Wilding-White was born in Caterham, Tandridge, Surrey, England, and spent the first five years of his life in England before moving to Saint-Germain-en-Laye, outside Paris, France, where he had his first formal instruction in music at the Conservatoire Camille Saint-Saëns. In 1932 the family moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, his mother's family home. By 1940 he had moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Wilding-White's father, Charles Dunning White was an American diplomat. Raymond Wilding-White had a number of brothers including Henry, Charles, and Alexander.
In 1940, Wilding-White enrolled in the chemical engineering program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, but dropped out to assist in the war effort as a civilian. After the war he was accepted at the Juilliard School in New York City, earning his bachelor's degree in piano performance.
Wilding-White earned his master's degree in composition from the New England Conservatory of Music. During this period he also sang in the Chorus pro Musica under Alfred Nash Patterson, and as a countertenor (male alto) in the choir at Church of the Advent in Boston.
While in Boston he worked at the radio station WGBH. He and Nancy Harper won a Peabody Award for their work on The Children's Circle.
Wilding-White left WGBH to pursue his doctorate in composition from Boston University. He was a student of Aaron Copland and Luigi Dallapiccola.
In 1956, Wilding-White married Glennie. By 1962 he had completed his doctorate and was appointed to the Kulas Chair at Case Institute of Technology. He taught in the humanities program and was director of the Case Glee Club as part of his academic duties and was instrumental in promoting contemporary music concerts and multi-media events in Cleveland, Ohio.
In 1967 Case Institute merged with Western Reserve University, and Wilding-White accepted an invitation from DePaul University to design and install an electronic music studio there. Also in 1967, he was awarded the Cleveland Arts Prize in Music.
Wilding-White continued to teach humanities courses at DePaul until retiring in the mid-1980s.
In Chicago he founded the contemporary performing arts ensemble The Loop Group.
Wilding-White created new radio programming at WFMT in Chicago, Illinois. During the Bicentennial year 1976 he recorded the daily series Our American Music. He also recorded a history of music in Chicago, entitled Music Chicago Style, as a complement to the Chicago Historical Society's exhibit, and wrote and presented programming on composers Charles Ives, John Cage, and Arnold Schoenberg.
Wilding-White's creativity was not limited to music and the performing arts, he was also an avid photographer and visual artist, with exhibitions in the gallery of Darkroom Aids, Chicago (1981) and the Brown County Museum (Green Bay, Wisconsin).
Wilding-White composed over 100 works. He was influenced by the work of John Cage. His scores are archived at the Newberry Library in Chicago, and his photographic work will also be kept there.
Wilding-White died in Kewaunee, Wisconsin, of liver failure at the age of 78 in 2001, leaving a huge body of musical and photographic work. His wife Glennie died thirteen years later, January 31, 2014, at the age of 81.
Even Now: variations for Baritone and OrchestraEven Now: Chamber Orchestra versionConcerto for Piano and OrchestraConcerto for Violin and OrchestraConcertante for Horn, Violin and StringsBandmusic for concert Band (LP Recording)Haiku for solo voices and various Instrumental CombinationsWhatzit No 4 for OrchestraThe Southern Harmony for Orchestra and Amateur Chorus (Materials traditionally and graphically notated; final layout to be chosen by the conductor)Symphony for Swing OrchestraDe Profundis: The 8 Virtues and 7 Vices as seen by Peter BreughelQuodlibet for Chorus, Solo Voices and Orchestra. 4 Mov.A Symphony of SymphoniesSymphony No 1 Old Postcards: String OrchestraSymphony No 2 Thomas Cole's "The Voyage of Life": Full OrchestraSymphony No 3 Boccioni's "States of Mind": Wind and Percussion Orch.The PsalmsPsalm 1 Mixed ChorusPsalm 2 Three Equal Male PartsPsalm 3 SSAA and 3 TrombonesPsalm 4 SATBPsalm 5 (Two Versions)Psalm 5 (Monte Carlo Suite No 4): Soprano and Wind EnsemblePsalm 6 Female VoicesPsalm 6 Spoken Ensemble and Drum SetPsalm 7 Mixed voicesPsalm 8 SATBTwo Psalms for BaritoneNo 16 SoloNo 126 with pianoFour Psalms for Tenor and String QuartetPsalm 63Psalm 70Psalm 42Psalm 100Psalm 9 Mixed VoicesPsalm 11 SATB and flutePsalm 12 (The Magic Square) SABPsalm 13 Soprano and Piano (in 12 Songs)Three Psalms for Bariton and PercussionPsalm 13Psalm 93Psalm 43Psalm 15 Pop setting SAAA, 2 keyboards, bass (opt drum set)Psalm 16 Soprano and OrganPsalm 17 SATBPsalm 18 Mixed Voices and OrchestraPsalm 19 "The 702 Names of God" 6 voices, solo voice, 2 electric pianosPsalm 19 "Morse Code"Four Psalms for Voices and BrassNo 12 for (amplified) SSAABB Trumpet. Horn and TromboneNo 111 for SSAATTBB 3 Trumpets. 3 Trombones & TubaNo 113 for SATB 3 Trumpets. 3 Trombones & TubaNo 115 for SSAATTBB Trumpet, Horn and TrombonePsalm 20 Bass and violinPsalm 21 Baritone and celloPsalm 22 Amplified S and 3 TrumpetsPsalm 23 (Two Versions) SSAAPsalm 24 Bariton and celloPsalm 25 2 voices and 4 cymbal playersPsalm 26 Soprano solo, oboe, string quartetPsalm 27 Soprano solo, 6 clarinetsPsalm 28 SSS soliPsalm 29 SATBPsalm 30 Teno, solo horn, bassoonPsalm 31 Three Voices and 6 Xylophonists (3 instruments)Psalm 32 SB, flute, clarinet, horn, violin, viola, celloPsalm 33 Soprano solo, violin, cello, 2 trombones, theremin, percussionPsalm 39 "Jeux de Cartes" Score on a deck of cards to be shuffled and dealt.Variable number of voices and instruments
Psalm 43 Any number of men in unison and independently; 7 women plus 2 clarinets, 2 percussion & pianoPsalm 47 Male ChorusPsalm 47 jazz vocal quartet settingPsalm 51 Soprano solo, English horn, string quartet or organPsalm 54 24 Solo voicesPsalm 84 Baritone and flutePsalm 89 - 6 altos and 6 flutesPsalm 95 SSSSAAAATTBBPsalm 99 SSAATTBB OrganPsalm 102 Soprano, Countertenor and OrganPsalm 109 16 Solo VoicesPsalm 112 Graphic ScorePsalm 114 Soprano and Piano (in 12 Songs)Psalm 134 12 sung voices and 12 spoken voicesPsalm 141/142 - 4 sopranos, 4 altos, 4 baritones, piano, tam tam, truck springPsalm 142 with Mark Twain's War PrayerSATB soli, SATB chorus, 4 oboes, 3 trumpets, 3 tbns, Vi 1-2, Vl, Ce, Bass.
Psalm 149 for SS Violin and violaPsalm 150 for SSTB Hammered Dulcimer and HarpsichordAdvent Choruses (Various short choruses)Penitential MassLatin Mass SATBJazz Mass SATBMagnificat S Violin and ViolaMagnificat for Jazz Vocal Group SATB Soli and SATBEaster Music for St Agnes A Solo & HarpsichordSpace Madrigals (Pub Lawson Gould)A Book of Madrigals (52 madrigals for various combinations a capella)Wedding Motet: SATBBennington Epitaphs SATBThe Ship of Death: Mezzo-Soprano, SATB and Wind EnsembleThree Christmas CarolsThree Songs by Sir Thomas Wyatt SSAARestoration Lyrics (Texts by the Earl of Rochester) TTBBMexico City Blues (Kerouac): Male Chorus and Jazz ComboLaudamus Viros Gloriosos: Male ChorusIn Memoriam A.N.R SATBThe Enrolment Management Rag: Mixed ChorusWhatzit No 5 for ChorusNursery Birds for Mixed ChorusTang Poems: 20 settings for various combinations of voice and InstrumentsRequiescat (to a poem by Oscar Wilde)McGuffey's Eclectic Reader. SATB &A Song for Christmas Eve, words by Glennie Wilding-WhiteThree Housman Poems: S and Piano (Pub Galaxy)Six Poems from the Tang Dynasty: S and FluteTwelve Songs: S and Piano (Some Pub Galaxy)Three Poems by Robert Graves: Bar and PianoNovalis songs: Bar and PianoTrionfo di Bacco e Arianne: Two Sopranos and PianoThe Ballad of Psychoanalysis: Contralto and PianoCummings Songs Soprano or Mezzo and PianoCinco Poemas de Gil Vicente: Soprano and PianoEight Songs: Two sopranos and Instrumental EnsembleTwenty Dickinson Poems: Soprano and AltoFour Poems by St John of the Cross: Mezzo. Two Flutes and Two TrumpetsQuatre Poemes and Quatre Poemes: Soprano, Flute/Recorder and PianoFor Mrs Crofts: Soprano and fluteFor Robert Michaud: Baritone and fluteThe Arkansas Traveler: Tenor and PianoDeath Songs: Soprano and Instrumental EnsembleMillay Poemsa: Nine for Soprano and Pianob: Nine for Soprano and guitarThree Poems by Sid Corman for Alto. Violin and ViolaLe Bestiaire ou le Cortege d'Orphee for soprano, flute, cello, harpTwo Iwi Songs:1. Solo voice and 3 equal voices2. SSATB soliShort Mass for Soprano and OrganTwo German Songs for Soprano and PianoSonata for Two PianosPiano sonataThree organ Preludes14 Chorale Preludes for OrganDuos for Violin and PianoString Quartet No 1String Quartet No 2 (Monte Carlo Suite No l)String Quartet No 3 (The Forest) Tenor and String QuartetString Quartet No 4String Quartet No 5String Quartet No 6 (The Song Quartet) Soprano and String QuartetString Quartet No 7 (See Psalms)Variations for Chamber Organ and String TrioCharacter Sketches for Piano (Pub Galaxy)For Mallets (Pub Mus for Perc.)Sonatina for Trumpet and PianoCounterpoints for Two ClarinetsFragments for Jazz EnsembleEncores for Stu: Solo TromboneFifty Eight Traditional Variations on a Traditional Theme: Piano Brass duetsBrass duetsWhatzit No 1 for Perc and PianoWhatzit No 2 for PianoWhatzit No 3 for PianoWhatzit No 6 for Solo TromboneThe Rape of Spring (from fragments attributed to Roger Scott)Algorhythms for PianoEight Fish Creek AutographsMonte Carlo Suite No 3 (*Piano sonata 2)Serenata for Brass QuintetWhatzit No 12-Short Things for Violin and PianoThree Short Rags and The Monotony RagFanfare for Mark Rothko. Tape and Brass QuintetLines from the Twelve Moons: Narrator. Piano and Four BassesLes Fourberies: Suite for Hammered Dulcimer, Guitar and HarpsichordVariations on Stabat Mater for OrganMy Album: Assorted InventionsConcerto for Organ and PianoSuite for Flute and Marimba14 Romantic Preludes from Old Maritime Postcards for Piano SoloThe Tub (chamber opera for SATB soli and Piano)The Lonesome Valley (ballet)The Selfish Giant (opera for TV)The Trees (ballet)Yerma (opera in 3 acts, 6 scenes.)The Music of Eric Zann -- A Gothic Tale after H.P. Lovecraft (tape and violin)Liturgy (ballet, brass quintet)Trio (ballad opera)Gifts (liturgical drama)Gifts II (liturgical drama)The Ghost of a Flea (puppet show)Wilding-White, Raymond (1994). Music Chicago Style. Kewaunee, Wisconsin: Raymond Wilding-White. OCLC: 47815153.