Hale Smith
Encyclopedia
Hale Smith was an American
composer
, pianist
, educator, arranger
, and editor. He was one of the most notable African American
composers of the 20th century.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio
, Smith studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music
, graduating with a B.M. degree in 1950, and obtaining an M.M. in 1952. There, his instructors included Marcel Dick (composition), Ward Lewis (theory), Dorothy Price
(piano), and Robert U. Nelson (calligraphy). In 1953 his opera
Blood Wedding premiered in Cleveland.
He moved to New York
in 1958 and taught at C. W. Post College
on Long Island, New York until 1970. He later taught at the University of Connecticut
.
His awards include the first composition prize of BMI Student Composer Awards sponsored by Broadcast Music, Inc.
(1952), the Cleveland Arts Prize (1973), and membership in the American Academy of Arts and Letters (1988).
He received an honorary doctorate from the Cleveland Institute of Music in 1988.
Smith died on November 24, 2009, from the complications of a stroke
, in Freeport
, Long Island, New York
, at age 84.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, educator, arranger
Arrangement
The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
, and editor. He was one of the most notable African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
composers of the 20th century.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, Smith studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music
Cleveland Institute of Music
The Cleveland Institute of Music is an independent music conservatory located in the University Circle district of Cleveland, Ohio, United States and is overseen by president Joel Smirnoff and Adrian Daly, dean....
, graduating with a B.M. degree in 1950, and obtaining an M.M. in 1952. There, his instructors included Marcel Dick (composition), Ward Lewis (theory), Dorothy Price
Dorothy Price
Dorothy Stopfort Price was an Irish doctor who made a great contribution to the elimination of childhood tuberculosis in Ireland.-References:...
(piano), and Robert U. Nelson (calligraphy). In 1953 his opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
Blood Wedding premiered in Cleveland.
He moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1958 and taught at C. W. Post College
Long Island University C.W. Post Campus
The C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University is a private institution of higher education located in Brookville in Nassau County, New York, United States...
on Long Island, New York until 1970. He later taught at the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
.
His awards include the first composition prize of BMI Student Composer Awards sponsored by Broadcast Music, Inc.
Broadcast Music Incorporated
Broadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
(1952), the Cleveland Arts Prize (1973), and membership in the American Academy of Arts and Letters (1988).
He received an honorary doctorate from the Cleveland Institute of Music in 1988.
Smith died on November 24, 2009, from the complications of a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
, in Freeport
Freeport, New York
Freeport is a village in the town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, USA, on the South Shore of Long Island. The population was 42,860 at the 2010 census. A settlement since the 1640s, it was once an oystering community and later a resort popular with the New York City theater community...
, Long Island, New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, at age 84.