Composers
John Carter
1932 - 1981About
John Carter (1932-1981), African-American pianist and composer, is widely recognized for his Cantata for voice and piano (also arranged for voice and orchestra), Carter’s only published work. In his youth, John Carter studied at Florida A&M university, enrolled as a ‘special’ student, to study under Johnnie V. Lee. He attended Oberlin College, where he studied under Jack Radunsky, in the same studio as Leslie Adams. However, Carter did not finish his degree and instead served in the US Army. While enlisted, he won a piano competition that led to his emergence as a concert pianist where he toured and performed with various artists such as William Warfield, but not before he studied under Olga Stroumillo. In 1966-67, Carter studied with Carlos Surinach, who recommended him for the composer-in-residency post with Rockefeller Foundation, the last of his known achievements John Carter’s works works include Cantata; Epigrams (ballet); Requiem Seditiosam; In Memoriam, Medgar Evers for orchestra; Valses Pour Les Danseurs Noirs (Waltzes for Black Dancers and piano); Saetas Profanas; Japanese Poems; Emblemes for violin; Piano Concerto and others.
Related Information
https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/handle/2142/42264
Works by John Carter
| Title | Collection | Voice Type | Range | Poet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air: (Let us Break Bread Together) | Cantata | Voice | Eb4 - Ab5 | Biblical |
| Prelude | Cantata | |||
| Recit: (Sometimes I feel like a Motherless Child) | Cantata | Voice | C4 - G5 | Biblical |
| Rondo: (Peter Go Ring Dem Bells) | Cantata | Voice | E4 - B5 | Biblical |
| Toccata: (Ride on King Jesus) | Cantata | Voice | C4 - Ab5 | Biblical |
| Title | Published | Size | Solo with Ensemble | Duration Range | Level | Orchestration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Requiem Seditiosam: In Memory of Medgar Evers | Yes | Full Orchestra | Bass Baritone | Professional |