Arthur Cunningham

Arthur Cunningham (born Piermont, New York on November 11, 1928, died Nyack, New York on March 31, 1997) was an American composer.

Biography

Cunningham began writing music at the age of 12 to be performed with his jazz band. He attended Fisk University (BA 1951), Juilliard, (1951-1952) and Columbia University's Teachers College, attaining his Master's in 1957. The National Association of Negro Musicians gave a concert of his works in 1951. Cunningham served in the United States Army from 1955 to 1957 and wrote music for army bands, as well as for television.

Cunningham wrote seven large-scale works for the stage between 1963 and 1973, mixing many styles of popular music including jazz, gospel and rock. Some of his works are similar to, and predate, rock opera.

Stage works

• Patsy Patch and Susan’s Dream (rock musical for children; libretto by Cunningham; first performance Orangeburg, New York, 27 April 1963)
• The Beauty Part (musical show with improvised piano accompaniment; libretto by S. J. Perelman; first performance Blauvelt, New York, at Rockland County Playhouse, 13 Aug 1963)
• Violetta, 1963 (musical, based upon J. Audiberti's Le mal court)
• Ostrich Feathers (rock musical play for children; libretto by B. Brenner; first performance New York, Martinique Theatre, 16 Nov 1965)
• His Natural Grace, 1969 (rock opera, libretto by Cunningham)
• Night Song, 1973 (theatre piece, unperformed. Texts in Swahili, Gullah, and English)
• House by the Sea (libretto by Cunningham; incomplete)

References

• Wright, Josephine. "Cunningham, Arthur". The New Grove Dictionary of Opera.
• Kozinn, Allan. "Arthur Cunningham, Jazz Pianist and Roving Composer, Dies at 68". The New York Times, April 3, 1997. http://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/03/arts/arthur-cunningham-jazz-pianist-and-roving-composer-dies-at-68.html