Mary Eliza Watson Weaver (January 16, 1903 – November 16, 1990) was an American composer, pianist,[1] and poet who was born in Kansas City, Missouri.[2]

Life

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Mary received B.A. and B. M. degrees from Smith College (Massachusetts) and Ottawa University (Kansas).[3] She continued to study music with Rosario Scalero and Deems Taylor at the Curtis Institute of Music[4] (Philadelphia), and privately in New York and France.

Mary married composer and organist Powell Weaver on March 24, 1938,[5] and they had one son (Thomas Watson Weaver).[6] She gave lectures and recitals, and taught piano at the Kansas City Conservatory, the Curtis Institute, the University of Missouri–Kansas City (1946 – 1957), the Manhattan School of Music (New York; 1957 – 1970), and the Henry Street School of Music (New York).

Compositions

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Mary's compositions were published by Belwin-Mills, G. Schirmer Inc., Galaxy Music Corporation, and Shawnee Press. She collaborated with her husband on some compositions (noted below), and he set some of her poems to music.[7] Her musical compositions, all for voice, include:

  • All Weary Men (with Powell Weaver; mixed chorus; 1949)[8]
  • Confess Jehovah (mixed chorus; 1951)
  • "Cradle Song" (text by Padraic Colum; soprano and piano; 1940)[9]
  • Enchanted Islands (women's chorus; 1952)[10]
  • God's Love Enfold (mixed chorus; 1952)
  • Hail, Jesu Bambino (mixed chorus; 1967)
  • "Heart of Heaven" (soprano or alto and piano; 1952)
  • Kneel Down (unspecified chorus)[11]
  • Like Doves Descending (with Powell Weaver; mixed chorus; 1952)
  • Like the Young Sheep (mixed chorus; 1950)
  • New Mexican Lullaby (women's chorus; 1953)
  • O Holy Child (women's chorus; 1952)
  • On the Eve of the First Christmas (with Powell Weaver; mixed chorus; 1948)
  • Rise Up All Men (mixed chorus; 1953)
  • When Jesus Lay by Mary's Side (with Powell Weaver; mixed chorus; 1951)
  • Wild Swans[12]

References

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  1. ^ Stern, Susan, 1953- (1978). Women composers : a handbook. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-1138-3. OCLC 3844725.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ School and Community. Missouri State Teachers Association. 1974.
  3. ^ Hixon, Donald L. (1993). Women in music : an encyclopedic biobibliography. Hennessee, Don A. (2nd ed.). Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-2769-7. OCLC 28889156.
  4. ^ Heinrich, Adel. (1991). Organ and harpsichord music by women composers : an annotated catalog. New York: Greenwood Press. ISBN 978-0-313-38790-6. OCLC 650307517.
  5. ^ Weaver, Mary (October 21, 2020). "www.ancestry.com". Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  6. ^ Weaver, Powell (December 23, 1951). "Powell Weaver Obituary". Rapid City Journal (South Dakota). Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  7. ^ Meckna, Michael (2016-05-25), "Weaver, Powell", Oxford Music Online, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.a2293315, ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0, retrieved 2020-10-21
  8. ^ Claghorn, Charles Eugene, 1911-2005. (1996). Women composers and songwriters : a concise biographical dictionary. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-585-03162-2. OCLC 42329817.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ www.lieder.net (October 21, 2020). "Mary Watson Weaver". Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  10. ^ Cohen, Aaron I. (1987). International encyclopedia of women composers (Second edition, revised and enlarged ed.). New York. ISBN 0-9617485-2-4. OCLC 16714846.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  11. ^ Anderson, Ruth, 1928-2019. (1976). Contemporary American composers : a biographical dictionary. Boston: G.K. Hall. ISBN 0-8161-1117-0. OCLC 2035024.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ Musical Leader. 1944.