Ellen Jane Lorenz

Ellen Jane Lorenz Porter (May 3, 1907December 31, 1996) was an American composer, music publisher, and authority on handbells. She was editor in chief of the Lorenz Publishing Company from 1940 to 1963.

Ellen Jane Lorenz
BornMay 3, 1907 Edit this on Wikidata
Dayton Edit this on Wikidata
DiedDecember 31, 1996(1996-12-31) (aged 90) [1]
Dayton Edit this on Wikidata
Other namesAllen James
Rosemary Hadler[2]
Peter Jerome[3]
OccupationComposer Edit this on Wikidata
Parent(s)
  • Karl Kumler Lorenz Edit this on Wikidata
  • Caroline Boalt Lorenz Edit this on Wikidata

Early life and education

Ellen Jane Lorenz was born on May 3, 1907[4] in Dayton, Ohio, one of four children of Karl Kumler Lorenz, business manager of the sheet music publisher Lorenz Publishing Company, and Caroline Bloat Lorenz, composer and playwright. Karl Lorenz was the son of the founder of Lorenz, E.S. Lorenz. Lorenz began studying music at age eight.[5]

She graduated from Wellesley College[6] with a bachelor's degree in 1929,[7] where she earned the Billings Prize for Musical Talent,[5] and earned a master's degree from the University of Akron in 1931. She studied composition with Nadia Boulanger in Paris from 1931 to 1932.[5]

Upon her retirement, she returned to school to get a masters from Wittenberg University and a Ph.D. from Union Graduate School; she was 71 years old when she earned her Ph.D.[8][9] Her dissertation was on camp spirituals[10][11] and was published as a book, Glory Hallelujah! The Story of the Campmeeting Spiritual, in 1980.[12]

Career

In 1932, she joined Lorenz Company, a publishing company founded by her family, where she would work as editor in chief from 1940 until 1963.[13] Lorenz also composed music,[7] which she did under multiple names including Allen James, Rosemary Hadler,[2] and Peter Jerome.[3] She also helped make handbells popular in choirs in the United States.[8]

Ellen Jane Lorenz died on 31 December 1996 in Dayton.[5]

Honors and awards

In 1947 Lebanon Valley College awarded her with an honorary doctorate of music.[14]

Personal life

She married James B. Porter in 1938.[6][15]

References

  1. Flute Music by Women Composers: An Annotated Catalog. ABC-CLIO. 1988. ISBN 978-0-313-26019-3.
  2. "Guide to the Ellen Jane Lorenz Porter Collection". ead.ohiolink.edu. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  3. Schwarze, Richard (1983-09-10). "In celebration". The Journal Herald. p. 23. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  4. "Ellen Jane Lorenz | Hymnary.org". hymnary.org. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  5. "Hymnology". hymnology.hymnsam.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  6. "Marriage of Lorenz / Porter". The Dayton Herald. 1938-12-31. p. 10. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  7. Krebs, Betty Dietz (1989-04-06). "Music club to hear original piece". Dayton Daily News. p. 33. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  8. Batz, Bob (1 January 1997). "HANDBELL ADVOCATE DIES AT 89". Dayton Daily News ; Dayton, Ohio [Dayton, Ohio]. pp. 1B via Proquest.
  9. "Church music composer guest lecturer at LVC". The Daily News. 1985-05-22. p. 31. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  10. Lorenz, Ellen Jane. "A treasure of campmeeting spirituals | WorldCat.org". www.worldcat.org. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  11. Krebs, Betsy Dietz (1980-06-05). "New Porter book traces camp meeting spirituals". Dayton Daily News. p. 25. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  12. Reviews of Glory, Hallelujah!
  13. "The Lorenz Family". The Lorenz Family. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  14. "60 receive LVC Degrees Addressed by Dr. Kern". Lancaster New Era. 1947-05-26. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  15. "Music study club meets". The Post. 1950-02-02. pp. , . Retrieved 2023-05-22.


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