Moorman, Joyce Solomon

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Moorman, Joyce Solomon

Moorman, Joyce Solomon, black American composer and teacher; b. Tuskegee, Ala., May 11, 1946. She studied at Vassar Coll. (B.A., 1968), Rutgers Univ. (M.A., 1971), Sarah Lawrence Coll. (M.F.A., 1975), Columbia Univ. (D.Ed., 1982), and Brooklyn Coll. (1998–99). From 1982 to 1993 she taught at the Brooklyn Music School. She was an adjunct asst. prof, at the Borough of Manhattan Community Coll. (1983–88), St. John’s Univ. (1984–85), York Coll. (1991–92), LaGuardia Community Coll. (1992–94; 1996–99), N.Y.C. Coll. (1998–99), and Brooklyn Coll. (1999).

Works

dramatic:Opera: Elegies for the Fallen (1986–96). orch.:The Soul of Nature (1975; rev. version, Detroit, March 15, 1990); Ethereal for Strings (1976; N.Y., Jan. 14, 1977); The Flood for Strings and Piano (1977); A Tone Poem for Victims of Racism and Hatred (Olomouc, June 28, 1998). chamber:Drei Besonderen Klangfarben for Bassoon, Double Bass, and Marimba (New Brunswick, N.J., May 12, 1971); Clarinet Quintet (1974); Among the Snow- Capped Peaks for String Quartet, Percussion, and Piano (1976; N.Y., April 27, 1977); An Era for Woodwind Quintet (1976; N.Y., March 21, 1988); Trio for Oboe, Basson, and Piano (1978; rev. version, N.Y., Feb. 8, 1995); Brass Quintet (1979; Flushing, N.Y., Nov. 18, 1984); Fantasy for Violin and Piano (1979; N.Y., May 23, 1982); Trio for Tape, Percussion, and Piano (1980); Solo for a Seated Percussionist (1982; N.Y., May 1, 1985); One Day In. ..for Percussion and Piano (1985; N.Y., Feb. 21, 1986); Trio for Flute, Guitar, and Drumset (1991; Teaneck, N.J., April 12, 1997); Remembrances ’68 for String Quartet (1993). Piano: Suite (Bronxville, N.Y., May 8, 1974); A Young Woman’s Impressions of New York City (1976; N.Y., April 27, 1977); A Summer Afternoon in South Carolina (1983; N.Y., March 25, 1984); Sonata (1994); The Backyard (1995). VOCAL: Dance of the Streets for Soprano, Clarinet, Cello, Percussion, and Piano (1978; N.Y., May 23, 1982); Sing My People, cantata for Soloists, Chorus, and Chamber Ensemble (1980; Hempstead, N.Y., June 19, 1981); In Time of Silver Rain for Chorus and Chamber Orch. (1990; Minneapolis, Feb. 10, 1991); Danse Africaine for Soprano and Piano (1991; N.Y., Jan. 9, 1996). Other: Computer Music Study 1 and 2 (1998).

—Laura Kuhn/Dennis Mclntire