
2011 |
4/5 | Tune for Barry |
2004 |
4/6 | Turning Point |
1976 |
4/7 | Two Poems on Slavery |
2012 |
4/8 | Valley of the Queens |
1981 |
4/9 | Variants on a New Flavor |
1981 |
4/10 | Vee Vop |
1980 |
4/11 | Vee Vop |
1980 |
4/12 | When Love Comes Again |
1976 |
4/13 | Wind Dancers, 1. Aeolus |
2012 |
4/14 | Wind Dancers, 2. Solitary
Waltzer |
2012 |
4/15 | Woods in Winter |
2011 |
4/16 | Year of the Brass |
2011 |
5/1 | Concerto for Jazzers and
Orchestra |
2008 |
5/2 | I Could Have Danced All Night |
1996 |
5/3 | The Last Time I Saw Paris |
1996 |
5/4 | Struttin’ Around Downtown |
2003 |
Series III: Posters, 1980-2015Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
5/5 | Posters for ensembles and performances
featuring Ray Downey |
1980-2015 |
5/6 | Posters for ensembles and performances
featuring Ray Downey |
1980-2015 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Chamber music.
- Jazz -- Washington (State)
- Jazz -- Washington (State) -- Bellingham -- History and criticism -- Sources.
- Jazz musicians -- Washington (State) -- Bellingham -- History -- Sources.
Personal Names
- Downey, Ray, -- 1953-2014 -- Archives.
Form or Genre Terms
- Art music.
- Chamber music.
- Concert programs.
- Jazz.
- Live sound recordings.
- Music posters.
- Records (Documents)
- Scores.