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Music and Faith. In all parts of the world, these two aspects of life are often intricately connected.
No one knows this better than Fr. Kevin Waters, S.J., a professor of music at Gonzaga.
"At the center of a life of faith is happiness and peace. Music is often able to achieve that for the performer and the listener, who achieves contemplation through listening," Waters said.
Waters has pursued the art of composition throughout his life. He began composing when he was in his early 20s, and at that point knew that it was something that he would continue throughout his life.
Although he loved composition, he was also a performer, proficient in both piano and organ. His choice to compose was partly a pragmatic one. The life of a Jesuit requires time and commitment to a variety of things and makes it very difficult to pursue performance, which requires constant practice.
Composition, on the other hand, requires a different sort of time commitment; Waters often composed on his vacation time.
Waters has been publishing musical works for several years, including "Lines from Shakespeare" (2005), opera "Dear Ignatius, Dear Isabel" and "String Quartet" (1969). Most recently he has been working on "Three Songs for Baritone and Orchestra," which will be performed by the Northwest Symphony orchestra in March, and "Sea Amid the Winter Snow," which will be performed by the Bainbridge Chorale on Dec. 7, 8 and 9.
Waters demonstrates his creative process in the inspiration for "Sea Amid the Winter Snow." It actually started out as a class exercise on how to deal with the text. Later he realized that it was worth keeping, and he developed it into a regular piece.
Waters has a Jesuit view of how a music program should look at a Catholic university. He shares the idea that music, like many other things, can be brought back to the three aspects central to Gonzaga's mission: Catholic, Jesuit and humanistic.
In the Catholic sense, there should be a large treasury of literature, which demonstrates the history of the faith in music. In the Jesuit and humanistic senses, the program should be broadly based with vocal, instrumental and music education programs.
Incidentally, Waters thinks that Gonzaga has "done a splendid job" in this capacity.
During the last few years, the Music Department has blossomed, with a strong faculty in both applied music and regular classes. The impact of Waters' teaching can be felt within the department.
"For me, Fr. Waters bridged the intellectual gap between philosophy and music," senior Kristin Deasy said. "He loves music and his God in the same heartbeat. His life demonstrates that beauty is more than something in the eye of the beholder -- that it is tangible, which at least should be grasped by the individual and at best sought as a wild manifestation of the Godhead. That is why I respect Fr. Waters: He hasn't let life's experiences kill his passion for art and his ability to wonder."
Waters was born in Seattle, and grew up in a strong Catholic family. In 1951, he joined the Jesuits and lived in Sheridan, Ore., for four years. He then moved to Spokane where he received an undergraduate degree in classics and a master's in philosophy. Later he taught at Marquette High School in Yakima, Wash., before moving back to Spokane to teach at Gonzaga Preparatory School for one year.
Waters then completed two degrees in theology at Alma College in Santa Clara, Calif. In 1964, Waters was ordained at St. Aloysius Church in Spokane. He wasn't quite finished with schooling, however, and continued his doctoral studies in music theory and composition at the University of Washington. He was hired to teach composition, music history and music theory at Seattle University, where he taught for 17 years.
In 1983, Waters was called to be dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Gonzaga University. In this position, he supervised the curriculum of 18 divisions, appointed faculty and continued teaching. In 1996, he moved back into full-time teaching at Gonzaga and began teaching the classes he still teaches today: opera, composition, counterpoint and orchestration. He also holds the title of dean emeritus of the College of Arts and Sciences.
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