Julia Smith (composer)
Encyclopedia
Julia Frances Smith, PhD (b. 25 January 1905 Denton, Texas
; d. 18 April 1989 New York City
), was an American
composer
, pianist
, and author
on musicology
.
(1930) and then continued with graduate studies in piano and composition at the Juilliard School
from 1932–1939, earning a diploma. She simultaneously studied at New York University
earning a Masters degree in 1933 and a PhD in 1952. From 1932–1939 she served as pianist for the Orchestrette Classique
of New York, a women’s orchestra. During this time she also gave concerts of mostly American music in Latin America, Europe, and throughout the United States. As a performer she became particularly associated with the works of Aaron Copland
. From 1941–1946 she taught at the Hartt School
, where she founded the department of music education
.
As a composer Smith is best known for her operas and orchestral works, which have all been performed. Her music incorporates elements of jazz
, folk music
and 20th-century French harmony
. Her compositional style has an appealing directness and although tonal, makes interesting use of dissonance
. Among her best works are The String Quartet, which uses irregular metres and driving rhythms; and the operas Cynthia Parker and Cockcrow, which employ folk music within a generally conservative tonal idiom.
Smith was the recipient of several commissions and awards and was active in several music organizations, especially the National Federation of Music Clubs
, for which she chaired the Decade of Women Committee (1970–79). As a writer her publications include Aaron Copland: his Work and Contribution to American Music (New York, 1955) and a Directory of American Women Composers (Chicago, 1970), of which she was the editor.
Denton, Texas
The city of Denton is the county seat of Denton County, Texas in the United States. Its population was 119,454 according to the 2010 U.S. Census, making it the eleventh largest city in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex...
; d. 18 April 1989 New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
), was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
on musicology
Musicology
Musicology is the scholarly study of music. The word is used in narrow, broad and intermediate senses. In the narrow sense, musicology is confined to the music history of Western culture...
.
Life and career
She graduated from University of North Texas College of MusicUniversity of North Texas College of Music
The University of North Texas College of Music, based in Denton, is a comprehensive music school with the largest enrollment of any music institution accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, and the oldest in the world offering a degree in jazz studies...
(1930) and then continued with graduate studies in piano and composition at the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
from 1932–1939, earning a diploma. She simultaneously studied at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
earning a Masters degree in 1933 and a PhD in 1952. From 1932–1939 she served as pianist for the Orchestrette Classique
Orchestrette Classique
Orchestrette Classique, later called Orchestrette of New York was an American chamber orchestra in New York made up of women musicians. Frédérique Petrides , a pioneering woman conductor who led other orchestras in New York, founded it in 1932 and served as its conductor until it ceased in 1943...
of New York, a women’s orchestra. During this time she also gave concerts of mostly American music in Latin America, Europe, and throughout the United States. As a performer she became particularly associated with the works of Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland was an American composer, composition teacher, writer, and later in his career a conductor of his own and other American music. He was instrumental in forging a distinctly American style of composition, and is often referred to as "the Dean of American Composers"...
. From 1941–1946 she taught at the Hartt School
Hartt School
The Hartt School is the comprehensive performing arts conservatory of the University of Hartford located in West Hartford, Connecticut, United States that offers innovative degree programs in music, dance, and theatre...
, where she founded the department of music education
Music education
Music education is a field of study associated with the teaching and learning of music. It touches on all domains of learning, including the psychomotor domain , the cognitive domain , and, in particular and significant ways,the affective domain, including music appreciation and sensitivity...
.
As a composer Smith is best known for her operas and orchestral works, which have all been performed. Her music incorporates elements of jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and 20th-century French harmony
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
. Her compositional style has an appealing directness and although tonal, makes interesting use of dissonance
Dissonance
Dissonance has several meanings, all related to conflict or incongruity:*Consonance and dissonance in music are properties of an interval or chord*Cognitive dissonance is a state of mental conflict...
. Among her best works are The String Quartet, which uses irregular metres and driving rhythms; and the operas Cynthia Parker and Cockcrow, which employ folk music within a generally conservative tonal idiom.
Smith was the recipient of several commissions and awards and was active in several music organizations, especially the National Federation of Music Clubs
National Federation of Music Clubs
The National Federation of Music Clubs was founded in 1898, became an NGO member of the United Nations in 1949, and was chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1982. NFMC is a non-profit philanthropic music organization whose goal is to promote American music, performers, and composers through quality...
, for which she chaired the Decade of Women Committee (1970–79). As a writer her publications include Aaron Copland: his Work and Contribution to American Music (New York, 1955) and a Directory of American Women Composers (Chicago, 1970), of which she was the editor.
Education
- 1930 — Bachelors Degree in Music, University of North Texas College of MusicUniversity of North Texas College of MusicThe University of North Texas College of Music, based in Denton, is a comprehensive music school with the largest enrollment of any music institution accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, and the oldest in the world offering a degree in jazz studies...
- 1933 — MA, New York UniversityNew York UniversityNew York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
- 1939 — Diploma, Juilliard
- 1952 — PhD, New York UniversityNew York UniversityNew York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
Selected compositions
- Cynthia Parker, opera (c. 1939)
- Stranger of Manzano, opera; libretto by John William Rogers
- Characteristic Suite for piano (c. 1949)
- Cockcrow, one-act opera (1953)
- American Dance Suite for two pianos, four hands (c. 1957)
- Two Pieces for viola and piano (1966)
- Concerto in E minor for piano and orchestra (c. 1969)
- Glory to the Green and White, University of North TexasUniversity of North TexasThe University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
alma materAlma materAlma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:... - Daisy, opera in 2 acts; libretto by Bertita Harding
- God Bless This House from the American opera Daisy; text from the poem "Blessing the House" by Anna Hempstead Branch (c. 1974)
- Five pieces, for Double Bass and Piano, double bass part edited by Homer R. Mensch (c. 1985)
- Prairie Kaleidoscope: five songs for voice and piano, poems by Ona Mae Ratcliff (née Minnick; 1909–2001), music by Julia Smith (1981)
- Suite for Wind Octet, (1980)
Selected Writings
- Julia Smith, Aaron Copland, his work and contribution to American music, Dutton, New York (1955)
- Directory of American women composers, with selected music for senior & junior clubs, compiled and edited by Julia Smith, National Federation of Music ClubsNational Federation of Music ClubsThe National Federation of Music Clubs was founded in 1898, became an NGO member of the United Nations in 1949, and was chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1982. NFMC is a non-profit philanthropic music organization whose goal is to promote American music, performers, and composers through quality...
(1970)
Teaching Positions
- 1935 — Smith began part-time teaching at the Hamlin School, Fair Lawn, NJ
- 1940-42 — taught at Juilliard
- 1941-46 — taught at the Hartt SchoolHartt SchoolThe Hartt School is the comprehensive performing arts conservatory of the University of Hartford located in West Hartford, Connecticut, United States that offers innovative degree programs in music, dance, and theatre...
, where she founded and served as head of the Department of Music Education - 1944-46 — taught at Teachers College of ConnecticutCentral Connecticut State UniversityCentral Connecticut State University is a state university in New Britain, Connecticut, United States.The school was moved to its present campus in 1922...
Family
On April 23, 1938, Julia Smith married Oscar Albert Vielehr (b. Aug. 4, 1892, Rochester, NY; d. Nov 30, 1975, New York, NY). In private life, she was known as Mrs. Oscar A. Vielehr. Oscar was an engineer and inventor and wholeheartedly supported his wife's career as a composer. A native New Yorker, he was employed at the Gyroscope Company, an Army ordinance plant. They had met at a concert.Sources
- Adrienne Fried Block. The New Grove Dictionary of OperaNew Grove Dictionary of OperaThe New Grove Dictionary of Opera is an encyclopedia of opera, considered to be one of the best general reference sources on the subject. It is the largest work on opera in English, and in its printed form, amounts to 5,448 pages in four volumes....
, edited by Stanley Sadie (1992), ISBN 0-333-73432-7 and ISBN 1-56159-228-5