Bill Russell (American Music)
Encyclopedia
William "Bill" Russell (February 26, 1905, Canton, Missouri
– August 9, 1992, New Orleans, Louisiana
) was an American
music historian and modernist composer.
He was born Russell William Wagner, but when he decided to become a classical music composer, he dropped his last name as it was already "taken" by Richard Wagner
.
and Henry Cowell
. Russell also influenced Cage in his emphasis of percussion. In the 1930s, predating Cage's main work, Russell's percussion works called for vernacular textures such as Jack Daniels bottles, suitcases, and Haitian drums, as well as prepared pianos, although it is not clear how specifically he wanted the piano to be prepared. One notable performance of his "Fugue for 8 percussion instruments" took place in 1933, with the ubiquitous and influential critic/writer/performer Nicholas Slonimsky conducting. The fugue was performed at Carnegie Hall
on a program that included Varèse
's iconic percussion composition "Ionisation." These performances took place under the auspices of the Pan-American Association of Composers, an organization that comprised Cowell, Ruth Crawford (Seeger), Edgard Varèse
, Slonimsky, and other luminaries of American ultramodernism. Russell, on occasion, performed other Pan-Am composers' chamber works on violin. In 1990, Russell's oeuvre was performed integrally, assisted by Cage, in New York, leading to a recording of Russell's extant works by Essential Music.
, making many recordings for his American Music Records
label and writing articles and books, including 3 essays in the milestone book, Jazzmen and the voluminous 720-page Jelly Roll Morton
scrapbook, Oh, Mister Jelly. Russell founded American Music Records
, which helped bring many forgotten New Orleans performers, including Bunk Johnson
, to public attention and was an important force in the New Orleans jazz revival of the early 1940s.
He moved to New Orleans in 1956, settling in the French Quarter
and opening a small record shop from which he also performed violin repairs.
In 1958, Russell co-founded and became the first curator of The Hogan Jazz Archive at Tulane University
.
Russell collected a large amount of material related to the history of New Orleans, early jazz, ragtime, blues, and gospel music, which he kept in his French Quarter apartment. During his life he was always willing to share access to the material with serious researchers. At his death, August 9, 1992, he left the collection to The Historic New Orleans Collection
, where it continues to be a valuable source for researchers. In his obituary, The Times
noted: "Russell was the single most influential figure in the revival of New Orleans jazz that began in the 1940s."
Bill Russell also played violin
with the New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra.
Canton, Missouri
Canton is a city in Lewis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,557 at the 2000 census. Canton is the site of Culver-Stockton College, a small liberal arts college affiliated with the Christian Church...
– August 9, 1992, New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
music historian and modernist composer.
He was born Russell William Wagner, but when he decided to become a classical music composer, he dropped his last name as it was already "taken" by Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
.
Composer
He was a leading figure in percussion music composition, influenced by his acquaintances John CageJohn Cage
John Milton Cage Jr. was an American composer, music theorist, writer, philosopher and artist. A pioneer of indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one of the leading figures of the post-war avant-garde...
and Henry Cowell
Henry Cowell
Henry Cowell was an American composer, music theorist, pianist, teacher, publisher, and impresario. His contribution to the world of music was summed up by Virgil Thomson, writing in the early 1950s:...
. Russell also influenced Cage in his emphasis of percussion. In the 1930s, predating Cage's main work, Russell's percussion works called for vernacular textures such as Jack Daniels bottles, suitcases, and Haitian drums, as well as prepared pianos, although it is not clear how specifically he wanted the piano to be prepared. One notable performance of his "Fugue for 8 percussion instruments" took place in 1933, with the ubiquitous and influential critic/writer/performer Nicholas Slonimsky conducting. The fugue was performed at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
on a program that included Varèse
Varese
Varese is a town and comune in north-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 55 km north of Milan.It is the capital of the Province of Varese. The hinterland or urban part of the city is called Varesotto.- Geography :...
's iconic percussion composition "Ionisation." These performances took place under the auspices of the Pan-American Association of Composers, an organization that comprised Cowell, Ruth Crawford (Seeger), Edgard Varèse
Edgard Varèse
Edgard Victor Achille Charles Varèse, , whose name was also spelled Edgar Varèse , was an innovative French-born composer who spent the greater part of his career in the United States....
, Slonimsky, and other luminaries of American ultramodernism. Russell, on occasion, performed other Pan-Am composers' chamber works on violin. In 1990, Russell's oeuvre was performed integrally, assisted by Cage, in New York, leading to a recording of Russell's extant works by Essential Music.
Music historian
He was also one of the leading authorities on early New Orleans jazzJazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, making many recordings for his American Music Records
American Music Records
American Music Records is a United States-based record label specializing in traditional New Orleans jazz.The label was founded by William Russell in 1944, who ran the label almost entirely by himself for most of his life...
label and writing articles and books, including 3 essays in the milestone book, Jazzmen and the voluminous 720-page Jelly Roll Morton
Jelly Roll Morton
Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe , known professionally as Jelly Roll Morton, was an American ragtime and early jazz pianist, bandleader and composer....
scrapbook, Oh, Mister Jelly. Russell founded American Music Records
American Music Records
American Music Records is a United States-based record label specializing in traditional New Orleans jazz.The label was founded by William Russell in 1944, who ran the label almost entirely by himself for most of his life...
, which helped bring many forgotten New Orleans performers, including Bunk Johnson
Bunk Johnson
Willie Gary "Bunk" Johnson was a prominent early New Orleans jazz trumpet player in the early years of the 20th century who enjoyed a revived career in the 1940s....
, to public attention and was an important force in the New Orleans jazz revival of the early 1940s.
He moved to New Orleans in 1956, settling in the French Quarter
French Quarter
The French Quarter, also known as Vieux Carré, is the oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans. When New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the city was originally centered on the French Quarter, or the Vieux Carré as it was known then...
and opening a small record shop from which he also performed violin repairs.
In 1958, Russell co-founded and became the first curator of The Hogan Jazz Archive at Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
.
Russell collected a large amount of material related to the history of New Orleans, early jazz, ragtime, blues, and gospel music, which he kept in his French Quarter apartment. During his life he was always willing to share access to the material with serious researchers. At his death, August 9, 1992, he left the collection to The Historic New Orleans Collection
The Historic New Orleans Collection
The Historic New Orleans Collection is a museum, research center, and publisher dedicated to the study and preservation of the history and culture of New Orleans and the Gulf South region of the United States. It is located in New Orleans' French Quarter. The institution was established in 1966...
, where it continues to be a valuable source for researchers. In his obituary, The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
noted: "Russell was the single most influential figure in the revival of New Orleans jazz that began in the 1940s."
Bill Russell also played violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
with the New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra.
External links
- William Russell Jazz Collection - research holdings of The Historic New Orleans Collection