The following is a guest post by Music Cataloger Laura Yust, who recently researched composer Johanna Beyer in a seminar about American Modernist composers. Laura is pursuing her M.A. in Musicology at The Catholic University of America.
Many people know of the composer Henry Cowell and his innovative compositions, but the name Johanna Magdalena Beyer does not ring with the same level of familiarity. Beyer (1888-1944) was also a member of the group of modernist composers active in New York during the 1930s. A pioneer in her own right, Beyer was one of the first composers to write for percussion ensemble and experiment with electronic music. She studied composition with both Charles Seeger and Ruth Crawford, both of whom influenced much of Beyer’s music with their interest in dissonant counterpoint. In studying with Henry Cowell at the New School for Social Research, Beyer developed a friendship with Cowell – one that turned out to be important for both composers.
Several collections in the Music Division of the Library of Congress document and shed light on the various activities and efforts Beyer pursued on behalf of Cowell and his career. The Percy Grainger Collection (available on microfilm in the Music Division) contains many letters from Beyer to Grainger, as well as one from Cowell to Beyer. The letters in the Fabian Sevitsky-Johanna Beyer Correspondence detail many of Beyer’s activities and negotiations concerning performances of Cowell’s music. In addition, the Serge Koussevitzky Collection contains correspondence from Beyer, Beyer’s CV, and an outline and work plan of her opera Status Quo. Some of the letters in the collection reveal a feisty personality, exemplified in one letter where Beyer scolds Koussevitzky: “I have sent you some very fine scores and a few letters, yet there has not been any response from you! Henry Cowell is not only a great composer, but also an outstanding human being, he above all deserves to get a break.” By examining these materials, we are able to form an image of an intensely devoted friend who was determined to support Cowell’s career, perhaps at the expense of her own.
Beyer was regarded in her limited musical community as an accomplished musician and composer, although her talent and career never achieved far-reaching recognition or praise in her own time. Beyer died at 55 years of age after suffering from ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) and her music was neglected for many years thereafter. Recent publications of Beyer’s modernist works have brought more attention to the composer, and several sound recordings now exist. I encourage you to read more articles and essays about this fascinating yet forgotten composer.
Comments (10)
I would like to receive a copy of “Suite” for oboe and viola by Johanna Beyer, to play in concert.
Ulrich v. Wrochem
ex- principal viola
Teatro alla Scala Milan
Thanks for your question, Ulrich. I had trouble locating a reference to a Beyer Suite for oboe and viola using the catalogs and databases available to me in the Performing Arts Reading Room, so I checked in with Laura. She also hasn’t heard of this particular piece, but Laura suggests contacting either New York Public Library where all of Beyer’s papers are located or Larry Polansky of Frog Peak Press because he is systematically publishing her works and might know something about it (see the link Laura added at the end of her post).
Cait
Am trying to reach Ulrich Von Wrochem who commented here not too long ago. Please send your new contact address or email.
Hello,
Thank you for sharing this.
Does anyone know any link to Johanna Beyer’s poems?
“Total Eclipse”(1932), Universal-Local”(1932) and “To Be”(1934)
Thank you.
Thanks for your question, Diana. To reach a reference librarian, send us an email using the Ask A Librarian online form at http://www.loc.gov/rr/askalib/ask-perform2.html?loclr=blogmus
I would like to obtain scores to Beyer’s two pieces for wind band: Reverence and Elation, both from 1938. How might I go about obtaining these?
Dr. Andrew Trachsel
Director of Bands
Ohio University
Thanks for your interest in our collections, Dr. Trachsel! You can start a conversation with one of our reference librarians by submitting your question via our Ask a Librarian link: http://www.loc.gov/rr/askalib/ask-perform2.html
Cait, quite recently I found a difficult and partially not to read reproduction of Johanna Beyers Suite for Clarinet and Bassoon online. The piece looks amazing! Do you have access to the original manuscript which might be better readable or even an edited version? Thanks Stefan
Hi Stedfan, so glad you found your way to Beyer’s music! We don’t have the manuscript at the Library of Congress, but New York Public Library holds a collection of her manuscripts on microfilm. Read more about NYPL’s Johanna Magdalena Beyer scores and reach out to one of their librarians to learn more about access (click on “Contact” in the upper right corner of the webpage). Let us know if have more questions for us!