Suite in B
Title
Suite in B
Description
Black composer Ulysses Kay "composed his 'Suite in B for Oboe and Piano' in 1943, finishing the piece at Quonset Point, Rhode Island in July. He withdrew the work, along with several other compositions, in the mid-1950s. The distinguished musicologist, lexicographer, and composer Nicholas Slonimsky (1894-1995) commented on this act of self-criticism in an article published in 1957: 'Some of the material he rejects is of excellent quality and it would be a pity if he would physically destroy the manuscripts.' Kay did try to destroy all the copies of the Suite in B for Oboe and Piano, but a few have survived.
Slonimsky's assessment is correct, at least in this instance. The 'Suite in B for Oboe and Piano' is a fine work, reflecting careful craftsmanship. Cast in three movements, the work pays homage to the multi-movement structure of a NeoBaroque suite with its opening Prelude, the Recitative and Air, and the final Dance. Kay employed a twentieth-century harmonic language: The first movement begins in B minor and ends in D major. The second movement is in D major but ends on a tonic major seventh chord. The final movement explores some different tonal areas but is firmly rooted in B major. Prairie Dawg Press is proud to be able to make the Suite in B for Oboe and Piano available once again to oboists. We hope that it will prove to be a useful addition to the recital repertoire. The 'Suite in B' received its first public performance while Kay was in residence at the American Academy in Rome as a recipient of the American Prix de Rome. Oboist Pietro Accaroni and pianist Gherardo Macarini premiered the piece on 29 November 1949."
Slonimsky's assessment is correct, at least in this instance. The 'Suite in B for Oboe and Piano' is a fine work, reflecting careful craftsmanship. Cast in three movements, the work pays homage to the multi-movement structure of a NeoBaroque suite with its opening Prelude, the Recitative and Air, and the final Dance. Kay employed a twentieth-century harmonic language: The first movement begins in B minor and ends in D major. The second movement is in D major but ends on a tonic major seventh chord. The final movement explores some different tonal areas but is firmly rooted in B major. Prairie Dawg Press is proud to be able to make the Suite in B for Oboe and Piano available once again to oboists. We hope that it will prove to be a useful addition to the recital repertoire. The 'Suite in B' received its first public performance while Kay was in residence at the American Academy in Rome as a recipient of the American Prix de Rome. Oboist Pietro Accaroni and pianist Gherardo Macarini premiered the piece on 29 November 1949."
Duration: 10 minutes
Creator
Kay, Ulysses (1917-1995)
Source
Ulysses Simpson Kay (Wikipedia), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulysses_Kay
Ulysses Kay, Suite in B (score), https://stores.imaginemusicpublishing.com/suite-in-b/
Kay Ulysses Kay, Suite in B Minor (score), https://www.trevcomusic.com/products/pdp-044-kay-ulysses-suite-in-b-ob-pn
Ulysses Kay, "Ulysses Kay: Suite in B" (YouTube), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3KaTwKd7KI
Publisher
Imagine Music Publishing
Date
1943
Format
10-20 minutes
Coverage
1900-1949
Instrumentation
oboe / hautbois
piano
Ensemble Type
duo
Citation
Kay, Ulysses (1917-1995), “Suite in B,” Music EnLivened, accessed November 21, 2024, http://omeka.uottawa.ca/music-enlivened/items/show/130.
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