Title: | Zenobia Powell Perry scores and music manuscripts |
Identifier: | BMRC.CBMR.ZPPERRY |
Repository: |
Center for Black Music Research, Columbia College Chicago
|
Extent: | 11.0 Linear feet |
Dates: | 1954-2011 |
Abstract: | Zenobia Powell Perry (1908-2004) was a professor, pianist, and composer whose compositions have been performed by the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, the Detroit Symphony, and the West Virginia University Band and Symphony. The Zenobia Powell Perry papers span from 1954-2001 and are comprised entirely of Perry’s scores and music manuscripts. |
Biographical/Historical note
Zenobia Powell Perry (1908-2004) was a professor, pianist, and composer whose compositions have been performed by the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, the Detroit Symphony, and the West Virginia University Band and Symphony. Perry was born on October 3, 1908 in Boley, Oklahoma. In 1931, Perry went to Rochester, New York to study music under R. Nathaniel Dett. After graduating from Tuskegee Institute in 1938, Perry spent additional time studying composition with Darius Milhaud, Allan Willman, and Charles Jones at the University of Wyoming, earning her master of music in composition in 1954. Perry began teaching music in 1947 at Arkansas Agricultural Mechanical and Normal College (now called University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff), where she served until 1955. From 1955-1982, she was a faculty member and composer-in-residence at Central State University, in Wilberforce, Ohio. In 1987, Perry’s opera, Tawawa House, premiered at Central State University.
Cited Sources
Pool, Jeannie Gayle. American Composer Zenobia Powell Perry: Race and Gender in the 20th Century. Scarecrow Press, Inc., 2009.
Arrangement note
The papers are arranged into one series, “Compositions.” The collection is arranged alphabetically.
Scope and Contents note
The Zenobia Powell Perry papers span from 1954-2011 and are comprised entirely of Perry’s unpublished scores. The collection of scores includes Tawawa House, Perry’s opera based on the history of Wilberforce, Ohio, which premiered in 1987. Each folder includes a title page prepared by Perry’s biographer, Jeannie Gayle Pool, which may include some additional description of the composition. Titles that are followed by a “See” note, or by “Score Not Found,” contain only a title page prepared by Poole; they do not contain scores. Box 1 contains a CD-R with scans of many of the compositions.
Processing Information note
Processed by CLIR funded Black Metropolis Research Consortium “Color Curtain Processing Project.” Processors: T.J. Szafranski and Dominique Fuqua
Related Archival Materials note
Jeannie Gayle Pool Collection on Zenobia Powell Perry, Center for Black Music Research, Columbia College Chicago
Preferred Citation note
The preferred note citation is according to the Chicago Manual of Style: [Item description or title with date], [optional box and folder number], [collection title], Center for Black Music Research at Columbia College Chicago. {URL if digital}{Date accessed.}
For a bibliography, the specific item information is not necessary, though if a substantial series was used, the series title needs to be included before the collection title. [Collection title], Center for Black Music Research at Columbia College Chicago.
Subjects
INVENTORY
Series I: Compositions
CD-R with scans of compositions 2011
Aftermath – See Narrative undated
Ah Got a Home in a Dat Rock, for soprano and piano 1969
Alleluia undated
Angels Done Bowed Down, O de Angels Done Bowed Down undated
Arkansia, suite for violin and piano 1955
The Arkansas Traveller (sic) undated
At Tea, Suite – See Suite for Women’s Voices undated
Atmosphere Cycle – See Threnody undated
Benediction for violin and piano – See Threnody undated
A Bit of Fun – See Arkansia undated
Blaize – See Piano Potpourri undated
Cantata – See Sing Unto The Lord a New Song undated
Certainly Lord, for tenor and piano 1974
Childhood Capers – See Piano Potpourri undated
Chit-Chat – See Conversations for two flutes and piano undated
Choral Suite No. 1, for tape sounds, percussion, piano, 16 voice choir 1963
Choral Suite for Women’s Voices – See Suite for Women’s Voices undated
Christmas Is More – See Notes of Christmas undated
Clean Tale, A – See Cycle of Songs on Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar undated
Conversations, for two flutes and piano 1975
The Cottage, for soprano and piano 1964
Couldn’t Hear Nobody Pray, for baritone and piano 1978
Cycle of Songs on Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar, for voice and piano 1977-1983
[The] Day of Resurrection! undated
Done Made My Vow to the Lord, for SATB 1974
Dreams – See Three Sketches undated
Drizzle – See Cycle of Songs on Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar undated
Echoes of the Journey, for soprano and chamber orchestra 1990
Echoes of the Journey for soprano and chamber orchestra (parts) 1990
Elegy for Brass Quintet, for trumpet, 2 horns in F, trombone, and tuba/euphonium 1980, revised 1989
Episcopal Eucharistic Lectionary Propers, Palm Sunday 1970 by the Children’s Choir 1970
Episodes I and II, for horn and piano 1983
Excursions, for piano trio 1989
Fantasy, for violin and piano 1968; revised 1972
Fantasy Rondo, for solo piano 1962-1963
Festival Prelude, for organ 1975
Five Fold Amen 1961
Flight – See Piano Potpourri 1970
Folk Song – See Arkansia undated
For Bahai Chorus 2000
Four Mynyms for Three Players, for flute, oboe, and piano 1963; revised 1968 and 1979
Fulfillment, for baritone [voice] and piano 1967
Gifts for four part women’s voices 1993
Gloria in Excelsis, for soprano and piano 1967
Go Tell It on the Mountain 1974
Gossip – See Conversation for two flutes and piano undated
Great Gittin’ Up Mornin’ – See Tawawa House undated
Hallelujah, for unison children’s chorus and SS chorus 1972
Hallelujah, for brass octet 1984
Hallelujah to the Lamb 1969; revised 1982
Heritage and Life: A Cycle of Songs, for soprano and piano undated
[The] Hidden Words of Baha’u’llah, for soprano, flute, and piano 1977
Homage to William Levi Dawson on his 90th Birthday – See Piano Potpourri 1990
How Charming is the Place, for soprano and organ or piano 1994
Humoreske – See Three Sketches undated
Hymn of Praise 1986
In the Great Gittin’ Up Mornin’ – See Tawawa House undated
Introduction, Prelude and Danse for band 1968
It’s Me O Lord, Standing in the Need of Prayer, for baritone and piano 1974
Jazzy (Jazz) Trifle – See Piano Potpourri 1986
Journey – See Echoes from the Journey undated
Jovial – See Four Mynyms for Three Players undated
Jubilant – See Four Mynyms for Three Players undated
Just Folks 1956, 1957
Kid Stuff – See Three Songs for Christmas undated
Kum Ba Yah 1975
Kum Ba Yah, for children’s chorus and conga drum undated
Lamb of God, for SSA 1958
Landlord’s Ballad – See Ballad for Piano After Ballad of the Landlord undated
Landscape – See Arkansia undated
Latino Rhythms, for two trumpets and piano 1959
Let Thy Merciful Ears, O Lord undated
Life undated
Lift Every Voice and Sing (arrangement) 1975
Lo! He Comes, with Clouds Descending 1969
Londonderry Air, for violin and piano 2001
Love Came Down at Christmas, for unison children’s chorus and strings 1972
The Love of God 1991
Make a Joyful Noise (Psalm 98: 4-6) from Great Gittin’ Up Mornin’ undated
March (Three Notes) undated
Mary Had a Baby – See Three Songs for Christmas undated
Mass in F# Minor, for soprano and bass soli, SATB, and piano or organ 1968
Meadow Fresh undated
Melancholy – See Four Mynyms for Three Players undated
A Mighty Fortress is Our God 1975
Moods, for mixed quartet of voices, marimba, and conga drum 1974
Music for SATB and piano undated
Music from Ohio – See Notes of Christmas 1993
Narrative, for flute, narrator/soprano, two percussionists, and piano 1975
Ninefold Amen undated
Notes for Christmas, for SATB and piano 1991
Nova Songs, electronic music on tape undated
O de Angels Done Bowed Down, for mezzo-soprano and piano 1973
O Lord, Make Thy Beauty, for SATB a cappella 1991
O the Angels Done Bowed – See O de Angels Done Bowed Down undated
Of Life and Love – See Cycle of Songs on Poems by Paul Laurence Dunbar undated
O Peter, Go Ring Dem Bells, for SATB and piano undated
O Whisper, O My Soul – See Tawawa House undated
On a Clean Book – See Cycle of Songs on Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar undated
Orrin and Echo – See Piano Potpourri 1970
O’ Tannenbaum undated
Pastels for orchestra 1986
Pavanne for piano – See Reflections for Piano 1975
Pensive – See Four Mynyms for Three Players undated
Philosophy, for flute, cello and voice 1984
Piano Potpourri 1990
Piano Sonata No.3 1959-1960
Piano Sonatina – See Sonatina for Piano 1962
Precious Lord, for SATB and piano 1976
Prelude, for horn and piano – See Episodes I and II undated
Prelude and Aria for Clarinet – See Sonata for Clarinet and Piano undated
Prelude for organ 1973
Prism for organ 1975
Program Symphony 1954
Promenade – See Piano Potpourri 1988
Quiet of Christmas – See Notes of Christmas undated
Redemption, for SATB 1963
Reflections for piano undated
Rhapsody for piano – See Piano Potpourri undated
The Resurrection (Jonathan Brooks), for unison soprano and alto, organ or piano undated
Rhyme for saxophone and piano, for alto saxophone and piano 1968; revised 1977
Ride, Ride, Ride King Jesus, for SATB a cappella 1974
Round and Round – See Piano Potpourri 1977
Salon du Capriccii, for piano 1972
Sanctus and Agnus Dei – See Episcopal Eucharistic Lectionary Propers Palm Sunday undated
Ships That Pass in the Night, for instrumental ensemble and narrator 1988
Sing Unto the Lord a New Song, a cantata for soprano, mezzo-soprano, baritone, narrator, SATB, flute, timpani, harp, and organ 1976
Sinner Man So Hard, Believe! for soprano and piano 1967; revised 1969
Soliloquy – See Piano Potpourri 1979
Sonata for clarinet and piano 1963
Sonata for violin and piano – Score Not Found undated
Sonata for Piano Forte 1960
Sonata No. 3 1959-1960
Sonatina for piano 1962
Sonatine for piano 1963
Songs for Nobody – Score Not Found 1961
Sound Patterns, for narrator and clarinet 1978
Spring Song – See Cycle of Songs on Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar undated
Standing in the Need of Prayer for baritone and piano – See Its Me O Lord Standing in the Need of Prayer 1976
Still, Still 1972
String Quartet No. 1 1956
Suite for Piano 1963
String Quartet No. 2 – See Three Designs for Four Strings 1964
Suite for Women’s Voices, for SSAA and piano 1963; revised 1984
Sunset – See Cycle of Songs on Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar undated
Symphonic Poem, for orchestra – See Ships that Pass in the Night 1954
Tawawa House, opera in two acts for SSSAATTBB 1985
Teeta – See Piano Potpourri 1988
Tempo for wind ensemble and soprano 1993
There’s a Lit’l Wheel A-Turnin’ 1976
Three Designs for Four Strings (String Quartet No. 2) 1964
Three Expressions for Piano – Score Not Found 1973-1974
Three Sketches, for piano 1960
Three Songs for Christmas, for soprano and piano – See “Kidstuff” in the Heritage and Life Song Cycle – See also “Mary had a Baby” – See “Fulfillment” for baritone and piano 1989
Three Spirituals undated
Threnody Song Cycle 1969-1972
Ties – See Piano Potpourri undated
Times Five – See Suite for Piano undated
Times Seven – See Piano Potpourri 1985
To a Dark Girl for voice and piano, on poetry by Gwendolyn Bennet; also a version based on poetry of Langston Hughes “Song for a Dark Girl” 1971
Toast – See Three Songs for Baritone and Piano undated
Tornado – See Narrative undated
Tranquility and Commotion, for orchestra 1982
Twelve Days of Christmas undated
Two Letters for clarinet, violoncello and piano 1975
Untitled Work, for piano, xylophone, wood blocks 1984
Up Over My Head – See Tawawa House – See Three Spirituals undated
Variations for Piano – Score Not Found 1961
Venita 1971
Vignette No. 1 and No. 2 – See Potpourri 1990
You Hear the Constant Drumming – Score Not Found undated
Whisper my Soul – See Three Songs for Baritone and Piano undated