Green, Ray

Variant names

Hide Profile

Ray Green (1908-1997) was an American composer who created works for dance companies as well as orchestral, choral, and children's pieces. Green was born in Livingston Country, Missouri and began piano lessons at 14. He studied composition as a young man in California with Ernest Bloch, Albert Elkus, and E.G. Stricklen. He also traveled to Paris and studied with Darius Milhaud, Nadia Boulanger and Pierre Monteux. Green received his break after having an entire issue dedicated to his music in Henry Cowell's New Music Quareterly. He concentrated on creating a sound that was distinctly American.

In 1937, Green met his future wife, dancer and choreographer May O'Donnell, for whom he wrote a large number of pieces for dance. These include Of Pioneer Women (1937) and Suspension (1942). He also provided the Martha Graham Dance Company with such works as Processional Dance for Symphonic Band (1938) and American Document (1938). Green's later compositions for dance include Dance Sonata (1953), There Is a Time for Innocence (1983) and Powers of Ten (1983).

After a creative break in the 1960s, Green returned to music and continued composing until his death in 1997. One of his last works was Concerto in D (1995) which he premiered in China with the Shanghai Philharmonic Symphony. Green died in New York City in 1997.

May O'Donnell (1906-2004) was an American modern dancer and choreographer. She began her early dance career in San Francisco studying and performing with Estelle Reed. In 1932, she moved to New York City to study with Martha Graham, and soon after became a member of her company.

Returning to California in 1939, she founded the San Francisco Dance Theatre with her husband Ray Green and Gertrude Shurr, a former Graham Dancer. In 1941, she joined the José Limón Dance Company. She worked with the Martha Graham Company again from 1944 to 1952 as a guest artist, creating roles such as the Pioneering Woman in Appalachian Spring, and Attendant in Herodiade (1944). In the mid 1940s she established the O'Donnell-Shurr Modern Dance Studio with Gertrude Shurr and continued the development of her own dance repertory. O'Donnell established her first company, The May O'Donnell Dance Company, in 1942.

Throughout her career O'Donnell created 50 works, from 1937 to 1988. Some of the most notable are Suspension, Sunday Sing Symphony, and Drift. Many of her works were choreographed for her first company in the 1950s and restaged under her second company in the 1970s and 1980s. O'Donnell retired from performing in 1961, but continued to choreograph and teach through 1988.

From 1961 to 1974, O'Donnell disbanded her dance company. She taught for seven years at the High School of Performing Arts in New York City, before restaging Suspension for the Alvin Ailey Dance Company in 1971. In 1974, she reestablished her company as the May O'Donnell Concert Dance Company.

In 1974, the May O'Donnell Modern Dance Center was opened and became the basis for her revitalized dance company. She was an influential teacher who taught Robert Joffrey, Ben Vereen, and Gerald Arpino among many others. Her original dance technique influenced generations of modern dancers. O'Donnell died in Manhattan in 2004.

From the guide to the May O'Donnell and Ray Green papers, 1890-2004, 1940-1988, (The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf American Music Edition records, 1920-1997, 1951-1991 Music Library
referencedIn Glenn Dillard Gunn Collection, 1874-1961, (bulk 1910-1961) Library of Congress. Music Division
referencedIn Ives, Charles, 1874-1954. The Charles Ives papers, 1874-1983 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
referencedIn Ruggles, Carl, 1876-1971. Carl Ruggles Papers, 1894-1981 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
referencedIn Ruggles, Carl, 1876-1971. Carl Ruggles Papers, 1894-1981 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
referencedIn Kirkpatrick, John, 1905-1991. The John Kirkpatrick papers, 1836-1993 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
creatorOf Green, Ray, 1908-1997. Concluded lives-- : a song / music by Ray Green ; text by Emily Dickinson. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Green, Ray, 1908-1997. Preludes four for piano / by Ray Green. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Green, Ray, 1908-1997. Contrapunctus / Ray Green. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf May O'Donnell and Ray Green papers, 1890-2004, 1940-1988 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
creatorOf O'Donnell, May, 1906-2004. Theme and variations : (in part) / choreography May O'Donnell ; notated by Catherine Hees. Ohio State University Libraries
referencedIn Claire Falkenstein papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Green, Ray, 1908-1997. Peeannie soot (yerself) / by Ray Green. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Henry Cowell collection of noncommercial recordings [sound recording], 1940-1953 The New York Public Library. Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound.
creatorOf Green, Ray, 1908-1997. Dance technique in the form of Theme and variations, by May O'Donnell. Music by Ray Green. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Green, Ray, 1908-1997. One invention and ten fugues : in classical style : on original subjects / by Ray Green. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn O'Donnell, May, 1906-2004. May O'Donnell papers, 1934-1996. Newberry Library
creatorOf Green, Ray, 1908-1997. Rondo-patetico / Ray Green. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Nicolas Slonimsky Collection, 1873-1997, (bulk 1920-1990) Library of Congress. Music Division
referencedIn The Moldenhauer Archives at Harvard University: Correspondence, literary manuscripts, sound recordings, and other material, 1873-2001. Houghton Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Adams, Leslie, 1932- person
associatedWith Adler, Samuel, 1928- person
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
associatedWith Boda, John, 1922-2002 person
associatedWith Bogas, Roy person
associatedWith Bolton, Jacklin T. person
associatedWith Booe, Agnes person
associatedWith Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers corporateBody
associatedWith Bostelmann, Otto person
associatedWith Bowles, Paul, 1910-1999 person
associatedWith Bradley, Ruth O. (Ruth Olive), 1901-1989 person
associatedWith Brant, Ada person
associatedWith Britain, Radie, 1903-1994 person
associatedWith Broekman, David, 1899-1958 person
associatedWith Brugmann, Aline Grossart, 1900-1996 person
associatedWith Brush, Mrs. J. M. person
associatedWith Burton, Eldin person
associatedWith Cage, John person
associatedWith Carl Fischer Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Carter, Elliott, 1908-2012 person
associatedWith Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Mario, 1895-1968 person
associatedWith Cazden, Norman, 1914-1980 person
associatedWith Chanler, Theodore, 1902-1961 person
associatedWith Chappell and Co. corporateBody
associatedWith Chávez, Carlos, 1899-1978 person
associatedWith Citkowitz, Israel, 1909-1974 person
associatedWith Cole, Linton person
associatedWith Composers Recordings, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Converse, F. S. (Frederick Shepherd), 1871-1940 person
associatedWith Cooper, John C. person
associatedWith Copland, Aaron, 1900-1990 person
associatedWith Cowell, Henry, 1897-1965 person
associatedWith Creston, Paul, 1906-1985 person
associatedWith Cushing, Charles, 1905-1982 person
associatedWith Dahl, Ingolf, 1912-1970 person
associatedWith Dalvit, Lewis D. person
associatedWith D'Angelo, Nicholas V. person
associatedWith Davidson, Harold G. (Harold Gibson), 1893-1959 person
associatedWith Dawson, William L. (William Levi), 1899-1990 person
associatedWith Debusman, Emil person
associatedWith Denecke, Henry person
associatedWith Denise, Mary, Sister person
associatedWith Diamond, David, 1915-2005 person
associatedWith Dickinson, Emily, 1830-1886 person
associatedWith Dickson, Harry Ellis person
associatedWith Dick, Stuart person
associatedWith Donovan, Richard, 1891-1970 person
associatedWith Downes, Olin, 1886-1955 person
associatedWith Duke, Vernon, 1903-1969 person
associatedWith Dupriez, Christian, 1922- person
associatedWith Edwin A. Fleisher Music Collection corporateBody
associatedWith El-Dabh, Halim, 1921- person
associatedWith Elkus, Albert I. (Albert Israel), 1884-1962 person
associatedWith Elkus, Jonathan person
associatedWith Elwell, Herbert, 1898-1974 person
associatedWith Emerich, Paul, 1895-1977 person
associatedWith Engel, Lehman, 1910-1982 person
associatedWith Etler, Alvin, 1913-1973 person
associatedWith Ewen, David, 1907-1985 person
associatedWith Falkenstein, Claire 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 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 Gunn, Glenn Dillard, 1874-1963 person
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 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
associatedWith Hughes, Edwin, 1884-1965 person
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
associatedWith Kouguell, Arkadie, 1898-1985 person
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 Moldenhauer, Hans, collector. 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 O'Donnell, May, 1906-2004. 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 Slonimsky, Nicolas, 1894-1995 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
associatedWith Wendelburg, Norma person
associatedWith Whitcomb, Robert, 1921- person
associatedWith Whithorne, Emerson, 1884-1958 person
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
Subject
Canons, fugues, etc. (Piano)
Choreographers
Dance
Dance
Music
Music
Piano music
Rondos (Piano)
Songs (Medium voice) with piano
Suites (Piano)
Occupation
Collector
Composers
Activity

Person

Birth 1908-09-13

Death 1997-04-16

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w66h4t09

Ark ID: w66h4t09

SNAC ID: 12888728