Nellie Bangs Skelton

Cornelia (“Nellie”) Pomeroy Bangs Skelton DePue (August 8, 1855 - November 23, 1911)[1] was an American composer,[2] pianist,[3] singer and vocal coach who toured the United States as a pianist. She published and performed as Nellie Bangs Skelton.[4]

Skelton was born in Lacon, Illinois, to Harriet Cornelia Pomeroy and Mark Bangs, a judge.[5] She began studying piano at age seven, and published her first composition at age eleven. She married John Skelton and later married Elmer DePue, but divorced both of them.[1] She studied piano in Chicago with Eugenie de Roode Rice.[6][7]

Skelton toured the United States as a pianist with the Marie Litta Company for two years in the early 1880s,[1] then joined the Slayton Concert Company as a pianist.[8] By 1896, she had formed her own concert company with her husband Elmer De Pue, a tenor.[9] She also taught piano at the Armour Institute[10] and at the Soper School of Oratory,[11] both in Chicago, and toured for the International Young People’s Lecture Bureau as a pianist.[12]

Skelton’s music was published by Clayton F. Summy [13] and Theodore Presser.[14] Her compositions include:

Piano

Vocal

  • “Asleep, Adream Awake Serenade” (text by Edmund Vance Cooke; music by Kate Vanderpoel; piano transcription by Nellie Bangs Skelton)[18]
  • “I’m a Merry Little Vivandiere” (text by Fanchon H. Thompson)[19] 

References

  1. ^ a b c "Cornelia Pomroy "Nellie" Bangs Skelton..." www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
  2. ^ Hixon, Donald L. (1993). Women in music : an encyclopedic biobibliography. Don A. Hennessee (2nd ed.). Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-2769-7. OCLC 28889156.
  3. ^ Laurence, Anya (1978). Women of notes : 1 000 women composers born before 1900. Richards Rosen Press. OCLC 1137758426.
  4. ^ Stern, Susan (1978). Women composers : a handbook. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-1138-3. OCLC 3844725.
  5. ^ Campbell, John A. (1902). A Biographical History, with Portraits, of Prominent Men of the Great West. . Western biographical and engraving Company.
  6. ^ Cohen, Aaron I. (1987). International Encyclopedia of Women Composers. Books & Music (USA). ISBN 978-0-9617485-2-4.
  7. ^ Music and Musicians in Chicago: The City's Leading Artists, Organizations and Art Buildings, Progress and Development. F. Ffrench. 1899.
  8. ^ Jno. B. Jeffery's Guide and Directory to the Opera Houses, Theatres, Public Halls, Bill Posters, Etc. of the Cities and Towns of America. Jeffery. 1883.
  9. ^ Elite. 1896.
  10. ^ The College Year-Book and Athletic Record. 1897.
  11. ^ Marble, Charles C.; Higley, William Kerr (1897). Birds & Nature Magazine. Nature Study Publishing Company.
  12. ^ Skelton, Nellie Bangs (1893). Michigan School Moderator.
  13. ^ Office, Library of Congress Copyright (1907). Catalog of Copyright Entries. U.S. Government Printing Office.
  14. ^ a b c Skelton, Nellie Bangs. "worldcat.org". Retrieved 2022-03-11.
  15. ^ Presser, Theodore (1895). Etude. Presser.
  16. ^ The Etude. T. Presser. 1900.
  17. ^ Mathews, William Smythe Babcock (1897). Music: A Monthly Magazine, Devoted to the Art, Science, Technic and Literature of Music. W. S. B. Mathews.
  18. ^ Catalogue of Title Entries of Books and Other Articles. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1899.
  19. ^ Stewart-Green, Miriam (1980). Women composers : a checklist of works for the solo voice. Boston, Mass.: G.K. Hall. ISBN 0-8161-8498-4. OCLC 6815939.