Mary Watson Weaver
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
She 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
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
- Stern, Susan, 1953- (1978). Women composers : a handbook. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-1138-3. OCLC 3844725.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- School and Community. Missouri State Teachers Association. 1974.
- 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.
- 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.
- Weaver, Mary (October 21, 2020). "www.ancestry.com". Retrieved October 21, 2020.
- Weaver, Powell (December 23, 1951). "Powell Weaver Obituary". Rapid City Journal (South Dakota). Retrieved October 21, 2020.
- Meckna, Michael (2016-05-25), "Weaver, Powell", Oxford Music Online, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.a2293315, retrieved 2020-10-21
- 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.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- www.lieder.net (October 21, 2020). "Mary Watson Weaver". Retrieved October 21, 2020.
- Cohen, Aaron I. (1987). International encyclopedia of women composers (Second edition, revised and enlarged ed.). New York. ISBN 0-9617485-2-4. OCLC 16714846.
- Anderson, Ruth, 1928-2019. (1976). Contemporary American composers : a biographical dictionary. Boston: G.K. Hall. ISBN 0-8161-1117-0. OCLC 2035024.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- Musical Leader. 1944.