Composers
John Wesley Work, III
1901 - 1967About
John Wesley Work, III was educated at Fisk University and received his Masters degree from Columbia University. He also attended Yale University. Work taught at Fisk from 1926-1966, as theory professor, chairman of the Fisk University Department of Music, composer and Director of the Fisk Jubilee Singers
He composed Mandy Lou while in high school and received a prize from the Fellowship of American Composers in 1946 for The Singers, originally scored for chorus, baritone and orchestra. His compositions numbering over 100, included Soliloquy, and collections of 221 religious and secular songs.
Related Information
Biographies of Black Composers and Songwriters; Ellistine Perkins Holly, Compiler. Wm Brown Publishers, 1990.Works by John Wesley Work, III
| Title | Collection | Voice Type | Range | Poet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Mona Lisa | Voice | C#4- G5 | A. Grimke | |
| Breathe on Me Breath of God (Sacred Song For Low Voice) | Voice | C4 - E5 | Edwin Hatch | |
| Credo | Mezzo-Soprano | Bb3 - G5 | ||
| Dancing in the Sun | Voice | G4 - G5 | Howard Weedun | |
| Dusk At Sea | Voice | Eb4 - A5 | Thomas S. Jones | |
| Soliloquy | Voice | D4 - A5 | Myrtle Vorst Sheppard |
| Title | Published | Size | Solo with Ensemble | Duration Range | Level | Orchestration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yenvalou | No | Full Orchestra | Professional |
| Title | Work | Instrumentation | Level | Number of Movements | Accompanied | Size | Duration Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Little More Faith in Jesus | Organ | 1 | No | Solo | |||
| At a Certain Church | Piano | 1 | No | Solo | |||
| Big Bunch of Roses | Piano | 1 | No | Solo | |||
| Fishers Hornpipe | Piano | 1 | No | Solo | |||
| From the Deep South | Organ | 4 | No | Solo | |||
| Ring Game | Piano | 1 | No | Solo | |||
| Sassafras | Piano | 1 | No | Solo | |||
| Take Me Back | Piano | Advanced | 1 | No | Solo | ||
| Visitor from Town | Piano | 1 | No | Solo |