Marion Morrey Richter

Dr. Marion Morrey Richter (2 October 1900 - 6 January 1996)[1] was an American composer, music educator and pianist[2] who toured internationally. She held several leadership positions in the National Federation of Music Clubs.[3]

Richter was born in Columbus, Ohio,[2] to Dr. Charles Bradfield Morrey, a bacteriologist, and Grace Hamilton Morrey, a concert pianist and music educator. Her brother Charles Bradfield Morrey Jr. became a well-known mathematician. She married Otto Clarence Richter in 1928 and they had one son.[3][4]

Richter’s mother was her first music teacher. She went on to earn a B.A. at Ohio State University, as well as a master’s degree and a doctorate in music education from Columbia University. She also studied at the Juilliard School, receiving fellowships there from 1925-29.[5]

Richter’s teaching career included work at:

  • 1917-22 the Morrey School (her mother’s music school)
  • 1929-52 Columbia University summer school
  • 1934-52 Juilliard summer school.[6][7]

Richter presented lectures and piano recitals throughout the United States and in China, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, and the Soviet Union. An active member of the National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC), she was a NFMC Rose Fay Thomas Fellow[8] and chaired the NFMC American Music Department. As the NFMC Radio Chair, she selected music for monthly broadcasts on WNYC for 20 years.[5] Today, the NFMC sponsors the annual Marion Richter American Music Composition Award for promising student/collegiate composers.[9]

Richter wrote the liner notes for commercial recordings of works by Alan Hovhaness (CRI SD 326)[10] and Vally Weigl (MHS 3880).[11] Her compositions were published by C.C. Birchard[12] and include:

Band

  • Timberjack Overture[7]

Chamber

  • Sonata for Piano Trio[7]

Opera

  • This is Our Camp (for children; text by Margaret Raymond)[13]

Orchestra

Piano

  • Prelude on a Twelve Tone Row[7]
  • Scherzo Fantastique[3]
  • Scherzo-Intermezzo[3]

Vocal

  • A Ship Comes In (men’s chorus)[3]
  • “Cycle of Seasons”[3]
  • “Hymn of Glory”[3]
  • “In Winter”[3]
  • “Longing”[3]
  • Sea Chant (women’s chorus)[7]
  • “Silence Sings”[3]
  • Tale of a Timberjack (men’s chorus)[3]

References

  1. ^ "Marion Morrey Richter". www.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  2. ^ a b Stern, Susan (1978). Women composers: a handbook. Metuchen, N.J: Scarecrow Press. p. 141. ISBN 978-0-8108-1138-6.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Cohen, Aaron I. (1987). International Encyclopedia of Women Composers. Books & Music (USA). p. 584. ISBN 978-0-9617485-1-7.
  4. ^ Richter, Marion Morrey (14 Sep 1928). "Former Saginawian Weds Columbus Girl". The Saginaw News. p. 9.
  5. ^ a b Buckvar, Felice (29 Jan 1984). "Marching to an American Beat". The New York Times. pp. section 11WC p 4.
  6. ^ "Scarsdale Inquirer 3 May 1946 — HRVH Historical Newspapers". news.hrvh.org. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Anderson, E. Ruth; Anderson, E. Ruth (1976). Contemporary American composers: a biographical dictionary. Boston, Mass: Hall. p. 363. ISBN 978-0-8161-1117-6.
  8. ^ "Rose Fay Thomas Fellows". www.nfmc-music.org. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
  9. ^ National Federation of Music Clubs Competitions and Awards Chart (PDF). National Federation of Music Clubs. 2024–2025.
  10. ^ Alan Hovhaness / Vally Weigl - Music Of Nature And The Gods, 1974, retrieved 2025-07-06
  11. ^ Vally Weigl - Four Cycles Of Vocal And Instrumental Chamber Music, 1975, retrieved 2025-07-06
  12. ^ a b Borroff, Edith (1992). American Operas: a checklist. Detroit studies in music bibliography. Warren, Mich: Harmonie park. p. 249. ISBN 978-0-89990-063-6.
  13. ^ Office, Library of Congress Copyright (1956). Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series.
  14. ^ Stewart-Green, Miriam (1980). Women composers: a checklist of works for the solo voice. A Reference publication in women's studies. Boston, Mass: G.K. Hall. p. 60. ISBN 978-0-8161-8498-9.
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