Arthur Cunningham


Arthur Cunningham was an American composer and educator. His students included singer Kate Davidson, producer/engineer Peter Francovilla, pianist John Ellis, and Berklee Press editor-in-chief Jonathan Feist.

Biography

Cunningham began composing music at the age of 12, which he performed with his jazz band. He attended Fisk University, Juilliard, and Columbia University's Teachers College and received a master’s degree in 1957. In 1951, the National Association of Negro Musicians held a concert of his works. Cunningham served in the United States Army from 1955 to 1957 and composed music for army bands and television.
Between 1963 and 1973, Cunningham wrote seven large-scale stage works in popular genres such as jazz, gospel, and rock. Some of his compositions resemble what would become the rock opera genre.

Musical Compositions and Stage works

  • Patsy Patch and Susan’s Dream
  • The Beauty Part
  • Violetta
  • Ostrich Feathers
  • Concentrics
  • His Natural Grace
  • Honey Brown. From Cunningham's forward: "The jubilee song is the unique invention of the black American and has accurately reflected his life experience for over a hundred years. It is my wish to continue that tradition and spirit of the jubilee song and to extend its boundaries to include contemporary compositional techniques."
  • Night Song
  • ''House by the Sea''