Composers

Lettie Beckon Alston

1953 - 2014

About

Lettie Beckon Alston (1953-2014) is the first African-American, woman composer to obtain a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1983. As a teenager, she studied piano with Pearl Roberts McCullom. She received bachelor and master’s degrees in music composition at Wayne State University, studying with James Hartway and piano instructors Mischa Kottler and Frank Murch. When Alston was accepted at Michigan, her principle teachers were Dr. Leslie Bassett and Dr. William Bolcom. Dr. Alston is Associate Professor of Music at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. She was the artistic director of Lettie Alston and Friends Professional Artists Concerts from 1995-2008 featuring music by living composers. Dr. Alston was the artistic director of the Composers at Oakland concert programs, featuring faculty, alumni and student works. The collection includes scores, dated 1974-2007 and undated, with one CD of the composer’s work, and a promotional brochure. Collection also includes published and unpublished music.

Related Information

http://bmrcsurvey.uchicago.edu/collections/2559-1, http://oxfordindex.oup.com/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.A2227010

Works by Lettie Beckon Alston

Title Collection Voice Type Range Poet
A New Heaven and A New Earth Three Art Songs for Voice and Piano Bass G2 - Eb4 Revelation 21: 1-4
Anchored in the Lord Twelve Spiritual Settings Soprano D4 - B5 Biblical
Calling Jesus Twelve Spiritual Settings Soprano F4 - Ab5 Biblical
City Called Heaven Twelve Spiritual Settings Soprano C4 - Ab5 Biblical
Done Made My Vow Twelve Spiritual Settings Soprano D4 - G#5 Biblical
God Hath Chosen Biblical Women: Cantata for Soprano, Bass, and Piano Bass G2 - D4 1 Chorinthians 1:27-29
Here's One Twelve Spiritual Settings Soprano B3 - A5 Biblical
I Stood On De Ribber ob Jerdon Twelve Spiritual Settings Soprano E4 - Ab5 Biblical
If Thou Wilt Go (Duet) Biblical Women: Cantata for Soprano, Bass, and Piano Soprano Bass G2 - D4 | Soprano D4 - A5 Judges 4: 8-9
Is There Anybody Here? Twelve Spiritual Settings Soprano C4 - Ab5 Biblical
Nobody Knows But Jesus (Duet) Twelve Spiritual Settings Two Sopranos Db4 - Ab5 Biblical
Recitative: E-LI, My God and Aria: Blessed Are They Three Art Songs for Voice and Piano Soprano C4 - G5 Biblical
Roun' About The Mountain Twelve Spiritual Settings Soprano C4 - G5 Biblical
Sing Ye To the Lord Biblical Women: Cantata for Soprano, Bass, and Piano Soprano E4 - B5 Exodus 15:21
The Whole World Twelve Spiritual Settings Soprano B3 - A5 Biblical
The Wrath of God (Duet) Biblical Women: Cantata for Soprano, Bass, and Piano Soprano and Bass Bass: Bb2 - D4 | Soprano D4 - A5 2 Chronicles 34: 23-25
There is a Balm Twelve Spiritual Settings Soprano Eb4 - Ab5 Biblical
This Little Light of Mine Twelve Spiritual Settings Soprano Bb3 - G5 Biblical
Title Published Size Solo with Ensemble Duration Range Level Orchestration
Anxiety No Full Orchestra Solo voices Professional
Conquest of Jericho No String Orchestra and Chorus Narrator Professional
Composer Title Work Instrumentation Level Number of Movements Accompanied Size Duration Range
Lettie Beckon Alston Moods for Piano Piano 4 No Solo
Lettie Beckon Alston Piano Maniac Piano 1 No Solo
Lettie Beckon Alston Rhapsody No. 4 (Toccata) Piano Advanced 1 No Solo