Born in
Istanbul,
Turkey, he grew up in
Upstate New York and in
New York City, and studied music at the
Juilliard School's lower school,
Haverford College, then received his master's degree from
Harvard University, where he focused on
Renaissance music, particularly the works of
Orlando Gibbons. He earned his doctorate in creative composition from the
Eastman School of Music. His teachers included
Alfred Swan,
Randall Thompson,
Walter Piston,
Bernard Rogers,
Howard Hanson,
Alan Hovhaness, and
Robert Palmer. During 1964-1965, Davison was placed in the Kansas City (Missouri) Schools as part of the Music Educators National Conference's
Contemporary Music Project, where he composed numerous works for band, chorus, and orchestra. He was a friend of
Aaron Copland and maintained a correspondence with him. He was also a
conscientious objector. Davison's music is generally tonal, strongly melodic, and influenced by such diverse musics as Western classical and Romantic music (particularly the music of
Johannes Brahms, Renaissance and Baroque music,
Irish music,
English country dancing,
Anglican church music, and
jazz. His music is published by Southern Music Publishing Co., Shawnee Press, and TAP Music Publishing, and his music has been recorded by the
CRI,
Crystal, Coronet, Encore, and
Albany labels. He coauthored, with
John Ashmead, a book about the songs of
Robert Burns. Davison taught at
Haverford College from 1959 until his death. He was survived by his wife, Elizabeth Davison. ==Works==