Ethel Tench Rogers

Ethel Tench Rogers (February 21, 1914 – January 25, 2008)[1] was a prolific American composer who published over 200 sacred and pedagogical compositions for organ, piano, synthesizer and voice.[2][3]

Rogers was born in Newark, New Jersey,[4] to Walter and Herrine Tench. She studied music with William Ichor, Arthur B. Kellsey, Tsuyi Matsuki, Lorrene McClintock, Edward J. McGinley, Howard Savage, and at the Austrian-American Institute in Vienna.[5] She married Robert W. Rogers in 1934 and they had a son and a daughter.[1]

Rogers arranged traditional hymns as well as music by Karl P. Harrington, J. Michael Haydn, William H. Jude, George C. Stebbins, and Will L. Thompson. She set biblical passages and texts by Kathryn Blackburn Peck and Isaac Watts to music.[6]

Rogers taught piano and organ in Plainfield, New Jersey, and at the University of Missouri, Kansas City.[4] She also presented workshops for the National Association of Organ Teachers.[7] A Rogers Music Scholarship has been established at Baker University (Kansas).[1]

Rogers’ compositions were published by the Boston Music Company, Lillenas Publishing Company (Nazarene Publishing House), Myklas Press, and Pro Art Publications.[6][7][8] She often collaborated with Olive Nelson Russell:

• MELODIES AND SCALES in the most used keys by Ethel Tench Rogers and Olive Nelson Russell For all organs Westbury[6]

• PLAY EASY SOLOS for all organs compilation arranged and original by Ethel Tench Rogers and Olive Nelson Russell[6]

• PRO ART ALL ORGAN METHOD books 1,2,3 by Ethel Tench Rogers and Olive Nelson Russell[6]

• PRO ART ALL ORGAN TECHNIC books 1,2,3 by Ethel Tench Rogers and Olive Nelson Russell[6]

• SELECTED SOLOS for all organs arrangements Ethel Tench Rogers and Olive Nelson Russell[6]

• VERY FIRST TUNES TO TRANSPOSE by Ethel Tench Rogers and Olive Nelson Russell For all organs[6]

Rogers’ compositions included Evening Air, a piano piece for left hand alone;[7] four cantatas;[9] 62 books of organ works; over 150 anthems;[2] and works for two pianos.[4]

References

1. Rogers, Ethel Tench (27 Jan 2008). "Obituaries". Kansas City Star. p. 26.
2. Cohen, Aaron I. (1987). International Encyclopedia of Women Composers. Books & Music (USA). pp. 595–596. ISBN 978-0-9617485-0-0.
3. Stern, Susan (1978). Women composers: a handbook. Metuchen London: the Scarecrow press. p. 144. ISBN 978-0-8108-1138-6.
4. Anderson, Ruth; Anderson, E. Ruth (1976). Contemporary American composers: a biographical dictionary. Boston, Mass: Hall. p. 369. ISBN 978-0-8161-1117-6.
5. Heinrich, Adel (1991). Organ and harpsichord music by women composers: an annotated catalog. Music reference collection (1. publ ed.). New York: Greenwood Pr. p. 317. ISBN 978-0-313-26802-1.
6. Office, Library of Congress Copyright (1967). Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series.
7. Patterson, Donald (1999-09-30). One Handed: A Guide to Piano Music for One Hand. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN 978-0-313-03262-2.
8. Singing (U.S.), National Association of Teachers of (1966). The NATS Bulletin. National Association of Teachers of Singing.
9. Stewart-Green, Miriam (1980). Women composers: A checklist of works for the solo voice. A reference publication in women's studies. Boston, Mass: Hall. p. 137. ISBN 978-0-8161-8498-9.