Composers

Zenobia Perry

1908 - 2004

About

Zenobia Perry (1908 – 2004) born in Boley, Oklahoma is an African American female composer, pianist, and educator of African-American and Creek Indian descent. She was encouraged by her mother to pursue her musical taste and studied piano with local Mayme Jones, who referred her to R. Nathaniel Dett in 1931. Though she wanted to fully commit to music, Perry made a promise to her father to pursue teaching and did not return to her studies as a pianist and composer until she continued her studies at University of Wyoming under Darius Milhaud. Therefore, she did not start composing seriously until her forties. Throughout her career, Zenobia maintained teaching positions at institutions such as University of Arkansas and Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio while various performing ensembles performed her works. Perry stands rightfully beside the black composers of her generation, leaving behind a collection of works that includes art song, piano music, choral music, chamber music, and opera.

Related Information

http://www.zenobiapowellperry.org/compositions.html, http://bmrcsurvey.uchicago.edu/collections/2553

Works by Zenobia Perry

Title Collection Voice Type Range Poet
Alien Atmospheres Voice D4 - A5 Donald Jeffry Hayes
Benediction Atmospheres Voice C#4 - F#5 Donald Jeffry Hayes
Drizzle Cycle of Songs Voice F#4 - F#5 Paul Lawrence Dunbar
Hallelujah To The Lamb Cycle of Songs Voice D4 - A5 Paul Lawrence Dunbar
I (O Sun of Spirit) The Hidden Words Soprano D4 - G5 Baha'u'llah
II (O Sun of Being) The Hidden Words Soprano G4 - Ab5 Baha'u'llah
III (O Children of Men) The Hidden Words Soprano E4 - A5 Baha'u'llah
IV (O Friends Abandon Not) The Hidden Words Soprano G4 - B5 Baha'u'llah
Life Cycle of Songs Voice D4 - G5 Paul Lawrence Dunbar
Mary Had a Baby Soprano D4 - A5 | Optional B5 Biblical
On a Clean Book Cycle of Songs Voice D4 - A5 Paul Lawrence Dunbar
Pastourella Atmospheres Voice D4 - Ab5 Donald Jeffry Hayes
Poet Atmospheres Voice E4 - G#5 Donald Jeffry Hayes
Rhapsody Voice C#4 - D5 William Braithwaite
Sinner Man So Hard, Believe Cycle of Songs Voice D4 - E5 Paul Lawrence Dunbar
Spring Song Cycle of Songs Voice D#4 - A5 Paul Lawrence Dunbar
Sunset Cycle of Songs Voice E4 - G#5 Paul Lawrence Dunbar
Threnody Atmospheres Voice D4 - Ab5 Donald Jeffry Hayes
V (O Companion of My Throne) The Hidden Words Soprano E4 - G5 Bah√°'u'll√°h
VI (Oh, O Pressers on Earth) The Hidden Words Soprano F#4 - F#5 Bah√°'u'll√°h
Title Published Size Solo with Ensemble Duration Range Level Orchestration
Arkansia No String Orchestra Professional str
Cake Walk Yes Chamber under 5 Professional 1[pic]111-2211-timp-perc(3)-str
Chariot No Full Orchestra Professional
Echoes from the Journey No Chamber Soprano Professional 1111-1000-2perc-pno-str
Fire Music Yes Chamber under 5 Professional 1[pic]111-2211-timp-perc(3)-str
Jumping Over the Broom Yes Chamber under 5 Professional 2111-2211-timp-perc(3)-str
Overture to Tawawa House Yes Chamber under 5 Professional 1[pic]111-2211-timp-perc(3)-str
Pastels Yes Full Orchestra 5-10 Professional 222[1.2/Bcl]-4231-Timp-Str
Prelude to Act II of Tawawa House Yes Chamber under 5 Professional 1[pic]111-2211-timp-perc(3)-str
Ships That Pass in the Night No Chamber 5-10 Professional Baritone-pic-fl-asx-tsx-trpt-perc-pf
Sinner Man - from Tawawa House No Full Orchestra Tenor Under 5 Professional
Sunday Dance Tune Yes Full Orchestra under 5 Professional 1[pic]111-2211-timp-perc(3)-str
Tawawa House Suite for Orchestra No Full Orchestra 5-10 Professional
Tranquility and Commotion No Full Orchestra 10-20 Professional
Composer Title Work Instrumentation Level Number of Movements Accompanied Size Duration Range
Zenobia Perry Homage Piano 1 No Solo