Ulysses Kay, Suite in B (1943)

Abstract This chapter explores the music and life of Ulysses Kay (1917–1995), a pivotal yet underrecognized African American composer. Kay, a modernist, defied technical, racial, and stylistic labels throughout his career. Born in Tucson, Arizona, his rich musical background influenced his style, and his association with his uncle, King Oliver, led to a variety of formative musical experiences. Kay eventually left Arizona for the Eastman School of Music, where he composed an Oboe Concerto, and later studied with Paul Hindemith at Yale. Kay’s successful career, marked by prolific composing, prominent teaching roles, and prestigious honors, is contextualized alongside his experience of racism. The chapter also considers the broader implications of Kay’s work, within the changing landscapes of American classical music and racial dynamics in the mid-20th century. His Suite in B is a tonally complex work, with an emphasis on tertian and quartal sonorities and a dissonant yet expressive approach to melody.