Roger Lee Hall
Encyclopedia
Roger Lee Hall is an American
composer
and music preservationist.
and graduated from Bloomfield High School in 1960, where he was already involved with writing songs. He began his music career with piano
lessons and as a songwriter during the 1960s. Later he turned his attention to studying music in more depth and received his B.A. in music theory and composition from Rutgers University
in 1970. His M.A. degree was awarded from Binghamton University
in 1972. He also did Ph.D. studies at Case Western Reserve University
. During his early college years, he composed his first classical
compositions.
and he was a music instructor at Stonehill College
and the Brookline
Adult and Community Education Program where he taught both classical and popular music courses. He also conducted various church choirs and composed music for them to perform.
Since 1998, he has been involved as a film music critic and the editor of an online magazine, Film Music Review. He is a member of the International Film Music Critics Association
. In addition, he has been a lecturer and consultant on various topics concerning music of the United States
.
As a longtime music preservationist, Hall has helped preserve music of the Shakers
and other music from earlier America. He has written over twenty-five publications, including music guides on Christmas music
in America, George Gershwin
, Shaker music, Film music, and Old-time radio. In addition, he has written several memoirs about his songwriting years, and he has written and produced a series of multi-media books with audio and video features.
In 1971, he began studying Shaker music and has become an authority on the subject, especially the Shaker song, Simple Gifts
. He compiled and edited numerous Shaker songs and hymns for a series in a national magazine on Shaker culture and has edited and arranged over one hundred Shaker spirituals and published many of them in music collections and on CDs.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Hall was Vice-President, Historian and Conductor of the Old Stoughton Musical Society
, the oldest choral
society in the United States. He has published several monographs and music collections about this choral society, including a monograph
about Stoughton composer, Edwin Arthur Jones
. With his interest in community music, he has produced and hosted several cable television series. He has been a frequent guest on radio programs and hosted his own radio program, "IN THE MOOD," playing music of the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s.
In 2006, he became the moderator of an extensive site devoted to preservation of American music. He is also Director of the American Music Recordings Collection (AMRC), a large archive of vintage recordings, and Director of the New England Music Archive (NEMA) which specializes in rarely heard music.
Hall has been listed in various directories; including International Who's Who in Music
, Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the World.
For solo voice and piano
For unaccompanied chorus
For chorus and piano or organ
People of the United States
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and music preservationist.
Personal
Hall grew up in New JerseyNew Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and graduated from Bloomfield High School in 1960, where he was already involved with writing songs. He began his music career with piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
lessons and as a songwriter during the 1960s. Later he turned his attention to studying music in more depth and received his B.A. in music theory and composition from Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
in 1970. His M.A. degree was awarded from Binghamton University
Binghamton University
Binghamton University, also formally called State University of New York at Binghamton, , is a public research university in the State of New York. The University is one of the four university centers in the State University of New York system...
in 1972. He also did Ph.D. studies at Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA...
. During his early college years, he composed his first classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
compositions.
Work
In 1977 he moved to MassachusettsMassachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
and he was a music instructor at Stonehill College
Stonehill College
Stonehill College is a private Roman Catholic college located in Easton, Massachusetts, United States, founded in 1948. Situated in North Easton, Massachusetts, a suburban community of 23,329 people, Stonehill is located south of Boston on a campus, the original estate of Frederick Lothrop Ames...
and the Brookline
Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, which borders on the cities of Boston and Newton. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 58,732.-Etymology:...
Adult and Community Education Program where he taught both classical and popular music courses. He also conducted various church choirs and composed music for them to perform.
Since 1998, he has been involved as a film music critic and the editor of an online magazine, Film Music Review. He is a member of the International Film Music Critics Association
International Film Music Critics Association
The International Film Music Critics Association is a professional association for online, print and radio journalists who specialize in writing about original film and television music.-History and purpose:...
. In addition, he has been a lecturer and consultant on various topics concerning music of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
As a longtime music preservationist, Hall has helped preserve music of the Shakers
Shakers
The United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, known as the Shakers, is a religious sect originally thought to be a development of the Religious Society of Friends...
and other music from earlier America. He has written over twenty-five publications, including music guides on Christmas music
Christmas music
Christmas music comprises a variety of genres of music normally performed or heard around the Christmas season, which tends to begin in the months leading up the actual holiday and end in the weeks shortly thereafter.-Early:...
in America, George Gershwin
George Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
, Shaker music, Film music, and Old-time radio. In addition, he has written several memoirs about his songwriting years, and he has written and produced a series of multi-media books with audio and video features.
In 1971, he began studying Shaker music and has become an authority on the subject, especially the Shaker song, Simple Gifts
Simple Gifts
"Simple Gifts" is a Shaker song written and composed in 1848 by Elder Joseph Brackett.It has endured many inaccurate descriptions. Though often classified as an anonymous Shaker hymn or as a work song, it is better classified as a dance song.-Lyrics:...
. He compiled and edited numerous Shaker songs and hymns for a series in a national magazine on Shaker culture and has edited and arranged over one hundred Shaker spirituals and published many of them in music collections and on CDs.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Hall was Vice-President, Historian and Conductor of the Old Stoughton Musical Society
Stoughton Musical Society
Organized in 1786, this is currently America's oldest choral society. Over the past two centuries it has had many distinguished accomplishments. In 1908, when incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the name was changed to Old Stoughton Musical Society...
, the oldest choral
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
society in the United States. He has published several monographs and music collections about this choral society, including a monograph
Monograph
A monograph is a work of writing upon a single subject, usually by a single author.It is often a scholarly essay or learned treatise, and may be released in the manner of a book or journal article. It is by definition a single document that forms a complete text in itself...
about Stoughton composer, Edwin Arthur Jones
Edwin Arthur Jones
Edwin Arthur Jones, was an American composer. He was called "one modest man who knows the power of music" by Edward Everett Hale, author of The Man Without a Country. This modest man, from a rural Massachusetts town about 20 miles south of Boston, composed some very significant works...
. With his interest in community music, he has produced and hosted several cable television series. He has been a frequent guest on radio programs and hosted his own radio program, "IN THE MOOD," playing music of the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s.
In 2006, he became the moderator of an extensive site devoted to preservation of American music. He is also Director of the American Music Recordings Collection (AMRC), a large archive of vintage recordings, and Director of the New England Music Archive (NEMA) which specializes in rarely heard music.
Hall has been listed in various directories; including International Who's Who in Music
International Who's Who in Music
The International Who's Who in Music is a biographical dictionary and directory originally published by the International Biographical Centre located in Cambridge, England. It contains only biographies of persons living at the time of publication and includes composers, performers, writers, and...
, Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the World.
Selected music
For various ensembles- Piano Variations,
- Op. 1a - on an Oriental theme (1968)
- Op. 1b - on a Shaker marching tune (1971)
- Three Organ Preludes, Op. 5 (1970–1972)
- Tricinium for flute, oboe and bassoon, Op. 6 (1972)
- Six Carols for Christmastime for two recorders, Op. 13 (1983)
- A Little Theatre Music for solo flute, op. 22 (1990)
- Three Shaker Songs for string quartet, Op. 23 (1990)
For solo voice and piano
- six haiku songs, Op. 3 (1970)
- Bellamy's Musical Telephone, Op. 19 (1988)
- Credo: Walt Whitman, Op. 24 (1992)
For unaccompanied chorus
- Two Shaker Humility Songs, Op. 7 (1976): "Gentle Words" and "Love is Little"
- Season's End - Four songs for SATB chorus, Op. 10 (1979)
- The Pleasures of Variety – Homage to William Billings, Op. 11 (1980)
- Two Russian Songs, Op. 18 (1988)
- Two Old Stoughton Songs, Op. 21 (1990): "Come, Gentle Peace" and "Dedication"
For chorus and piano or organ
- Nine Carols for Advent and Christmas, Op. 9 (1979)
- Three Choral Responses based on themes by J.S. Bach, Op. 15 (1985)
- Four Commemorative Songs, Op. 17 (1989)
- Creator God, We Give You Thanks, Op. 25 (1993)
- Simple Gifts - Shaker Dance Song, Op. 28 (1998)