Joseph Willcox Jenkins

Joseph Willcox Jenkins
Profile image of Joseph Willcox Jenkins (looking left)
Born 15 February 1928
Wawa, Pennsylvania
Died 31 January 2014(2014-01-31) (aged 85)
Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Education Ph.D., Catholic University
M.M., Eastman School of Music, 1951
B.M., Eastman School of Music, 1950
B.S., St. Joseph's College
Occupation Composer, professor, conductor, musician
Employer Duquesne 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 high school, he wrote numerous arrangements as well as some original works for orchestra. In 1946, Jenkins began his tertiary studies at Saint Joseph's University (then St. Joseph's College) in Philadelphia, where he focused on pre-law with the ambition of becoming a lawyer. At the same time, he studied composition and counterpoint with Vincent Persichetti at the Philadelphia Conservatory (which became part of the University of the Arts in 1962). Jenkins completed his degree at St. Joseph's in three years and enrolled in the Eastman School of Music in 1949. While there, he studied under important composers including Thomas Canning, Howard Barlow, Bernard Rogers, and Howard Hanson.[4] Jenkins graduated from Eastman with a Masters of Music in 1951, in the middle of the Korean War. He was subsequently drafted into the Army[5] and assigned to serve at Fort George G. Meade, in Maryland.

During his military service, Jenkins was the arranger for The United States Army Field Band as well as for the Armed Forces Radio Network. While with the Army Field Band, he composed his now famous American Overture for Band, Op. 13.[6] A 50th anniversary version of American Overture for Band was published by J.W. Pepper in 2004, with collaboration between Jenkins and the publisher. The original score was updated to include revisions to the work's dynamics, articulations and pitches.[7] American Overture became Jenkins' most successful work and he stated he would be "hard-pressed to duplicate its success."[8]

Teaching career and reenlistment

In 1953, Jenkins held an interim teaching position at Catholic University, replacing a professor on sabbatical.[9] He was so impressed by the faculty and courses at Catholic that he decided to take advantage of G.I. Bill funding and complete his doctorate there, studying under William L. Graves and other scholars.[4][10] While there, Jenkins also studied under Conrad Bernier, who Jenkins would later list in an autobiographical book chapter under individuals who were especially influential in his development and career.[11]

In 1956, Jenkins reenlisted in the military to become chief arranger and assistant conductor of the United States Army Chorus,[12] formed that same year, becoming the institution's first arranger.[9] Established as the vocal counterpart to the Army Band, the Army Chorus is a premier male vocal ensemble.[13] Jenkins wrote over 270 arrangements for voice while with the Army Chorus, in addition to several original works.[4] Jenkins is known for his vocal arrangements of well-known Stephen Foster works, such as "Beautiful Dreamer," "Camptown Races," "Oh! Susanna," and "Some Folks,"[9] which he wrote for the Army Chorus and remain part of its core repertoire, along with many of his other arrangements.[13]

Jenkins began his position as a tenured Professor of Theory and Composition at the Mary Pappert School of Music, Duquesne University in 1961. At Duquesne, he taught music theory, orchestration and composition and "was beloved by his students, colleagues and fellow musicians."[3] During his term at Duquesne, Jenkins served as Head of the Theory and Composition Department in the university's School of Music.[14]

Sewickley Presbyterian Church, where Jenkins was organist and choirmaster, now a Pittsburgh Historic Landmark.

Much of his collected choral works are available as part of Gumberg Library's Music Library Resources, alongside those of jazz guitarist and educator Joe "Handyman" Negri, another music educator who also influenced youth (in Mister Rogers' Neighborhood) and mature minds as a professor at Duquesne.[15] LTC John Clanton, former director of the U.S. Army Orchestra and U.S. Army Chorus, stated that Jenkins is "one of only a handful of composers and arrangers in the entire world who truly understands the musical potential of the male chorus".[13]

In addition to his university teaching, Jenkins influenced students at the primary and secondary school levels as the organist and instrumental music teacher (orchestra director) at St. Edmund's Academy, and by composing works for the orchestra at The Ellis School, both in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[4] He composed works for other elementary and secondary schools, including the Holy Innocents High School of Pittsburgh and the Marlborough School of Los Angeles.[4] Apart from his influence in classrooms, Jenkins participated as organist and choirmaster at Sewickley Presbyterian Church in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and at Rodef Shalom Temple in Pittsburgh.[3][4]

Selected awards

Musical works

For orchestra

For concert band and brass band

Masses, cantatas and sacred music

For choir

Vocal

Chamber

For organ

For percussion

References

  1. ↑ "Faculty Profile: Joseph Willcox Jenkins". Duquesne University. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  2. 1 2 Jenkins, Joseph Wilcox (2007). "Joseph Wilcox Jenkins". In Camphouse, Mark. Composers on Composing for Band, Volume 3. pp. 115–140. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Niederberger, Mary (2 February 2014). "Obituary: Joseph Willcox Jenkins / Composer and music professor at Duquesne University". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Skirpan, Richard (2011). The choral music of Joseph Willcox Jenkins (Ph.D.). University of Miami. Retrieved 5 February 2014. (registration required (help)).
  5. ↑ Legacy (PDF) (CD notes). The United States Army Field Band. Fort George G. Meade: United States Army. p. 4-5.
  6. ↑ Jenkins, Joseph Willcox (Composer) (1955). An American Overture for Band, Op. 13. (Sheet Music (for band)). Theodore Presser Company.
  7. ↑ jwpepper1876. "American Overture". YouTube. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  8. ↑ Staff. "Program Notes:Insights into Wind Band Classics". Anaheim, CA: Orange County Symphony. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  9. 1 2 3 Cannon, Carey Joseph (2011). Joseph Willcox Jenkins : male chorus arrangements of Stephen Collins Foster melodies (PDF) (Ph.D.). University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  10. ↑ Graves, William L., Jr. (1962). Twentieth Century Fugue. Washington, D.C.: The Catholic University of America Press. OCLC 480340.
  11. ↑ Starrett, Megan Jane (2009). The role of the horn in band music (PDF) (Master’s of Music). University of Kansas. p. 32. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  12. 1 2 "American Overture For Band". Program Notes > A >. Palatine Concert Band. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  13. 1 2 3 Druckenbrod, Andrew (2 August 2007). "Attention! Joseph Jenkins feted by the U.S. Army". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  14. ↑ Staff (20 January 1975). "Choir program slated for today". Beaver County (Pa.) Times. p. A3. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  15. ↑ "Gumberg Library Music Special Collections". Joseph Willcox Jenkins Collection. Duquesne University. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  16. ↑ "Ostwald Award Archives". Special Collections in Performing Arts. Archived from the original on 28 June 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  17. ↑ "Ostwald Award Archives: Winner 1961: Joseph Wilcox Jenkins, Cumberland Gap Overture". Special Collections in Performing Arts. Archived from the original on 5 November 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  18. ↑ Sharpe, Jerry (24 September 1990). "30 awards in 30 years high note for composer". Pittsburgh Press. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  19. ↑ "Joseph Willcox Jenkins". American Bandmasters Association Award. American Bandmasters Association. Archived from the original on 17 July 2007. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
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