Composers

Ulysses Kay

1915 - 1995

About

Ulysses Kay (1915-1995)was an African American composer, conductor and professor. Born in Tuscan, Arizona, Kay began playing the piano at six years old with William A. Ferguson, under the encouragement of his uncle and later learned to play the violin. However he became consumed with the saxophone, when he was introduced to the instrument by his step-sister. Kay received a B.M. (1938) from the University of Arizona and an M.M. in composition (1940) from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied with Howard Hanson and Bernard Rogers. He also studied with Paul Hindermith at the Berkshire Music Center (1941), Yale University (1942), and Otto Luening at Columbia University. In the summer of 1965, he was visiting professor at Boston University, and then at the University of California (1966-1967). He was named Distinguished Professor of Music in 1972 at the Herbert H. Lehman College of the City University of New York where he was initially engaged in 1968, retiring in 1988. In 1975 he was Hubert H. Humphrey Lecturer at Macalester College (St. Paul). He held the Mu Phi Epsilon Endowed Chair at the Brevard Music Center in 1979. Kay has received numerous awards and honors; among them are: the 1965 State Department Cultural Exchange for American Composers to Russian, the Ditson, Rosenwald, and Guggenheim Fellowships, the Prix de Rome (twice), and honorary doctorates. Kay has written extensively, producing approximately 140 musical works. His compositions include: Markings, Of New Horizons, Three Pieces After Blake, Fantasy Variations, Choral Triptych, Umbrian Science, and the operas Jubilee, The Juggler of Our Lady, and Fredrick Douglass.

Related Information

http://chevalierdesaintgeorges.homestead.com/kay.html#15, http://www.darryltaylor.com/alliance/composers/ulysses-simpson-kay

Works by Ulysses Kay

Title Collection Voice Type Range Poet
Contemplation Three Pieces After Blake Soprano C#4 - A5 William Blake
I. Over the lightning Palisades… Jersey Hours Voice E4 -G5 Donald Dorr
II. The nakedness of rain… Jersey Hours Voice Eb4 - Gb5 Donald Dorr
III. The city gleams serene… Jersey Hours Voice E4 - Gb5 Donald Dorr
Mad Song Three Pieces After Blake Soprano D4 - G5 William Blake
To the Evening Star Three Pieces After Blake Soprano C#4 - Ab5 William Blake
Title Published Size Solo with Ensemble Duration Range Level Orchestration
6 Dances for String Orchestra Yes String Orchestra 20+ Professional str
A covenant for our time; Once there was a man Yes Full Orchestra + Chorus Narrator 10-20 Professional
A short overture, W27 Yes Full Orchestra 5-10 Professional 2222 (p), 2210, timp, perc, strings
Admiral Byrd, W75 Yes Chamber 20+ Professional 1111; 2220; 2 perc, harp; strings
Ancient Saga: A Design for Modern Dance Yes String Orchestra 5-10 Professional Pf - Str
Aulos Yes Chamber Flute 10-20 Professional 0000-2000-perc-str
Brief Elegy Yes String Orchestra Oboe 5-10 Professional Oboe - strings
Chariots Yes Full Orchestra 10-20 Professional 3[1.2.3/Pic] 3[1.2.Eh] 3[1.2.Bcl] 3[1.2.Cbn] - 4331 - Tmp+3Perc - Hp - Str
Choral Triptych Yes String Orchestra 10-20 Professional Str SATB Chorus
Concerto for Oboe Yes Full Orchestra Oboe 10-20 Professional 2222 4210 Timp Strings, Solo Oboe
Concerto for Orchestra Yes Full Orchestra 10-20 Professional 2222 - 4331 - Tmp+3Perc - Str
Danse Calinda Yes Full Orchestra 10-20 Professional 2[1.2/Pic] 1 2 1 - 2221 - Tmp+Perc - Pf - Str
Evocation No Full Orchestra Professional 1[1/pc] 1 2[1.2/bcl]-3-tpt, 2-trb, tmp, prc, pn, str
Fantasy Variations Yes Concert Band 10-20 Professional 2[1.2/Pic] 2 2 2 - 4331 - Tmp+Perc - str
Five Mosaics No Full Orchestra 5-10 Professional 1111-2110-tmp, prc, cel, str
Frederick Douglass - opera Yes Full Orchestra Professional 2[1.2/Pic] 2 2 2[1.2/bcl] - 4 3 2 3[3/btr] - Tmp+Perc - Str
Harlem children’s suite, W120 Yes Youth Orchestra 5-10 Professional
Inscriptions from Whitman Yes Full Orchestra 20+ Professional 2[1.2./picc] 223-4331-timp-perc-hp-str SATB chorus
Markings Yes Full Orchestra 10-20 Professional 3[1.2.3/picc] 3[1.2.3/Eh] 3[1.2.3/Bcl] 3[1.2.3/Cbn]-4331-timp-perc(4)- str
Of New Horizons Yes Full Orchestra 5-10 Professional 3[1.2.3/picc] 3[1.2.3/Eh] 3[1.2.3/Bcl] 3[1.2.3/Ebn]-4331-timp-perc-pfcel-hp-str
Once There Was A Man Yes Full Orchestra 10-20 Professional Picc, Bcl, 3232-4331-timp-perc-hp-str Narr, SATB Chorus
Our time, WoO Yes Full Orchestra + Chorus Professional
Phoebus arise, W72 Yes Full Orchestra + Chorus Soprano, Baritone 20+ Professional Sop. Bar. SATB Choir, 1d 1 2d 1 . 2 2 1 0 . Tmp. Per. Pf/Cel. Str.
Pieces, W94 Yes Full Orchestra 5-10 Professional 3222; 4331 (or 2221); timp, perc; strings
Pietà, W42 Yes String Orchestra English Horn 5-10 Professional Solo Eh - Str
Portrait Suite Yes Full Orchestra 10-20 Professional 2[1.2/Pic] 2 2 2 - 4331 - Tmp+2Perc - Hp - Str
Presidential Suite Yes Full Orchestra 10-20 Professional 3[Pic.1.2] 2 2 2 - 4331 - Tmp+Perc - Str
Prologue and Parade Yes Concert Band 5-10 Professional Pic; 2Fl; Ob; Ebcl; 3Cl; A Cl; B Cl; Bn; 2Asx; Tsx; Bsx; 2Hn; 3 Crt; 3Tbn; 2Euph; Tuba; Tmp+Perc; Db
Quintet Concerto Yes Full Orchestra Brass Quintet 10-20 Professional 3[1.2.3/picc] 2 3[1.2.3/Bcl] 2-3110-timp-perc-str
Reverie and Rondo Yes Full Orchestra 5-10 Professional 3[Pic.1.2] 2 2 2 - 4331 - Tmp+Perc - Str
Scene and song, W70 Yes Chamber 10-20 Professional 1111-1000-str
Scherzi musicali Yes Full Orchestra 10-20 Professional 2222 / 4331 / timp / str
Serenade Yes Full Orchestra 20+ Professional 2[1.2/Pic] 2 2 2 - 4331 - Tmp - Str
Sinfonia in E Yes Full Orchestra 5-10 Professional 2[1.2/Pic] 2 2 2 - 4331 - Tmp - Str
Sinfonietta, W1 Yes Full Orchestra 10-20 Professional 2222; 4200; timp, harp; strings
Song of Jeremiah: A Cantata Yes Full Orchestra Baritone 20+ Professional 2222-2221-timp-perc-pf-hp-str
Southern Harmony: Four Aspects for Orchestra Yes Full Orchestra 20+ Professional 3[Pic.1.2/Pic] 3[1.2.opt Eh] 3[1.2.Bcl] 3[1.2.opt Cbn] - 4331 - Tmp+2Perc - Str
Spirituals No String Orchestra Professional Str
String Triptych Yes String Orchestra Under 5 Professional Str
Submarine!, W73 Yes Chamber 10-20 Professional 1111; 2220; perc; strings
Suite for Orchestra Yes Full Orchestra 10-20 Professional 3333-4331-perc-pf-str
Suite for Strings Yes String Orchestra 10-20 Professional Str
Symphony No. 1 Yes Full Orchestra 20+ Professional 3[Pic.1.2] 3[1.2.Eh] 3[1.2.Bcl] 3[1.2.Cbn] - 4331 - Tmp+Perc - Str
The epicure, W68 Yes Full Orchestra + Chorus Soprano, Bass Under 5 Professional
The fall of China, W69 Yes Chamber 10-20 Professional 2200; 1321; piano, perc; strings
The Quiet One Suite Yes Chamber 10-20 Professional 1111 - 1110 - Perc - Pf/Cel - Str
The shape of things W76 Yes Chamber 10-20 Professional 1011; 2100; perc, harp; strings
The three musketeers, W77 Yes Chamber 10-20 Professional 1011; 2110; perc, strings
The Western Paradise Yes Full Orchestra Narrator 10-20 Professional Narrator - 3[Pic.1.2] 3[1.2.Eh[ 3[1.2.Bcl] 3[1.2.Cbn] 4331 - Tmp+3Perc - Hp - Str
Theater Set for Orchestra Yes Full Orchestra 10-20 Professional 3[1.2.3/picc] 3[1.2.3/Eh] 3[1.2.3/Bcl] 2-4331-timp-perc(3)-hp-str
Composer Title Work Instrumentation Level Number of Movements Accompanied Size Duration Range
Ulysses Kay First Nocturne Piano Intermediate 1 No Solo
Ulysses Kay Four Inventions Piano 4 No Solo
Ulysses Kay Little Tune Piano 6 No Solo
Ulysses Kay Make Believe Piano 6 No Solo
Ulysses Kay March Song Piano 6 No Solo
Ulysses Kay Old Lament Piano 6 No Solo
Ulysses Kay Pastorale Organ 1 No Solo
Ulysses Kay Playing, Playing Piano 6 No Solo
Ulysses Kay Slumber Song Piano 6 No Solo
Ulysses Kay So Gay Piano 6 No Solo
Ulysses Kay Sprite's Dance Piano Intermediate 6 No Solo
Ulysses Kay Suite No. 1 for Organ Organ 1 No Solo
Ulysses Kay Suite No. 1 for Organ Organ 1 No Solo
Ulysses Kay Tender Thought Piano 6 No Solo
Ulysses Kay Two Voices Piano 6 No Solo