Joseph willcox jenkins biography

The Choral Music of Joseph Willcox Jenkins

Composer Joseph Willcox Jenkins (b. 1928), longtime professor at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylania (since 1961) and the first arranger for the United States Army Chorus (1956-1959), has composed and arranged a prolific amount of choral music, much of which has remained unpublished. After presenting a brief biography of Jenkins, this essay examines a sample of seven of his choral works, with analyses and scores of each. Catalogs of the choral compositions to which he assigned opus numbers and his U.S. Army Chorus arrangements follow, along with a classified list of remaining choral works and arrangements. The document concludes with the transcription of a conversation between Jenkins and the author about his career and music. It is hoped that this resource for choral musicians will encourage a more widespread knowledge of Jenkins’ choral music, providing increased possibilities for performance and further study.

Joseph Willcox Jenkins Collection

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 Collection

Identifier: MSS MUSIC -Jenkins

Scope and Contents

Includes 11 regular boxes and 2 oversize boxes of manuscript music arranged chronologically. The collection measures 12 linear feet. Condition of the material is somewhat fragile, single sheet or spiral bound scores.

Dates

Creator

Biographical / Historical

Joseph Willcox Jenkins was a well-known composer of more than 200 works for band, orchestra, chorus, voice and instrumental ensembles. In 1961, Mr. Jenkins joined the music faculty at Duquesne University, where he taught theory, orchestration and composition. He remained a full-time faculty member until about 2009. He continued as “professor emeritus” teaching courses through the fall of 2012. Mr. Jenkins was born on February 15, 1928 and his young musical career started with piano lessons at age 6, and by age 8 he was singing in his church choir. He was a native of the Philadelphia area, who lived in Squirrel Hill and Shadyside after moving to Pittsburgh in 1961. He held a bachel

Joseph Willcox Jenkins

American classical composer

Joseph Willcox Jenkins

Born15 February 1928

Wawa, Pennsylvania

Died31 January 2014(2014-01-31) (aged 85)

Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

EducationPh.D., Catholic University
M.M., Eastman School of Music, 1951
B.M., Eastman School of Music, 1950
B.S., St. Joseph's College
Occupation(s)Composer, professor, conductor, musician
EmployerDuquesne University

Joseph Willcox Jenkins (15 February 1928 – 31 January 2014) was an American composer, professor of music, and musician. During his military service in the Korean War, he became the first arranger for the United States Army Chorus. He ended his teaching career as Professor Emeritus at the Mary Pappert School of Music, Duquesne University, where he had been a professor since 1961,[1][2] and composed over 200 works.

Early life and military service

By the age of six, Jenkins had already begun piano lessons;[3] soon afterward, he started composing small pieces in elementary school. In hig

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