Donald W. Hemingway
From College of Fine Arts and Communications
Contents |
Education
Donald W. Hemingway graduated in 1942 with a degree is Music. While at BYU, Hemingway performed in the band and performed under the scrupulous direction of Robert Sauer, played percussion in the orchestra and studied harmony and counterpoint under Leroy J. Robertson, and sang in the chorus under the baton of John R. Halliday. Hemingway also studied piano and organ under Dean Gerrit De Jong.
Military Service
Following graduation Hemingway entered the U.S. Army. It was during the fury of World War II. He spent 2 ½ years in campaigns across Africa and Italy. During that time, Hemingway continually shared his love for music, volunteering to play the pump organ for numerous military chaplains. He would often play familiar LDS hymns as the prelude, hoping to attract LDS service men to the non-denominational meetings.
Following his service overseas, Hemingway was reassigned to Florida where he encountered a catholic chaplain who was in need of an organist. Hemingway volunteered and played background music, mixing in some of his favorite hymns, such as "Sweet Hour of Prayer" and "Come, Come Ye Saints". Following the service, the chaplain requested that Hemingway remain and become the permanent organist.
Hemingway rejected the offer. After his lengthy tour of duty, he was excited to return to his family in Utah.
Family Life
Hemingway and his wife had six children and have since been blessed with 34 grandchildren and 14 great grand children. Through the diligence of his wife and daughters-in-law, music has continued to be important in the life of his family, a heritage Hemingway is proud of.
As of last count we now have 28 who have studied piano, two percussion, nine guitar and one who wrote songs and sang 10 years as an entertainer. One clarinet, two trumpet, one recording engineer of music at BYU, one who has studied voice, 19 who have sung in choral groups, and one with a such a group in Carnegie Hall in New York. Four trombone, two string bass, one ukulele, one flute, four violin, one bassoon, one tenor saxophone, three bass guitar, two French horn, one oboe, two cello, seven organ, among whom have been ward and mission field organists, one of which played in Hyde Park Chapel in London, England, in addition to one viola, and one harp. I must not forget the two great grand children who are now taking piano lessons.
Hemingway is now 89 years old, and continues as the pianist for his priesthood group.
“Following Professor Sauer's council,” Hemingway said, “I try to practice every day a few scales on the piano and a Czerny exercise or struggle through a two part Invention by Bach, trying to keep the arthritic fingers in shape."
Fond Remembrances
In Winter 2008, BYU Magazine published the following remembrance:
Fy Don’t You Practis?
In fall 1936 I wanted to try out for BYU band, so I went to the band office and met the director, Professor Robert Sauer, a German immigrant. He asked me to take out my clarinet and play for him. I started as last chair, third section, but at least I was in. I played all that year and loved it, especially when we went on tour and the trumpet trio played Springtime in the Rockies, composed by Sauer.
When I returned from my mission, I was third chair, second section. I never made first section as there were four chairs, and were they ever good. The band never achieved the perfection Sauer desired. He often expressed his dissatisfaction with a statement that has guided me for 65 years. With his distinct German accent he said, “Ach! Fy don’t you practis? Fy don’t you take a liddle intrist?”
References
- Hemingway, Donald W. "Fy Don't You Practis?" BYU Magazine. Winter 2008. 7 May 2008. <http://magazine.byu.edu/?act=view&a=2128>.
