Some images on this page are from linkwaregraphics.com/music/.
A biography from Camp's web site:
A subjective perspective on Camp's early years:
I have known Camp (Arthur Campbell Kirkland, Jr.) since we were both freshmen music majors at Florida State University several decades ago. Right away I could see that Camp was a leader. I discovered that he had been the drum major of his high school band at Englewood High School in Jacksonville, Florida (where I later did my student teaching supervised by Camp's former high school band director, George Paugh). At FSU, Camp became the drum major of the "Marching Chiefs," widely regarded as one of the nation's finest marching bands.
Early in my undergraduate years it was readily apparent that Camp was an extraordinary musician. I never recall him studying music theory; he just knew how to "do" theory almost innately.
A Youthful Perspective on Camp's Philosophy:
As long as
I have known Camp, he has lived the guiding philosophy that permeates his
existence and pervades his work as a mature man and musician today. Camp
lived his own religious views devotedly and intensely, yet accepted contrasting
opinions graciously. His parents and sister were and have been much
like Camp in that way. Camp's youth was one of high energy, great enthusiam,
unbridled curiosity, and quiet devotion. Camp's mother passed away
a few years ago, but his father, now happily remarried, bowls regularly
and continues to earn scores that are impressive for a man of any age,
much less one who is 88.
Those who achieve great success usually say that they enjoy immensely
what they do. Throughout his adult life,Camp has done what he finds most
enriching in establishing a profession as a composer and arranger of sacred
music. Combining his exceptional talent with his affinity for sacred music
has produced a life of success.
Here are some examples of Camp's musical style as heard in recordings of the Gloryland Band for the last 15 years.
Click here to listen to Gloryland..
Click here for more information and examples.
Camp's Musical Styles in His Earliest Compositions and Arrangements:
Early in his undergraduate years Camp arranged quite a few pieces on
his own. He, like everyone I knew, respected highly FSU's staff
arranger, Charles Carter, and Camp no doubt learned a lot from listening
to Charlie's superb arrangements for the Marching Chiefs and other ensembles.
Even as a young teen-age student, Camp was already developing his
own style. He had a real gift to absorb the styles he heard and studied,
and utilize that material in his own unique way. As I recall, almost
all of Camp's early arrangements were for bands, with somewhat varying
instrumentation. Every piece I heard was triumphant in some respect.
I never heard him write a piece that was not lively. I feel
sure he was fully capable of writing music that was more serene or contemplative,
as demonstrated countless times since then in his varied works, but I keenly
remember highly animated pieces in those days. Camp was regularly enthusiastic
as a person, and his music reflected and continues to reflect that zest
for life.
Camp's Style
in More Recent Compositions:
Camp has said
that the composer whom he seeks most to emulate is John Williams. That
influence is most apparent in Camp's use of percussion and brass in his sustained
march-like passages. Brass almost invariably play a prominent role
in Camp's music, no doubt reflecting his interest in and involvement with
bands since early in his life.
A Final Thing About Camp that Only Roommates and Band Fraternity Brothers (Like Me) Would Know:
I was one of several of Camp's roommates during our sophomore year. Each of us would of course bring girlfriends to the house we were renting. They would be entertained to music in the living room. For some of my brothers who enjoyed waxing eloquently and protractedly to their girlfriends there, I later named this room "The Seminar Room." The musical group that I remember hearing most often was The Letterman, and their most frequently played tune in our household was "Do You Love Me as I Love You." This romantic setting must have worked, for several of the group who roomed together married girls whom they had entertained in the seminar room while listening repeatedly to "Do You Love Me as I Do You." Among them was Camp and his long time girl friend and now loyal and supportive wife of many years, Fran.
At times I felt that these romances were a little too "heavy" and could stand some comic relief. Goaded on by other roommates, from time to time I would "innocently" march through the seminar room while wearing Camp's drum major suit, complete with the tall hat. Such behavior on my part received instant feedback from both the girlfriends (uncontrolled laughter) and my room mates who were entertaining them (pronounced expressions of displeasure for my mood altering behavior).
This picture reminds me of Chief Osceola, the great and legendary friend and motivator of all loyal Seminoles, including Camp Kirkland.
