Wendell Logan

Wendell Morris Logan (November 24, 1940 – June 15, 2010), was an American jazz and concert music composer who created the jazz department at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.

Biography

Wendell Logan was born in Thomson, Georgia on November 24, 1940. His first musical studies were with his father, an amateur alto saxophonist. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in music in 1962 from the historically black Florida A&M University, which he had attended on a football scholarship. He earned a master's degree in music in 1964 from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and was awarded a Ph.D. in music theory and composition in 1968 from the University of Iowa.

After graduating from college, Logan served on the faculties of Ball State University, Florida A&M University and Western Illinois University, before joining the faculty of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in 1973, where he eventually become chairman of the jazz studies department and professor of African-American music. When Logan first arrived at Oberlin, jazz was exclusively an extracurricular activity. Dr. Logan began teaching jazz music shortly after joining Oberlin, forming the Oberlin Jazz Ensemble in 1973.

In addition to playing soprano saxophone and trumpet, Logan composed both jazz and concert music. Among his concert works are the 1989 "Runagate, Runagate" based on a poem by Robert Hayden about a fugitive slave and "Doxology Opera: The Doxy Canticles" in 2001 which features a libretto by Paul Carter Harrison. Logan's music has been recorded on Orion Records and other labels.

He was selected for a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1991.

Orchestral

Concert Music (1963) Polyphony I (1968) Orbits, sym. band (1982) The Drum Major: in memoriam Dr M.L. King (1983) Ibo Landing (1994–5)

Vocal

What time is it? for soprano and piano (1967) Songs of our Time for SATB and chamber ensemble (1969) 3 Fragments (K. Patchen) for soprano, clarinet, piano, percussion (1974) Ice and Fire (M. Evans), song cycle for soprano, baritone, and piano (1975) Malcolm, Malcolm for SATB and tape (1976) Hughes Set (L. Hughes) for TTB and percussion (1978) Dream Boogie for voice and piano (1979) Sling Along (J.W. Johnson) for baritone (1982) Runagate, Runagate for tenor, flute, clarinet, piano, violin, and violoncello (1990) Runagate, Runagate for tenor and orchestra (1993–1994) My Lord What a Morning for SATB (1988) Variations on Doo-Wah for TTBB (1988)

Chamber and solo instrumental

Ww Qnt (1964) Stanza for 3 Players for flute, violoncello, and piano (1967) Evocation, harmonica, tape, (1973) Music for Brass for brass quintet (1976) Song of the Witchdoktor for flute, violoncello, piano, and percussion (1976) 3 Pieces for violin and piano (1977) Duo Exchanges for clarinet and percussion (1978) To Mingus for vibraphone (1979) Praeludium for wind ensemble (1983) 4 Miniatures for saxophone (1985) Children's Pieces (1989) Roots, Branches, Shapes and Shades (of Green) for piano and chamber orchestra (1991) Moments for alto flute, piccolo, clarinet and bass clarinet, piano, percussion, violin, and violoncello (1992)

Multimedia

From Hell to Breakfast for jazz quintet, speakers, lights, tape (1973) Noah (A Jazz Cant.) for narrator, chorus, dancers, jazz quintet, tape (1983) Return of the Collard People for dancers, tape (1988)