Composers
John Wesley Work, III
1901 - 1967About
John Wesley Work, III (1901-1967) was educated at Fisk University and received his Masters degree from Columbia University. He also attended Yale University. Work taught at Fisk from 1926-1966, as theory professor, chairman of the Fisk University Department of Music, composer and Director of the Fisk Jubilee Singers. He composed “Mandy Lou” while in high school and received a prize from the Fellowship of American Composers in 1946 for “The Singers”, originally scored for chorus, baritone and orchestra. His compositions numbering over 100, included “Soliloquy”, and collections of 221 religious and secular songs.
Related Information
Biographies of Black Composers and Songwriters; Ellistine Perkins Holly, Compiler. Wm Brown Publishers, 1990.
Works by John Wesley Work, III
| Title | Collection | Voice Type | Range | Poet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Mona Lisa | Voice | C#4- G5 | A. Grimke | |
| Breathe on Me Breath of God (Sacred Song For Low Voice) | Voice | C4 - E5 | Edwin Hatch | |
| Credo | Mezzo-Soprano | Bb3 - G5 | ||
| Dancing in the Sun | Voice | G4 - G5 | Howard Weedun | |
| Dusk At Sea | Voice | Eb4 - A5 | Thomas S. Jones | |
| Soliloquy | Voice | D4 - A5 | Myrtle Vorst Sheppard |
| Title | Published | Size | Solo with Ensemble | Duration Range | Level | Orchestration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yenvalou | No | Full Orchestra | Professional |
| Composer | Title | Work | Instrumentation | Level | Number of Movements | Accompanied | Size | Duration Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Wesley Work, III | A Little More Faith in Jesus | Organ | 1 | No | Solo | |||
| John Wesley Work, III | At a Certain Church | Piano | 1 | No | Solo | |||
| John Wesley Work, III | Big Bunch of Roses | Piano | 1 | No | Solo | |||
| John Wesley Work, III | Fishers Hornpipe | Piano | 1 | No | Solo | |||
| John Wesley Work, III | From the Deep South | Organ | 4 | No | Solo | |||
| John Wesley Work, III | Ring Game | Piano | 1 | No | Solo | |||
| John Wesley Work, III | Sassafras | Piano | 1 | No | Solo | |||
| John Wesley Work, III | Take Me Back | Piano | Advanced | 1 | No | Solo | ||
| John Wesley Work, III | Visitor from Town | Piano | 1 | No | Solo |