Roger Donald Dickerson (born August 24, 1934) is a New Orleans pianist, composer, and educator.[1]

Biography

Coming from a musical family, Dickerson began piano lessons at 8 years old. In elementary school he played the French horn, baritone and tuba. His experience playing brass instruments continued in college where he played trombone.[2] From a young age, Dickerson was interested in, and influenced by the music of the French Quarter.[2] At 15 Dickerson played in a popular music band called "Roger Dickerson and his Groovy Boys", which played high schools and community centres in his neighbourhood; showing the influence of current New Orleans musical culture.[2] Wallace Davenport, a jazz trumpeter, versed in styes ranging from traditional jazz to bebop,[1] was Dickerson's uncle.[1] From Wallace, Dickerson got his first introductions to harmony, counterpoint and orchestration.[3][1] After high school, Dickerson studied music at Dillard University earning his Bachelor of Music in 1955, then a Master's degree in music from Indiana University in 1957 where he studied with Bernhard Heiden.[1][2][3]

After finishing his Master's degree, Dickerson joined the United States Army. While in the Army, he played in service bands around Europe.[2] After two years in the Army, Dickerson was able to travel to Vienna on a Fulbright Scholarship, where he studied music with Karl Schiske and Alfred Uhl.[4][2][1] In 1965 he was elected to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Dickerson has received notable commissions, including a series of concert pieces commissioned by the Rockefeller Foundation in 1972,[4] and his New Orleans Concerto, commissioned in 1976 by the New Orlean's Centennial Commission.[2] This concerto serves as the focal point of the 1978 PBS documentary New Orleans Concerto.[3]

Dickerson is a professor emeritus at Southern University of New Orleans (SUNO). There he was the University Choir Director and Music Coordinator.[5] Along with elements of New Orleans culture,[2] Dickerson's work shows the influence of Jazz and Blues music.[3]

Work list

Orchestral

  • Concert Overture (1957)
  • Essay, band (1958)
  • Fugue 'n' Blues, jazz orchestra (1959)
  • A Musical Service for Louis (1972)
  • Orpheus an' His Slide Trombone (J. Greenberg), 1974–1975)
  • New Orleans Concerto, for piano & orchestra (1976)

Vocal

  • Fair Dillard (J. N. Barnum), SATB (1955)
  • Music I Heard (C. Aiken), for soprano & piano (1956)
  • The Negro Speaks of Rivers (L. Hughes), for soprano & piano (1961)
  • Ps xlix, SATB, timpani (1979)
  • African-American Celebration (Dickerson), SATB (1984)
  • Beyond Silence (Dickerson), for soprano, baritone, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani & organ (1986)

Chamber and solo instrumental

  • Prekussion, percussion ensemble (1954)
  • Music for Brass, 2 trumpets, trombone (1955)
  • Woodwind Trio (1955)
  • Das neugeborne Kindelein, chorale prelude, organ (1956)
  • Sonatina, piano (1956)
  • String Quartet (1956)
  • Music for String Trio (1957)
  • Scene, horn, string quartet (1959)
  • Movement, trumpet, piano (1960)
  • Sonata, clarinet, piano (1960)
  • Wind Quintet (1961)
  • Concert Pieces for Beginning String Players (1972)
  • Expressions, violin, piano (1983)
  • Incantation, violin, piano (1983)
  • Fanfare, 2 trumpets, timpani (1991)

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Wyatt, Lucius R. (2001). Dickerson, Roger Donald. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.48279.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 James E. Hinton. (1977) "New Orleans Concerto". Funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the National Endowment for the Humanities. [Video]. url: https://vimeo.com/201343362. Accessed February 12, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Roger Donald Dickerson (Composer) – Short Biography". www.bach-cantatas.com. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  4. 1 2 "Roger Dickerson". African American Art Song Alliance. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  5. ↑ "Roger Dickerson". Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong Jazz Camp. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
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