Esther Ballou Explained

Biography and Career

Esther Williamson Ballou (17 July 1915 – 12 March 1973) was an American composer, music educator, organist, pianist, and accompanist. She was born in Elmira, New York, and died in Chichester, England.[1] Ballou began piano lessons at 4 years old, organ lessons at age 13, and began composing in her twenties. At 14, she performed a piano concerto with the Elmira Symphony Orchestra, and two years prior won first prize through the state of New York for her piano playing.[2]

She graduated from Bennington College in 1937 with a Bachelor of Arts, Mills College in 1938 with a Master of Arts, and The Juilliard School of Music in 1943 for a graduate fellowship.[3] At Bennington, located in Vermont, she took composition lessons with Otto Luening. At Juliard, located in New York City, she studied composition with Bernard Wagenaar and privately from Wallingford Riegger.[4]

During her time at Bennington College, Ballou fostered a musical interest in Modern Dance and Ballet, and began composing music. While a student there, she composed two ballets, Earth Sage for Louise Kloepper, and Lysistrata for José Limón. Until 1942, she toured the United States with multiple dance troupes as an accompanist and composer, including for Marion Van Tuyl's dance group. She won fellowships to the MacDowell Colony in 1944, 1945, 1954, and 1955. She also participated in the Middlebury Composer's Conference and the Bennington Composer's Conference as a member of the composer's staff.

Ballou taught at the Juilliard School from 1943–50, at Catholic University from 1951–54, and at American University from 1955–72. Her performing career as an organist was shortened by arthritis.

In 1963, her Capriccio for Violin and Piano was the first work by an American woman composer to premiere at the White House.[5] [6]

Ballou describes her music as ‘tending towards classicism in that it stresses clarity of design and directness of expression’.

The American University's Library Archives hold the Esther Williamson Ballou Papers, which is an archive that "consist of [her] audiotapes, biographical materials, correspondence (1935-1980), writings and compositions (1936-1972), photographs, programs, and teaching materials." There are also photocopies of several of her manuscripts at the New York Public Library Archives.[7]

Family

After completing her education, she married Harold Ballou in August 1950 and moved to Washington, DC. Her parents were E. Duff and Marbury Clark Williamson.

Works

Ballou composed orchestra, chamber, organ, piano and vocal music. Several of her works were published by ACA. Pieces listed as "Completed Scores and Parts, Sketches" in the Esther Williamson Ballou Paper's include:

Analyses:

She published a textbook:

References

[9]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Sadie . Julie Anne . The Norton/Grove dictionary of women composers . Samuel . Rhian . W. W. Norton & Company . 1994 . 9780393034875 . 22 January 2011.
  2. Web site: Ringenwald . Richard Donald . 1960 . The Music of Esther Williamson Ballou: An Analytical Study . 29 October 2024 . ProQuest . . en.
  3. Book: Unsung: a history of women in American music. Ammer, Christine. 2001.
  4. Web site: Heintze . James R. . 20 January 2001 . Ballou, Esther . 2024-10-29 . Grove Music Online . en . 10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.01911.
  5. Web site: Esther Williamson Ballou Papers . 22 January 2011 . American University.
  6. Book: A Guide to Piano Music by Women Composers: Women born after 1900. Dees, Pamela Youngdahl. 2004.
  7. Web site: American Music Center collection of published scores, 1900-2001 . 2024-10-29 . New York Public Library - Archives and Manuscripts.
  8. Web site: Kimball . Tyler J. . May 2019 . Dancing Winds: The Dance Rhythms of Esther Williamson Ballou's 'Suite for Winds' . 29 October 2024 . ProQuest. .
  9. Web site: Esther Ballou . 29 October 2024 . Wind Repertory Project.

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