James, Dorothy

James, Dorothy, American composer and teacher; b. Chicago, Dec. 1, 1898; d. St. Petersburg, Fla., Dec. 1, 1982. She was a student of Gruenberg and Weidig at the Chicago Musical Coll. and the American Cons, of Music in Chicago (M.M., 1927), of Hanson at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., of Willan in Toronto, and of Krenek at the Univ. of Mich. In 1927 she joined the faculty of Eastern Mich. Univ. in Ypsilanti, where she was later a prof. (1962–68); she also was music critic of the Ypsilanti Press. She was the author of Music of Living Women Composers (1976). Her compositions display fine craftsmanship, particularly her choral works.

Works

dramatic: Opera: Paola and Francesca (partial concert perf., Rochester, N.Y., April 2, 1931). o r c h.: 3 Symphonic Fragments (Rochester, N.Y., April 2, 1931); Elegy for the Lately Dead (1938); Suite for Small Orch. (1940). chambersPastorales for Clarinet, Strings, and Celesta (1933); Recitative and Aria for Viola, 2 Violins, and 2 Cellos (1944); Morning Music for Flute and Piano (1967); Motif for Oboe and Organ (1970); Patterns for Harp (1977). keyboard: Pian: 2 Satirical Dances (1934); Dirge (1962); Impressionistic Study (1962); Tone Row Suite (1962); 2 in 1 (1962). organ:Autumnal (1934); Dedication (1958). VOCAL: Tears for Chorus and Orch. (1930); 4 Preludes from the Chinese for Alto or Bass and Piano Quintet (1930); The Jumblies for Women’s Voices and Orch. (1935); Paul Bunyan for Baritone, Women’s Voices, and Orch. (1937); Niobe for Women’s Voices and Chamber Orch. (1941); The Golden Years for Chorus and Orch. (1953); The Nativity Hymn for Chorus (1957); Mutability for Women’s Voices and Ensemble (1967); songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire