Composers

Frederick Jerome Work

1879 - 1942

About

Frederick J. Work graduated from Fisk in 1903 in music. In the summers of 1900 and 1901, he was paid by Fisk to attend and transcribe spirituals at camp meetings sung by “common people.” This work yielded his first book of spirituals. In 1907, his second book of collected and transcribed spirituals was published with an introduction by his brother. F J Work was acclaimed for arranging spirituals in a manner “true to their original form,” at a time when many people sang them in a way that eliminated their unique qualities. He taught music in high school and conducted acclaimed youth choirs in high school from 1908-1922 in places including Nashville, TN, Kansas City, MO and Pine Bluff, AR, and finally, in Bordentown, NJ, for the last twenty years of his career.

Related Information

https://notablefolkloristsofcolor.org/portfolio/john-wesley-work-ii-and-frederick-jerome-work/

Works by Frederick Jerome Work

Title Published Size Solo with Ensemble Duration Range Level Orchestration
Suite Nègre – I. From my window Yes Full Orchestra 5-10 Professional 2[1.2/pc] 222-4231-tmp, cym, str
Suite Nègre – II. Idyll Yes Chamber 5-10 Professional 2-fl, 2-ob, 2-cl, 2-bn, 4-hn, str
Suite Nègre – III. Serenade Yes Full Orchestra 5-10 Professional 2[1.2/pc] 222-4231-tmp, cym, str
Suite Nègre – IV. Dance Yes Full Orchestra 5-10 Professional 2[1.2/pc] 222-4231-tmp, cym, str