Hailstork, Adolphus (Cunningham)

Hailstork, Adolphus (Cunningham), black American composer and teacher; b. Rochester, N.Y., April 17, 1941. He studied composition with Mark Fax at Howard Univ. in Washington, D.C. (B.Mus., 1963), Boulanger at the American Cons, in Fontainebleau (summer, 1963), Ludmila Ulehla, Flagello, Giannini, and Diamond at the Manhattan School of Music in N.Y. (B.Mus., 1965; M.Mus., 1966), and H. Owen Reed at Mich. State Univ. in East Lansing (Ph.D., 1971). He also attended sessions on synthesizer and computer music given by John Appleton and Herbert Howe at the N.H. Electronic Music Inst. (summer, 1972), and on contemporary music at the State Univ. of N.Y. at Buffalo (summer, 1978). In 1987 he held a Fulbright fellowship for study in Guyana. He taught at Mich. State Univ. (1969–71), Youngstown (Ohio) State Univ. (1971–76), and Norfolk (Va.) State Univ. (from 1977). Several of his works reflect his Afro- American experience. He has received various commissions, and a number of his works have been performed by major U.S. orchs.

Works

Dramatic: Opera: Paul Laurence Dun-bar: Common Ground (1994).ORCH.: Phaedra, tone poem (1966); SA-1 for Jazz Ensemble (1971); Bellevue (1974); Celebration for Orch. or Concert Band (1974); Concerto for Violin, Horn, and Orch. (1975); American Landscape No. 1 for Concert Band (1977) and No. 3 (1982); Epitaph: In Memoriam: Martin Luther King Jr. (1979); Norfolk Pride, march for Concert Band (1980); Sport of Strings for Strings (1982); American Guernica for Piano and Concert Band (1983); An American Port of Call (1984); 2 Struts with Blues for Strings, Flute, Horn, and Jazz Quartet (1985); Sym. No. 1 (1988); My Lord What a Mourning for Chamber Orch. (1989); Sonata da Chiesa for Strings (1991); Intrada (1991); Piano Concerto (1992); Festival Music (1992); And Deliver Us From Evil for Band (1994). CHAMBER: Horn Sonata (1966); Capriccio for a Departed Brother: Scott Joplin for Strings (1969); From the Dark Side of the Sun for 3 Flutes, Soprano Saxophone, Strings, and Percussion (1971); String Sextet (1971); Violin Sonata (1971); Spiritual for Brass Octet (1975); American Landscape No. 2 for Violin and Cello (1978); Variations for Trumpet (1981); Music for 10 Players (1982); Trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano (1985); 3 Preludes for Guitar (1989); Arabesques for Flute and Percussion (1991); 2 Impromptus for Harp (1993); Consort Piece for Chamber Ensemble (1993). piano:Ignis Fatuus (1976); 5 Friends (1978); 2 sonatas (1980, 1989); Reflections (1981); Sonata for 2 Pianos (1987); Trio Sonata (1991). VOCAL: My Name Is Toil for Chorus, Brass, and Timpani (1973);Oracle for Tenor, Women’s Chorus, 3 Flutes, 2 Percussion, and Tape (1977); Psalm 72 for Chorus, Brass, and Organ (1981); Look to this Day for Chorus and Concert Band (1982); Songs of Isaiah for Chorus and Orch. (1987); Break Forth for Chorus, Organ, Brass, and Timpani (1990); Hodie (Christus Natus Este) for Chorus (1994); other choruses and songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire