Adams, Leslie, 1932-

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H. Leslie Adams, Jr. (b. December 30, 1932) is an important African American composer, teacher and conductor. Born in Cleveland, Ohio to Harrison L. Adams, Sr. and Jessie Adams, Leslie received his early musical training in Cleveland from Dorothy Smith and Mina Eichenbaum. Adams attended Oberlin College (1951-55) to pursue a degree in Music Education. There he studied composition under Herbert Elwell and Joseph Wood. After completing his degree, Adams traveled to New York City to work as a composer, teacher and accompanist (1957-63). He received a Masters in Music from California State University at Long Beach (1965-1967). After completing the degree, Adams became a professor in Florida before beginning his Doctoral Degree from Ohio State University (1969-1971). Even before Adams completed his degree at Ohio State, he became an Associate Professor of Music and Director of the University Concert Choir at the University of Kansas (1970-1979). There he taught courses in music education.

After teaching several years at the University of Kansas, Adams went on sabbatical to focus on his compositions and did not return to the University, but rather became a free-lance composer. Adams moved back to Cleveland to compose after spending a residency at the Rockefeller Foundation's Study and Conference Center in Bellagio, Italy. During his career as a composer, several orchestras and ensembles commissioned Adams to compose pieces, including the Cleveland Orchestra for which he wrote, Western Adventure. Along with spending time composing, Adams became an important contributor to the Cleveland public schools by participating in programs to promote the arts.

As a way to promote his work, Adams formed Accord Associates (1980-1991), a non-profit company. Accord Associates quickly grew and began promoting all African American composers in the United States. Accord Associates was eventually disbanded and Adams started Haridam, Inc., a for-profit company designed to solely promote Adams work. The main project for both Accord Associates and Haridam, Inc. was to promote the production of Blake, the opera composed by Adams in 1984.

Throughout his life, Adams conducted and participated in church music in every city he lived in. He was very active in the church throughout his life and contributed to many church music programs throughout the country. Currently Adams resides in Cleveland and continues to compose.

Adams' compositions include songs, choir pieces, orchestral pieces, chamber works, concertos, pieces for solo instruments, and an opera.

The collection chronicles the life of composer H. Leslie Adams, Jr. Material included in the collection consists of Adams' papers, correspondences, manuscripts, recordings, and artifacts. His papers include recital programs, photographs, course work, and other important papers representing his career as a musician, teacher, and composer.

Biographical information derived from collection and the composer's website:

http://www.hleslieadams.com/biography.html

From the guide to the Leslie Adams Music Archives, 1751-2011, 1932-2006, (Cleveland Public Library)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Adams, Leslie, 1932-. Ode to life / Leslie Adams. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Adams, Leslie, 1932-. Leslie Adams music archive. Cleveland Public Library, Main Library
creatorOf Adams, Leslie, 1932-. Intermezzo, violin and piano / Leslie Adams. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Adams, Leslie, 1932-. Correspondence with Eugene Ormandy, 1980. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Adams, Leslie, 1932-. Symphony no. 1 / Leslie Adams. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Adams, Leslie, 1932-. Night song : for flute and harp / Leslie Adams. University of Akron, Bierce Library
creatorOf Leslie Adams Music Archives, 1751-2011, 1932-2006 Cleveland Public Library
creatorOf American Music Edition records, 1920-1997, 1951-1991 Music Library
creatorOf Adams, Leslie, 1932-. Night song : for flute and harp / Leslie Adams. New York Public Library System, NYPL
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf The HistoryMakers Video Oral History with H. Leslie Adams The HistoryMakers
Relation Name
associatedWith Accord Associates. corporateBody
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associatedWith Alexander, Leni, 1924-2005 person
associatedWith Allanbrook, Douglas person
associatedWith American Music Center (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith American Music Edition corporateBody
associatedWith American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers corporateBody
associatedWith Anderson, Garland person
associatedWith Anson, George person
associatedWith Antheil, George, 1900-1959 person
associatedWith Ardévol, José, 1911-1981 person
associatedWith Avshalomov, Aaron, 1894-1965 person
associatedWith Bachmann, Barton person
associatedWith Bacon, Ernst, 1898-1990 person
associatedWith Ballantine, Edward, 1886-1971 person
associatedWith Baptista, Raphael, 1909-1984 person
associatedWith Bard, Martin person
associatedWith Barlow, Evelyn person
associatedWith Barlow, Wayne, 1912-1996 person
associatedWith Barzin, Leon person
associatedWith Bauer, Marion, 1882-1955 person
associatedWith Becker, John J. person
associatedWith Beglarian, Grant person
associatedWith Bennett, Robert Russell, 1894-1981 person
associatedWith Berezowsky, Nicolai, 1900-1953 person
associatedWith Berry, Wallace person
associatedWith Beyer, Johanna Magdalena, 1888-1944 person
associatedWith Bichel, Marguerite B. person
associatedWith Birdt, Bob person
associatedWith Blitzstein, Marc person
associatedWith Bloch, Ernest, 1880-1959 person
associatedWith Bloom, Robert, 1908-1994 person
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associatedWith Bogas, Roy person
associatedWith Bolton, Jacklin T. person
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associatedWith Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers corporateBody
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associatedWith Carl Fischer Inc. corporateBody
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associatedWith Elkus, Jonathan person
associatedWith Elwell, Herbert, 1898-1974 person
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associatedWith Engel, Lehman, 1910-1982 person
associatedWith Etler, Alvin, 1913-1973 person
associatedWith Ewen, David, 1907-1985 person
associatedWith Fetler, Paul person
associatedWith Fine, Irving, 1914-1962 person
associatedWith Finney, Ross Lee, 1906-1997 person
associatedWith Fizdale, Robert person
associatedWith Fletcher, Grant, 1913-2002 person
associatedWith Fox, Frederick, 1931-2011 person
associatedWith Franco, Johan, 1908-1988 person
associatedWith Frankenstein, Alfred V. (Alfred Victor), 1906-1981 person
associatedWith Freed, Isadore, 1900-1960 person
associatedWith Freehoff, Ruth W. person
associatedWith Friml, Rudolf, 1879-1972 person
associatedWith Galindo, Blas, 1910-1993 person
associatedWith Ganz, Rudolph, 1877-1972 person
associatedWith García Caturla, Alejandro, 1906-1940 person
associatedWith Gaul, Harvey B. (Harvey Bartlett), 1881-1945 person
associatedWith Giannini, Walter, 1917-2001 person
associatedWith Glanville-Hicks, Peggy person
associatedWith Goebels, Franzpeter person
associatedWith Goldman, Richard Franko, 1910-1980 person
associatedWith Goodman, Alfred, 1920-1999 person
associatedWith Grant, Parks person
associatedWith Green, Harold Bellman, 1921-2007 person
associatedWith Green, Ray, 1908-1997 person
associatedWith Griffis, Eliot person
associatedWith Griggs, Betty Lew person
associatedWith Grofé, Ferde, 1892-1972 person
associatedWith Gruenberg, Louis, 1884-1964 person
associatedWith G. Schirmer, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Gusikoff, Michel person
associatedWith Gyring, Elizabeth, 1909-1970 person
associatedWith Hadley, Henry Kimball, 1871-1937 person
associatedWith Haines, Edmund person
associatedWith Hamlet, Alice person
associatedWith Hanson, Howard, 1896-1981 person
associatedWith Haridam, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Harmati, Sandor, 1892-1936 person
associatedWith Harrison, Guy Fraser, 1894-1986 person
associatedWith Harrison, Lou, 1917-2003 person
associatedWith Harris, Roy, 1898-1979 person
associatedWith Haubiel, Charles, 1892-1978 person
associatedWith Hedge, Grace person
associatedWith Heilner, Irwin, 1908-1991 person
associatedWith Hemmer, Eugene, 1929-1977 person
associatedWith Herrmann, Bernard, 1911-1975 person
associatedWith Hill, Edward Burlingame, 1872-1960 person
associatedWith Hiller, Lejaren, 1924-1994 person
associatedWith Hinson, Maurice person
associatedWith Hodghead, Lillian, 1886-1972 person
associatedWith Holloway, Jack person
associatedWith Horsky, Edward L. person
associatedWith Howard, John Tasker, 1890-1964 person
associatedWith Huerter, Charles, 1885-1974 person
associatedWith Huffman, Walter Spencer, 1921-2005 person
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associatedWith Humphrey, Doris, 1895-1958 person
associatedWith Hunsley, Robert person
associatedWith Ives, Charles, 1874-1954 person
associatedWith Ivey, Jean Eichelberger person
associatedWith Jackson, George Pullen, 1874-1953 person
associatedWith Jacobi, Frederick, 1891-1952 person
associatedWith Jolas, Jacques person
associatedWith Jones, Charles, 1910-1997 person
associatedWith Jones, Homer, composer person
associatedWith Josten, Werner, 1885-1963 person
associatedWith Kabalevsky, Dmitry Borisovich, 1904-1987 person
associatedWith Kelly, Robert, 1916-2007 person
associatedWith Kerr, Harrison person
associatedWith King-Smith, Grace person
associatedWith Kirkpatrick, John, 1905-1991 person
associatedWith Klauss, Kenneth person
associatedWith Knowlton, Dorothy G. (Dorothy Gillespie), 1903- person
associatedWith Korn, Peter Jona person
associatedWith Korn, Richard, 1908-1981 person
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associatedWith Koutzen, Boris, 1901-1966 person
associatedWith Kraft, William person
associatedWith Kushner, David Z., 1935- person
associatedWith Lambert, Cecily person
associatedWith La Montaine, John person
associatedWith Lee, Dai-Keong, 1915- person
associatedWith Leet, Lucie person
associatedWith Lieberson, Samuel A. person
associatedWith Limón, José person
associatedWith Lipscomb, Edna person
associatedWith Lipscomb, Helen, 1921-1974 person
associatedWith Lipsky, Alexander, 1900-1985 person
associatedWith Lockwood, Normand, 1906-2002 person
associatedWith Loeffler, Charles Martin, 1861-1935 person
associatedWith Lombardo, Robert, 1932- person
associatedWith Lopatnikoff, Nikolai, 1903-1976 person
associatedWith Lora, Antonio, 1899-1965 person
associatedWith Lubin, Ernest person
associatedWith Luening, Otto, 1900-1996 person
associatedWith MacDowell, Edward, 1860-1908 person
associatedWith Mainville, Denise person
associatedWith Malipiero, Gian Francesco, 1882-1973 person
associatedWith Mason, Daniel Gregory, 1873-1953 person
associatedWith McPhee, Colin, 1900-1964 person
associatedWith Mennin, Peter person
associatedWith Michalsky, Donal R. person
associatedWith Milhaud, Darius, 1892-1974 person
associatedWith Moore, Douglas, 1893-1969 person
associatedWith Moran, Robert, 1937- person
associatedWith Moross, Jerome, 1913-1983 person
associatedWith Mueller, Robert Earl, 1920-2005 person
associatedWith Mumma, Gordon, 1935- person
associatedWith Nagel, Robert person
associatedWith Nee, Thomas person
associatedWith Nelhybel, Vaclav person
associatedWith Newman, William S. person
associatedWith Nordhoff, Paul person
associatedWith Norton, Spencer, 1909-1978 person
associatedWith Ormandy, Eugene, 1899-1985 person
associatedWith Osborne, Willson, 1906-1979 person
associatedWith Parchman, Gen person
associatedWith Parris, Robert, 1924-1999 person
associatedWith Penna, Joseph person
associatedWith Peterson, Wayne, 1927- person
associatedWith Pisk, Paul Amadeus, 1893-1990 person
associatedWith Piston, Walter, 1894-1976 person
associatedWith Podolsky, Leo, 1891-1987 person
associatedWith Porter, Quincy, 1897-1966 person
associatedWith Powell, Laurence, 1899-1990 person
associatedWith Pozdro, John, 1923- person
associatedWith Preobrajenska, Vera person
associatedWith Price, Mary Juanita person
associatedWith Pyle, Francis Johnson, 1901-1983 person
associatedWith Raymond, Joseph person
associatedWith Read, Gardner, 1913-2005 person
associatedWith Riegger, Wallingford, 1885-1961 person
associatedWith Rockefeller, Blanchette Hooker, 1909-1992 person
associatedWith Rohe, Robert, 1916- person
associatedWith Rorem, Ned, 1923- person
associatedWith Rothenberg, Esther person
associatedWith Rudhyar, Dane, 1895-1985 person
associatedWith Ruggles, Carl, 1876-1971 person
associatedWith Russell, Bill, 1905-1992 person
associatedWith Russo, Joseph, composer person
associatedWith Salembeni, Alberto person
associatedWith Salinger, Pierre person
associatedWith Sanjuán, Pedro, 1886-1976 person
associatedWith Sanner, Kathryn Thomas person
associatedWith Schiek, Florence person
associatedWith Schlosser, Minka person
associatedWith Schneider, William L., 1925-2009 person
associatedWith Schoberlechner, Annie, 1888-1961 person
associatedWith Schoemer, William H. person
associatedWith Schoenberg, Arnold, 1874-1951 person
associatedWith Schramm, Harold, 1935-1971 person
associatedWith Schubart, Mark person
associatedWith Schuller, Gunther person
associatedWith Seeger, Ruth Crawford, 1901-1953 person
associatedWith Sessions, Roger, 1896-1985 person
associatedWith Shadinger, Richard person
associatedWith Shanet, Harold person
associatedWith Shaw, Clifford, 1911-1976 person
associatedWith Shepherd, Arthur, 1880-1958 person
associatedWith Shoemaker, John R. (John Rogers), 1934- person
associatedWith Siegmeister, Elie, 1909-1991 person
associatedWith Slates, Philip M., 1924-1966 person
associatedWith Snitman, Alice Rose person
associatedWith Spencer, Williametta person
associatedWith Spinner, Leopold person
associatedWith Stein, Alvin person
associatedWith Stevens, Halsey, 1908-1989 person
associatedWith Still, William Grant, 1895-1978 person
associatedWith Stoddard, Hope, 1900-1987 person
associatedWith Stoessel, Albert, 1894-1943 person
associatedWith Stout, Alan person
associatedWith Strang, Gerald, 1908-1983 person
associatedWith Taylor, Clifford person
associatedWith Tcherepnin, Alexander, 1899-1977 person
associatedWith Theodore Presser Company corporateBody
associatedWith Thomson, Virgil, 1896-1989 person
associatedWith Thorne, Francis person
associatedWith Trythall, Gilbert, 1930- person
associatedWith Turner, Godfrey, 1913-1948 person
associatedWith Tuthill, Burnet, 1888-1982 person
associatedWith Ussachevsky, Vladimir, 1911-1990 person
associatedWith Van Vactor, David, 1906-1994 person
associatedWith Varèse, Edgard, 1883-1965 person
associatedWith Vázquez Sebastiá, Rafael person
associatedWith Verrall, John, 1908-2001 person
associatedWith Vito, Edward person
associatedWith Vogel, Norman person
associatedWith Vovk, Ivan person
associatedWith Vrionides, Christos, 1894-1961 person
associatedWith Wagenaar, Bernard, 1894-1971 person
associatedWith Wagner, Joseph, 1900-1974 person
associatedWith Watson, Scott, composer person
associatedWith Webern, Anton, 1883-1945 person
associatedWith Weigl, Karl, 1881-1949 person
associatedWith Weiss, Abraham, 1949- person
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associatedWith Whitcomb, Robert, 1921- person
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associatedWith Whitmer, T. Carl (Thomas Carl), 1873-1959 person
associatedWith Wiggins, Mary person
associatedWith Wiser, John person
associatedWith Wuorinen, Charles person
associatedWith Yessin, Gerson person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Cleveland (Ohio)
Cleveland (Ohio)
Subject
Adams, Leslie, 1932-
Adams, Leslie, 1932-
African American composers
Brass quartets (Trombones (4))
Composers
Composers
Composers
Concertos (Piano)
Flute and harp music
Flute and harp music
Music
Opera
Orchestral music
Organ music
Sonatas (Cello and piano)
Songs
String quartets
Symphonies
Violin and piano music
Occupation
Collector
Music Composer
Music Professor
Activity

Person

Birth 1932-12-20

Birth 19321230

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6w967f0

Ark ID: w6w967f0

SNAC ID: 8600509