Eva Jessye

Resource id #76

Eva Jessye

Eva Jessye (January 20, 1895 – February 21, 1992) was an American conductor who was the first black woman to receive international distinction as a professional choral conductor. She is notable as a choral conductor during the Harlem Renaissance. She created her own choral group which featured widely in performance. Her professional influence extended for decades through her teaching as well. Her accomplishments in this field were historic for any woman. She collaborated in productions of groundbreaking works, directing her choir and working with Virgil Thomson and Gertrude Stein on Four Saints in Three Acts (1933), and serving as musical director with George Gershwin on his innovative opera Porgy and Bess (1935).

Birth and Death Data: Born January 20, 1895 (Coffeyville), Died February 21, 1992 (Ann Arbor)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1926 - 1930

Roles Represented in DAHR: arranger, director, composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Columbia	W149144	10-in.	10/15/1929	Po' mourner	Four Dusty Travelers	Male vocal quartet, with piano	director
Columbia	W149145	10-in.	10/15/1929	Me an' mah pardner	Four Dusty Travelers	Male vocal quartet, with piano	director
Columbia	W149656	10-in.	11/29/1929	March down to Jordan	Four Dusty Travelers	Male vocal quartet, with piano	composer, director
Columbia	W150011	10-in.	2/24/1930	Adam and Eve (In the garden)	Aunt Mandy's Chillun	Mixed vocal ensemble	arranger
Columbia	W150012	10-in.	2/24/1930	Adam and Eve (In the garden)	Aunt Mandy's Chillun	Mixed vocal ensemble	arranger
Brunswick	E18563-E18566	10-in.	3/25/1926	Climbin’ up the mountain, children	Dixie Jubilee Quintet	Male vocal quintet	arranger
Brunswick	E19281-E19283	10-in.	5/15/1926	So I can write my name	Dixie Jubilee Quartet	Male vocal ensemble	arranger
Brunswick	E19284-E19286	10-in.	5/15/1926	Stand steady	Dixie Jubilee Quartet	Male vocal ensemble	arranger

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Jessye, Eva," accessed November 18, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/105698.

Jessye, Eva. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 18, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/105698.

"Jessye, Eva." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 18 November 2024.