Zenobia Powell Perry (1908-2004)
About the Composer
Zenobia Powell Perry (1908–2004) was an American composer, pianist, and educator whose music combines lyrical expression with a deep appreciation for African American musical traditions. Born in Boley, Oklahoma—one of the nation’s oldest historically Black towns—she met Booker T. Washington as a young girl before later studying with Robert Nathaniel Dett, William Levi Dawson, and Darius Milhaud. These formative experiences connected her to a remarkable lineage of African American education and musical leadership that would shape both her career and her artistic voice.
Perry devoted her life not only to music but also to education and social justice. She taught for many years at historically Black colleges and universities, joined the NAACP during the Civil Rights Movement, and believed deeply in expanding opportunities for future generations of Black musicians. Her compositions include piano music, chamber music, orchestral works, vocal music, and opera, often drawing inspiration from spirituals, folk traditions, and the cultural experiences that shaped her own life.
Today, Perry is increasingly recognized as an important voice in twentieth-century American music. Her works reflect a lifetime of artistic integrity, mentorship, and service, carrying forward a rich musical legacy while speaking with a voice that is unmistakably her own.
About the Piece
Homage to William Levi Dawson was composed in 1990 to celebrate the ninetieth birthday of one of Zenobia Powell Perry’s most influential teachers. At the heart of the work is the African American spiritual I’ve Been ‘Buked and I’ve Been Scorned, a melody that Dawson particularly loved. By building the piece around a spiritual that held deep personal meaning for her mentor, Perry created a tribute that honors both Dawson himself and the musical tradition that shaped them both.
The piece begins with this melody alone, unaccompanied, before Perry gradually develops it through a series of contrasting episodes, exploring a wide range of moods and textures while continually returning to the expressive character of her opening idea. The result is a work that feels both deeply personal and firmly rooted in a shared musical heritage.
More than a tribute to a beloved mentor, Homage to William Levi Dawson reflects the enduring power of artistic lineage. It reminds us that influence is not measured by imitation, but by the ability to carry cherished traditions forward while creating something entirely new.
Explore Further
- Zenobia Powell Perry Memorial Website (Jeannie Gayle Pool)
- Hidden Voices: Zenobia Powell Perry (University of Colorado Boulder)
Sheet Music
Homage to William Levi Dawson appears in the outstanding volume Black Women Composers: A Century of Piano Music.
Myriad Voices 