Dorothy Rudd Moore lectures at the University of Connecticut
Dates
- 1975 - 1980
Summary
Composer Dorothy Rudd Moore delivered 3 lectures that can be found on 4 reel to reel tapes. She spoke on 11/11/1975 (2015-0002/RR229 reel 1) (2015-0002/RR230 reel 2), 3/21/1978 (2015-0002/RR231), and 3/25/1980 (2015-0002/RR232). Moore is a composer who has studied with Mark Fax at Howard University, Washington, DC (1963), with Nadia Boulanger at the American Conservatory at Fontainebleau (summer 1963), and with Chou Wen-chung in New York (1965). Moore went on to teach at the Harlem School of the Arts (1965–6), New York University (1969) and Bronx Community College, CUNY (1971).
In addition to teaching, Moore also maintained an active composition career. Moore was her own librettist for her opera, Fredrick Douglass, which was commissioned by the New York based Ebony Opera. The opera went on to be performed internationally. When setting music to text, Moore typically used poems by black Americans. Her piece, "The Weary Blues," which utilizes the 12-bar blues form, is her only instance of black music influencing her musical style.
RR 229-230 Ms. Moore spoke about herself and her career as a composer.
RR 231 Ms. Moore, Kermit Moore, Raymond Jackson (Julliard) and the speakers for the evening. Ms. Moore began with some of her background as female composer who as also Black. Dr. Raymond Jackson (Professor at Howard University) performs Dream and Variations composed by Moore. Dr. Jackson and Kermit Moore also perform together, although the piece is not identified.
RR 232 Edward O'Connor introduces Dorothy Rudd Moore. Ms. Moore discusses what it is like to be a living, working composer
Biographical / Historical
Dorothy Moore was born on June 4, 1940, in New Castle, Delaware. Her mother was a singer and Moore would make up her own songs as child. Moore knew she wanted to become a composer at a young age and took piano lessons as a child. She learned to play clarinet so that in high school, she should join the previously all-male band. She graduated from Howard University in 1963 where she studied with Mark Fax. She received the Lucy Moten Fellowship to study in France where she continued her studies with Nadia Boulanger in Paris in 1963 and Chou Wen-Chung in New York in 1965. Moore went on to teach at the Harlem School of the Arts (1965–6), New York University (1969) and Bronx Community College, CUNY (1971).
In addition to teaching, Moore also maintained an active composition career. Moore was her own librettist for her opera, Fredrick Douglass, which was commissioned by the New York based Ebony Opera. The opera went on to be performed internationally. When setting music to text, Moore typically used poems by black Americans. Her piece, "The Weary Blues," which utilizes the 12-bar blues form, is her only instance of black music influencing her musical style.
Moore received the Lucy Moten fellowship and other grants, and in 1968 became a co-founder of the Society of Black Composers in New York. Her works, Dirge and Deliverance, and Songs from the Dark Tower were released by Performance Records in 1981. In 1985, the world premiere of her opera, Fredrick Douglass, took place in New York City.
Between 1988 and 1990, she sat on the music panel of the New York State Council of the Arts.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Rudd_Moore / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Pannu2b0Zw / http://www.bruceduffie.com/moore.html]
Extent
4 Reels (Magnetic tape audio recordings) : RR 229 -230 2 reels, Side A-1:01:19, Side B-0:11:23; tape speed 3¾ IPS; track position ½-Track Mono; Substrate: Polyester. The recordings were combined for ease of listening. The combined run time of the digital recording is 1:12:35. RR 231 1 reel, Side A-1:03: Side B-0:19:38; tape speed 3¾ IPS; track position ½-Track Mono; Substrate: Polyester. The recordings were combined for ease of listening. The combined run time of the digital recording is 1:22:56. RR 232 1 reel, 1:22:37; tape speed 3¾ IPS; track position ½-Track Mono; Substrate: Polyester.
Existence and Location of Originals
Original audio recordings reside in the University of Connecticut, Black Experience in the Arts Collection, Archives & Special Collections, UConn Library.
- African American composers Subject Source: Fast
- African American women educators Subject Source: Fast
- African Americans Subject Source: Fast
- African Americans in popular culture Subject Source: Fast
- Black Experience in the Arts Course (University of Connecticut) -- Sound recordings Subject Source: Local sources
Repository Details
Part of the Archives and Special Collections, University of Connecticut Library Repository
University of Connecticut Library
405 Babbidge Road Unit 1205
Storrs Connecticut 06269-1205 USA US
860-486-2524
archives@uconn.edu