Dunn, James Philip

Dunn, James Philip, American organist, teacher, and composer; b. N.Y., Jan. 10, 1884; d. Jersey City, N.J., July 24, 1936. He studied at the Coll. of the City of N.Y. (B.A., 1903) and with MacDowell, Leonard McWhood, and Rybner at Columbia Univ. (M.A., 1905). He was active as an organist in Catholic churches in N.Y. and Jersey City, and also devoted time to teaching and writing on music.

Works

DRAMATIC The Galleon (1918); Lyric Scenes (n.d.). ORCH.: Lovesight, symphonic poem (1919); The Confessions of St. Augustine (1925); Overture on Negro Themes (1925); We, tone poem commemorating Lindbergh’s transatlantic flight (NY., Aug. 27, 1927); Sym. (1929); The Barber’s Six Brothers: Passacaglia and Theme Fugatum (1930); Choral (1930). CHAMBER: Piano Quintet (1910); Violin Sonata (1912); Piano Trio (1913); 2 string quartets (1913); Variations for Violin and Piano (1915); much piano and organ music. VOCAL: Annabel Lee for Voice and Orch. (1913); The Phantom Drum, cantata for Soloists, Women’s Voices, and Orch. (1918); It was a lover and his lass for Women’s Chorus and Orch. (1918); The Music of Spring for Women’s Voices and Piano or Orch. (1918); Marquesan Isle for Women’s Voices and Piano (1923; also for Voices and Orch. or Jazz Band, 1924); Song of the Night for Chorus (1923); Salve Regina for Women’s Chorus (1924); part songs; solo songs.

Bibliography

J. Howard, Studies of Contemporary American Composers: J.P. D. (N.Y, 1925).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire