Interview with Gordon J. Kinney, February 29, 1976

Interview Summary

Dr. Gordon Kinney graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Music from the Eastern School of Music in 1930. He received his Masters of Music in 1941 from the University of South Dakota. He taught Strings and Orchestration at Ohio University from 1941-1945, prior to becoming Assistant Professor and Acting Head of the Department of Theory and Composition at the University of Colorado. Due to faculty changes, Kinney came to the University of Kentucky in 1948. He recalls that he and Edwin Stein, UK's Music Department Chair, arrived at UK about the same time. The music department was located in a wartime barracks building behind Memorial Hall before the new Fine Arts building was completed in 1950. Kinney recalls that Dr. Howard Hanson, Director of the Eastern School of Music, attended the dedication ceremonies. He talks about earning his Ph.D., discusses the pressure on faculty to publish, and describes the complexity of music publishing. He describes a music typewriter, used to prepare musical scores for engraving abroad, an expensive process.

Kinney discusses his extensive teaching and performing responsibilities in all areas of music, and the development of Master's and Doctoral programs in Music at UK. Kinney mentions various instructors, including Frank Prindle, who directed the Kentucky Marching 100, and Mildred "Miss Kentucky" Lewis, who taught music education. He explains the contention between academic and applied music, i.e. musicology and performance. Kinney notes that UK has one of the finest music libraries in the South, and talks about the proliferation of various musical organizations in the Lexington, Kentucky area. He details the responsibilities of the Department Chair, and mentions the ongoing problems of persuading the local press to publicize musical events held on campus. He also talks about difficulties involved with teaching, and explains the deficiencies in secondary school education in the United States.

Kinney describes the Day Law and talks about the integration of the University of Kentucky. Kinney recalls no resentment towards blacks in marching band or orchestra. He discusses gender issues and notes the hiring of women for music positions at UK depended on availability as well as qualifications at the university. However, he notes that women would later experience more difficulties when applying for jobs.

Interview LC Subject

Kinney, Gordon J. Kinney, Gordon J.--Interviews University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History

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