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Zenobia Powell Perry's Clarinet Sonata (fourth movement)
Performed by The Price Duo
American Composer Zenobia Powell Perry
By Jeannie Gayle Pool
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In American Composer Zenobia Powell Perry: Race and Gender in the 20th Century, Jeannie Gayle Pool examines the life of this talented individual who faced tremendous challenges as a female, as an African American, and as a woman of mixed heritage. Based on interviews conducted by the author, as well as Perry's personal papers, correspondence, and scores, Pool provides a rich portrait of this unique composer. Pool also provides an analysis of Perry's musical style, a chronology, a complete list of works, and several appendices. Raising many complex and unresolved issues related to American blacks with Native American heritage, Perry's life story bears witness to a century in which tremendous strides were made toward equality for all.
Jeannie Gayle Pool Ph.D. is a musicologist, composer, documentary filmmaker, and producer. An expert on music for motion pictures, she is a consultant for Paramount Pictures Motion Picture Music Department. She is also the author of Peggy Gilbert & Her All-Girl Band (Scarecrow, 2008).
To set up an interview with the author or to receive a copy for a full length published review, please contact Lisa McAllister (301-459-3366 x5619). www.scarecrowpress.com
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Dear Friends,
Today marks the 97th anniversary of the birth of our dear Zenobia Powell Perry (1908-2004).
Hers was an amazing life and we feel so privileged to have known her! She taught us so many things about music, culture, faith, politics and the issues related to race, gender, class and ethnicity in America.
Soon the second recording of her music will be released, including performances by tenor Darryl Taylor (the Dunbar songs and two spirituals), Deon Price (the piano sonatina) and The Price Duo (Deon Nielsen Price and Berkeley Price (the clarinet sonatine). I am still looking for a publisher for her biography so that all can read about her life and music. Two publishers have told me there is no market for a biography of a Black American woman composer! We are planning a documentary film about her life, some of which was shot during her 95th birthday celebrations in 2003. If you have additional photographs or video footage of Zenobia to offer for the documentary, please contact us as soon as possible.
We welcome your e-mails with your remembrances of Zenobia at jaygaylemusic@yahoo.com.
Dr. Jeannie Pool
818-606-5743
This
site has been created by friends of Zenobia Powell Perry, who consider
her to be a national treasure. She is a composer, poet, pianist, and educator,
born in Boley, Oklahoma. • A number of new photos have been recently added.
This site is made possible with the generous support of the Dayton, Ohio Mu Phi Epsilon Alumni Chapter, Marilyn Sandness, President. It was written by Dr. Jeannie Pool and designed by Erik Vorkink. Many thanks to Dr. Deon Nielsen Price, Dr. Beverly Simmons and Janis-Rozena Perry for their assistance.
Send any comments on this site to Dr. Pool at jaygaylemusic@yahoo.com or write her at:
Jaygayle Music
P.O. Box 8144
La Crescenta, California 91224-0144
Links:
-Article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer
-University of Wyoming 1998 Alumni of the Year
-Jeannie Pool Web Site
-International Alliance for Women in Music
-Cambria Music
