Agnes Nebo von Ballmoos (February 21, 1938 – March 29, 2000) was a Liberian professor of music, scholar of Liberian folk music, conductor, composer, and lawyer. Von Ballmoos contributed to the preservation of Liberian folk music by collecting and transcribing folk music representing diverse cultural traditions around the country and composing original arrangements of traditional songs. She also taught at the University of Liberia for nearly thirty years, directing the university choir. Under her leadership, the choir gave concerts at venues around the world, performing a varied repertoire which included classical pieces, spirituals, and traditional Liberian music.
Agnes Nebo von Ballmoos
Agnes Nebo von Ballmoos conducting the Choir of the University of Liberia, 1978
Shortly after completing her undergraduate degree, Agnes married Rudolph von Ballmoos, with whom she had two sons.[2] Their elder son, also named Rudolph, served as Liberia's ambassador to the United Kingdom.[4] Their younger son, DeWitt von Ballmoos, leads Liberia's National Social Security and Welfare Corporation.[4][5]
Career
From 1961 to 1990, von Ballmoos taught music at the University of Liberia, where she was a founding member of the music program.[1][6] She also conducted the University of Liberia choir. Von Ballmoos introduced traditional Liberian music into the choir's repertoire for the first time. "Our research began in 1966 with the arrangement of seven songs performed by the University of Liberia choir--the very first time in our history of indigenous songs being performed by our highest institution. The idea thrilled the entire community and we received encouraging letters of congratulations and compliments," she wrote.[7]
Under her direction, the choir gained international attention for its performances, which included a mixture of classical music, African-American spirituals, and traditional Liberian songs.[8] The group gave concerts around the world, including a 1974 performance at an international choral festival at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City.[1] It was the only group representing an African country to participate in the festival.[8]
Von Ballmoos preserved, transcribed, and recorded folk music from across Liberia's diverse cultural traditions.[2] She was a pioneer in the transcription of Liberian folk songs into written form.[2] She also created original arrangements of traditional songs.[2]
The University of Liberia Alumni Chorus, founded in 2009, performs an annual concert in the United States to celebrate von Ballmoos' legacy and raise money for the music department at the University of Liberia.[6][9] The 2019 performance took place in Battell Chapel at Yale University.[8]
Alumni of the chorus remember von Ballmoos as a leader who expected excellence and who "taught us everything ... she taught us to appreciate music, she taught us to appreciate African culture, how to dress, how wrap our hair, how to conduct ourselves in public."[9] Alumni of the chorus credit the discipline and commitment that she instilled with helping them survive during the civil war.[9]
Von Ballmoos' work also significantly contributed to the preservation of Liberian folk music. In the 1960s and 1970s, when von Ballmoos began her career, traditional music was not highly valued. Her efforts helped increase appreciation of traditional music and culture.[2]
Publications
The Collection, Notation and Arrangement of Liberian Folk Songs,
Journal of the New African Literature and the Arts, Spring/ Fall 1969, pp. 111–118.
Pan-African Cultural Festival, First, of Royal Anthropological Institute. Archives and Manuscripts (1969), [Addresses and papers]. Algiers, The Organization of African Unity, 21 July – 1 Aug. 1969, Papers read at the Symposium of the First Pan-African Cultural Festival , 8 pages.
The Role of Folksongs in Liberian Society (thesis, Indiana University), Bloomington 1975, 406 pages.
^"Collection, Notation and Arrangement of Liberian Folk Songs, by Agnes Nebo von Ballmoos | Alexander Street, a ProQuest Company". search.alexanderstreet.com. Retrieved 2019-11-27.
^ abcHardman, Ray. "African Chorus Celebrates Legacy Of Liberian Music Professor In New Haven Concert". wnpr.org. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
^ abcKinzie, Susan (August 22, 2009). "University of Liberia Alumni Reunite to Honor Teacher Agnes Nebo von Ballmoos". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 21, 2019.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
External links
Nebo von Ballmoos, Agnes (June 7, 1971). "Dear Dr. Southern, (Letter from Agnes Nebo von Ballmoos to Eileen Southern)". eileensouthern.omeka.fas.harvard.edu. Harvard University. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
"Indiana University Archives Photo Collection Results for "Agnes Nebo"". webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu. Indiana University Bloomington. March 8, 1973. Retrieved 24 April 2022. Results 1 - 2 of 2
Agnes von Balmoos: A chorus of one (2009) on YouTube
"Agnes Nebo von Ballmoos. Our Late Directress University of Liberia Chorus". www.ulachorus.org. 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2022. She published her arrangements of three Liberian folksongs: Kah Benneh Kah, Wah Gee Tee Bee and Hwraynyeehday with Lawson-Gould Music Publishers in 1970 and 1974.
February 01, 2023
agnes, nebo, ballmoos, february, 1938, march, 2000, liberian, professor, music, scholar, liberian, folk, music, conductor, composer, lawyer, ballmoos, contributed, preservation, liberian, folk, music, collecting, transcribing, folk, music, representing, divers. Agnes Nebo von Ballmoos February 21 1938 March 29 2000 was a Liberian professor of music scholar of Liberian folk music conductor composer and lawyer Von Ballmoos contributed to the preservation of Liberian folk music by collecting and transcribing folk music representing diverse cultural traditions around the country and composing original arrangements of traditional songs She also taught at the University of Liberia for nearly thirty years directing the university choir Under her leadership the choir gave concerts at venues around the world performing a varied repertoire which included classical pieces spirituals and traditional Liberian music Agnes Nebo von BallmoosAgnes Nebo von Ballmoos conducting the Choir of the University of Liberia 1978BornAgnes Nebo 1938 02 21 February 21 1938Grand Cess Grand Kru County LiberiaDiedMarch 29 2000 2000 03 29 aged 62 LondonNationalityLiberianEducationPhiladelphia Conservatory of Music Indiana UniversityOccupationsEthnomusicologist Conductor Composer Academic LawyerOrganizationsUniversity of LiberiaKnown forStudies of Liberian folk musicAgnes Nebo von Ballmoos is conducting a choir of male and female students at a Graduation Ceremony University of Liberia Monrovia 1978 Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 Legacy 4 Publications 5 References 6 External linksEarly life and education EditAgnes Nebo von Ballmoos was born in Grand Cess in Grand Kru County 1 Her father was Amos S Nebo and her mother was Grace Nah Tameh Nebo 1 As a child she attended the Bible Industrial Academy in Grand Bassa County and Suehn Mission School in Bomi County She received a scholarship for academic excellence to complete her high school studies at Nannie Helen Burroughs School in Washington D C 2 Von Ballmoos received an undergraduate degree in piano performance in 1959 from the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music 2 In 1975 she completed a master s degree in ethnomusicology from Indiana University which she attended on a Fulbright fellowship 2 Her master s thesis examined the social role of folk songs in Liberia 3 Shortly after completing her undergraduate degree Agnes married Rudolph von Ballmoos with whom she had two sons 2 Their elder son also named Rudolph served as Liberia s ambassador to the United Kingdom 4 Their younger son DeWitt von Ballmoos leads Liberia s National Social Security and Welfare Corporation 4 5 Career EditFrom 1961 to 1990 von Ballmoos taught music at the University of Liberia where she was a founding member of the music program 1 6 She also conducted the University of Liberia choir Von Ballmoos introduced traditional Liberian music into the choir s repertoire for the first time Our research began in 1966 with the arrangement of seven songs performed by the University of Liberia choir the very first time in our history of indigenous songs being performed by our highest institution The idea thrilled the entire community and we received encouraging letters of congratulations and compliments she wrote 7 Under her direction the choir gained international attention for its performances which included a mixture of classical music African American spirituals and traditional Liberian songs 8 The group gave concerts around the world including a 1974 performance at an international choral festival at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City 1 It was the only group representing an African country to participate in the festival 8 Von Ballmoos preserved transcribed and recorded folk music from across Liberia s diverse cultural traditions 2 She was a pioneer in the transcription of Liberian folk songs into written form 2 She also created original arrangements of traditional songs 2 In 1989 von Ballmoos received a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Liberia and became a lawyer at a Monrovia law firm 2 To escape the First Liberian Civil War she moved to London in 1990 2 There she worked as a legal consultant 1 She died in London in 2000 1 Legacy EditThe University of Liberia Alumni Chorus founded in 2009 performs an annual concert in the United States to celebrate von Ballmoos legacy and raise money for the music department at the University of Liberia 6 9 The 2019 performance took place in Battell Chapel at Yale University 8 Alumni of the chorus remember von Ballmoos as a leader who expected excellence and who taught us everything she taught us to appreciate music she taught us to appreciate African culture how to dress how wrap our hair how to conduct ourselves in public 9 Alumni of the chorus credit the discipline and commitment that she instilled with helping them survive during the civil war 9 Von Ballmoos work also significantly contributed to the preservation of Liberian folk music In the 1960s and 1970s when von Ballmoos began her career traditional music was not highly valued Her efforts helped increase appreciation of traditional music and culture 2 Publications EditThe Collection Notation and Arrangement of Liberian Folk Songs Journal of the New African Literature and the Arts Spring Fall 1969 pp 111 118 Pan African Cultural Festival First of Royal Anthropological Institute Archives and Manuscripts 1969 Addresses and papers Algiers The Organization of African Unity 21 July 1 Aug 1969 Papers read at the Symposium of the First Pan African Cultural Festival 8 pages The Role of Folksongs in Liberian Society thesis Indiana University Bloomington 1975 406 pages References Edit a b c d e f Dunn Elwood D Beyan Amos J Burrowes Carl Patrick 2000 Historical Dictionary of Liberia Scarecrow Press p 350 ISBN 9781461659310 a b c d e f g h i j Agnes Nebo von Ballmoos Our Late Directress University of Liberia Chorus University of Liberia Chorus Retrieved 2019 10 19 Ballmoos Agnes Nebo Von 1975 The Role of Folksongs in Liberian Society Indiana University a b Ambassador Von Balmoos Suffers Fatal Heart Attack in London Liberian Observer 2015 12 21 Retrieved 2019 10 19 Liberia Pro Poor Agenda in Action allafrica com 2019 05 13 Retrieved 2019 10 29 a b Jackson Raymond 2015 09 25 Alumni Chorus supports Liberia s recovery MN Spokesman Recorder spokesman recorder com Retrieved 2019 10 19 Collection Notation and Arrangement of Liberian Folk Songs by Agnes Nebo von Ballmoos Alexander Street a ProQuest Company search alexanderstreet com Retrieved 2019 11 27 a b c Hardman Ray African Chorus Celebrates Legacy Of Liberian Music Professor In New Haven Concert wnpr org Retrieved 2019 10 22 a b c Kinzie Susan August 22 2009 University of Liberia Alumni Reunite to Honor Teacher Agnes Nebo von Ballmoos The Washington Post Retrieved October 21 2019 a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint url status link External links EditNebo von Ballmoos Agnes June 7 1971 Dear Dr Southern Letter from Agnes Nebo von Ballmoos to Eileen Southern eileensouthern omeka fas harvard edu Harvard University Retrieved 24 April 2022 Indiana University Archives Photo Collection Results for Agnes Nebo webapp1 dlib indiana edu Indiana University Bloomington March 8 1973 Retrieved 24 April 2022 Results 1 2 of 2 Agnes von Balmoos A chorus of one 2009 on YouTube Agnes Nebo von Ballmoos Our Late Directress University of Liberia Chorus www ulachorus org 2020 Retrieved 24 April 2022 She published her arrangements of three Liberian folksongs Kah Benneh Kah Wah Gee Tee Bee and Hwraynyeehday with Lawson Gould Music Publishers in 1970 and 1974 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Agnes Nebo von Ballmoos amp oldid 1123603283, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
