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Edmund Jenkins

1894 – 1926

American composer

Composer Director of bandsTeacher
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About Edmund Jenkins

Lived 1894 – 1926 (aged 31–32). Edmund Jenkins was an American composer, director of bands and teacher.

Edmund Thornton Jenkins (1894–1926) was an American composer who spent much of his life in Europe.

Biography Charleston Jenkins was born in Charleston, South Carolina where his Baptist-minister father, Reverend Daniel Joseph Jenkins, had set up and run the Jenkins Orphanage, which became internationally well-known for its wind band. Edmund Jenkins studied clarinet, piano and violin at the Atlanta Baptist College (now Morehouse College), and played in and directed the Jenkins Orphanage Band.

London In 1914 the orphanage band travelled to England to perform at the Anglo-American Exposition in London. Edmund remained in London where, aged 20, he enrolled at the Royal Academy of Music (RAM) to study clarinet, piano, singing and composition. At the RAM he was awarded an orchestral scholarship (1915–17), prizes for singing, clarinet and piano playing, the Charles Lucas prize for composition (1918), Battison Haynes prize for composition (1918) and the Ross Scholarship (1919–21). On leaving the RAM he was made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music. While in London Edmund Jenkins worked as an orchestral musician in theatre orchestras and dance bands resulting in his participation in a number of recordings.

Works

Chamber ensemble (n.d.) Chanson; violin and piano (n.d.) Commodo quasi allegro (poco martial); piano and solo instrument (1919) Slow movement and rondo [Lento ma non troppo ]; woodwind quartet (1925) The Saxophone Strut; saxophone and piano (1926) Sonata in A minor; violin [cello?] and piano

Opera 1924 Operetta: Afram, ou La Belle Swita, Roman Africain

Orchestral works (n.d.) Allegro strepitoso (n.d.) Andante, with solo clarinet and solo cello (n.d.) Ballet: Processional; Pas Seul; Danse Generale (n.d.) Concerto; for clarinet (n.d.) Rhapsody on American Folk Tunes) (n.d.) Rhapsodic Overture (1917) Prélude Religieuse, with organ (1918) Romance, with solo violin (1925) African War Dance (1917?/1925) [Folk?] Rhapsody No. 1: Charlestonia, op. 12 (1917/1926) Folk Rhapsody No 2: Rhapsodie spirituelle ' (1926) Symphony, op. 12

Organ (1917?/1926) Prélude Religieux

Piano (n.d.) The Cabaret Brawl, or Double-crossing the Stool Pigeon (n.d.) Characteristic American Indian Dances (n.d.) Negro Symphonie Dramatique. Scenes de la Vie d’un Esclave (1920/1925) Spring Fancies

Songs with orchestra (1916) Love’s Hour (1917) How Sweet is Life (1925) That place called Italie [sic] (1926?) A Prayer

with piano (n.d.) I want You Near Me (n.d.) Je te desire pres de moi; fox-trot' (n.d.) Jungle Blues; fox-trot (n.d.) Kiss Baby Good Night (n.d.) The Lilac Tree (n.d.) Pampa Blues (n.d.) 'Si je vous dis, je vous aime (n.d.) Through the Metidja to Abd-el-Kadr (n.d.) Trying (n.d.) Your Voice I Hear (1910) Baby Darling, Baby Mine (1916) Love's Hour (1917) A Romance (1917) Doubting (1917) The Fiddler's Fiddle (1925) Amber Eyes (1925) If I Were to Tell You I Love You (1925) Three Songs: Doubting; A Romance; The Fiddler’s Fiddle (1926) A Preyer (1926) That Place Called Italy

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Important facts

Birth century
Died
1926, Paris
Nationality
Education
Royal Academy of Music, Morehouse College, Avery Normal Institute
Also known as
Edmund Thornton Jenkins

People in Edmund Jenkins's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Edmund Jenkins's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Edmund Jenkins?

American composer

When was Edmund Jenkins born?

Edmund Jenkins was born on 9 April 1894 in Charleston.

When did Edmund Jenkins die?

Edmund Jenkins died in 1926 in Paris.

What was Edmund Jenkins's occupation?

Edmund Jenkins was a composer, director of bands and teacher.

What nationality was Edmund Jenkins?

Edmund Jenkins was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Edmund Jenkins

· Wikidata: Q5339587

· DBpedia: Edmund Jenkins

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Edmund Jenkins. https://biography.guide/edmund-jenkins/

MLA: "Edmund Jenkins." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/edmund-jenkins/.

Chicago: "Edmund Jenkins." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/edmund-jenkins/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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