Curriculum Vitae

Ronald Allen Pen
350 Grimes Mill Road
Lexington, Kentucky 40515

School of Music
105 Fine Arts Building
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky 40506-0022

Education

1987 Ph.D. University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Musicology. Dissertation topic: "The Biography and Works of
John Jacob Niles"
Major Professors: Dr. Donald Ivey, Dr. Jonathan Glixon

1982 M.A. Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
Music Composition. Thesis topic: "Mass"
Major Professors: Dr. Reed Hoyt, Dr. John Joyce

1973-1975 Chicago Music College of Roosevelt University, Chicago, Il
(coursework completed leading to an M.M. in Music Composition)

1973 B.A. Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA
Music Composition

Professional Experience

1997-- Director of the John Jacob Niles Center for American Music, University of Kentucky

1995-- Associate Professor, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY

1991--95 Assistant Professor, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Duties: Assistant Professor assigned to the Musicology Division of the School of Music, College of Fine Arts. Associate Director and Director of Undergraduate Studies (1992-1996).

1997--1999 Adjunct faculty, Vermont College of Norwich University, Montpelier, VT

Professional Productivity

Books

Editor. A History of the People Called Monks. Especially Relating to the Monks of Gethsemani of Nelson County, Kentucky. Lexington, KY: University of Kentucky Library Press, forthcoming 2002 (This is a family manuscript written by William B. Allen that I have transcribed and edited, and for which I contributed an introduction).

Contributor. "Triangles Squares, Circles, and Diamonds: The 'FaSoLa Folk' and Their
Singing Tradition" in America's Multicultural Music. New York: Schirmer Books, 1997.

Contributor. Doris Ulmann: In Focus. Los Angeles: J. Paul Getty Museum Press, 1996.

Introduction to Music. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1992.

Forewords

Ritchie, Jean. Folksongs of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky, 1997 (Republication of Oak Publication, 1965.)

Niles, John Jacob The Ballad Book of John Jacob Niles. Lexington, KY: The University Press of Kentucky (Republication of Houghton-Mifflin Company, 1961) 2000.

Multimedia

Contributor. "Twentieth Century Music" Intermuse (CD ROM and Web Site) Boulder, CO: The Reindeer Company, 1997.

Journal Articles, Review Essays, and Reviews

"Documenting America's Musical Voice: A Retrospective of the Lomax Family" Symposium vol. XXXVIII November, 1998.

Review of "The Fifth Generation" by Phil Sexton and Gary Brewer in Sonneck Society Bulletin vol. XXXIV:1 (Spring 1998).

"Synthetic Scales: A Blues Conversation" Jazz Player. IV:5 (August/September 1997).

"Synthetic Scales: A Blues Conversation, Part Two" Jazz Player IV:6 (Oct/Nov 1997).

Review of "Sons of Beaches by the Bellamy Brothers, Latest and Greatest by Exile, Someday by Crystal Gayle, and In a Quiet Room by Dan Seals. The Sonneck Society Bulletin (Summer 1996).

"The Fasola Folk of Kentucky" Now and Then (Journal of the Tennessee Folklore Society) Summer 1995.

Review of The Sacred Harp by B.F. White and The Sacred Harp: A Tradition and Its Music" by Buell Cobb. American Music 12:1 (Spring 1994)

Review of Singing the Glory Down: Amateur Gospel Music in South Central Kentucky 1900-1990 by Lynwood Montell and The Rise of Gospel Blues: The Music of Thomas A. Dorsey in the Urban Church by Michael W. Harris in Notes (December 1993)

"The Career of John Jacob Niles: A Study in the Intersection of Elite, Traditional, and Popular Music Performance." The Kentucky Review 12:1/2 (Autumn 1993)

Review of The American Vocalist: Spirituals and Folk Hymns 1850-1870 by the Boston Camerata directed by Joel Cohen in The Sonneck Society Bulletin (Fall 1993): 38-39.

Review of Juju: A Social History and Ethnography of an African Popular Music by Christopher Alan Waterman and African Rock: the Pop Music of a Continent by Chris Stapleton and Chris May in Musical Quarterly 75:4 (Spring 1992): 135-141.

Review of The Southern Harmony by William Walker in American Music 7:1 (Spring 1989): 94-95.

Review of The Southern Harmony by William Walker in The Old Time Herald 1:8 (Summer 1989): 38.

Encyclopedia Entries

Encyclopedia of Appalachia. Knoxville, TN: University of Tennessee Press.
Forthcoming 2002. S.v. "ballads," "festivals," "folk music collections," "Jean Ritchie," "John Jacob Niles," "Aunt Molly Jackson," "Sexton, Morgan, Lee, and Phil," " Lily May Ledford," and "Sarah Ogan Gunning"

Academic American Encyclopedia. New York: Grolier Incorporated, 1998. S.v. "Country Music"

American Folklore: An Encyclopedia. New York: Garland Press, 1996. S.v. "dulcimer," "John Jacob Niles," and "'Aunt' Molly Jackson."

American National Biographies. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996 S.v. "John
Jacob Niles."

Academic American Encyclopedia. New York: Grolier Incorporated, 1995. S.v.
"Jazz," "Bluegrass," and "Blues."

The Kentucky Encyclopedia. Lexington, KY: The University Press of Kentucky, 1992.
S.v. "John Jacob Niles," "'Aunt' Molly Jackson," "Nimrod Workman," "Logan English," "Ricky Skaggs," "Homer Ledford," "J.D. Crowe," "Edward Thomas," and "Lily May Ledford."

Encyclopedia of World Music Volume 3:The United States and Canada. New York: Garland Press, 2000. S.v. "New Age Music"

Other Publications and Scholarly Activity

"Fifty Years of Jazz at the University of Kentucky" Downbeat Magazine (February 2001)

"Coon Creek Girl: Lily May Ledford" liner notes for June Appal recording, 2000.

"Hindman Settlement School Family Folk Week" Old Time Herald February 1998.

"For Edna Ritchie, Life and Art Were One" Lexington Herald-Leader September 28,
1997.

"Driving the Golden Spike: Railroads and American Song" Fanfare (Audio Journal) Volume 3 (1997).

Mountain Born: The Jean Ritchie Story Produced by KET, Producers H. Russel
Farmer and Guy Mendes (1996). Consultation and Principal Humanities Advisor for Kentucky Humanities Council Grant. Film

"Mightyworks Wanders Through Appalachia with Photographer Doris Ulmann and
Baladeer John Jacob Niles" broadcast on KPFK Pacifica Radio, June 13, 1996.

"Doris Ulmann and John Jacob Niles" Independent Producer, Heather Lyons
Consultation and Principal Humanities Advisor for Kentucky Humanities
Council Grant. In Progress. Film

"Old Time Music" Fanfare (Audio Journal). Volume 2 (1996).
(Also performed and recorded incidental music for the journal)

"John Jacob Niles" Midwest Note-Book (Midwest Chapter of Music Library Association). 2:3 (January 1994): 10-11.

"On Overtures" Fanfare (Audio Journal) Presented by The Gaines Center for the Humanities at the University of Kentucky. Volume 1. 1994.

"John Jacob Niles: A Centennial Celebration" Arts, Commentary, and Entertainment 4:3 (April 1992): 16-17.

"Just Completed and Off To the NY Film Festival" Arts, Commentary and Entertainment 2:3 (Autumn 1990): 28.

"The Sources of Country Music" brochure, display copy and recorded audio cassette for the University of Kentucky Art Museum, 1988.

Program notes for the University Artist Series, University of Kentucky 1988-1989.

Contributing Music Critic for the Lexington Herald-Leader 1988-1998. Reviews of classical music, ballet, musical theatre, and popular music.

Liner notes and consultation for The John Jacob Niles Collection (sound recording). Gifthorse G4-10008.

Laura Clay: Voice of Change Produced by Little City Media for WKET. Music Director, 1992.

Manuscript Reviews

2001 Jones, Loyal. Minstrel of the Appalachians: The Story of Bascom Lamar Lunsford. Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky

2000 Eaker, Susan. "Women, Banjos, and Ballads: Gender and the History of Appalachian Music." Knoxville, TN: University of Tennessee Press.

2000 Titon, Jeff Todd. "Old Time Fiddle Tunes from Kentucky" Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky

1999 Feintuch, Burt. "Musical Routes" Knoxville, TN: University of Tennessee Press

1998 Jacobs, Philip. "Sometimes Give Me Thought: The Life and Photography of Doris Ulmann" Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky

1998 Titon, Jeff Todd. "Old Time Fiddle Tunes from Kentucky" Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky

1998 Howard and Streck. "Apostles of Rock" Lexington, KY: University Press of
Kentucky

1997 Livingston, Carolyn. "See Me Cross the River: Charles Faulkner Bryant" Knoxville, TN: The University of Tennessee Press

1997 Milnes, Gerald. "Chills of Hilarity: Folk Music Dance and Lore in West Virginia" Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky.

1996 Barkley, Elizabeth, Megill, Donald, and Megill, David. "Introduction to the Musics of Multicultural America" Knoxville, TN: University of Tennessee Press

1995 Porter, James and Gower, Hershel. "Jeannie Robertson: Emergent Singer, Transformative Voice" Knoxville, TN: University of Tennessee Press.

1995 Kamien, Roger. Music: An Appreciation (sixth edition). New York: McGraw-
Hill, Inc.

1994 "A Stylistic History of Jazz" Madison, WI: Brown and Benchmark

1992 Lornell, Kip. "Introducing American Folk Music" Madison, WI: Brown and
Benchmark.

1991 Joyner, David. "American Popular Music" Madison, WI: Brown and Benchmark.

Chair of Conference Sessions

2002 Society for American Music, Lexington, KY
Session Chair "Tuned Up and Ready for Singing"

2001 American Musicological Society South-Central Chapter, Atlanta, GA
Session Chair "Nineteenth-Century American Music"

2000 Society for American Music, Charleston, SC

1999 South-Central Chapter of the American Musicological Society, Lexington, KY
Session Chair "Musical Communities"

1999 Society for American Music, Ft. Worth, TX
Session Chair "Gospel Roots of Sacred Harp"

1998 South-Central Chapter of the American Musicological Society, Atlanta GA
Session Chair "Reception and Meaning in 20th-century Music"

1997 Appalachian Studies Conference, Cincinnati, OH
Session Chair "Roots and Resistance in Mountain Music"

1996 Sonneck Society for American Music, Washington DC
Session Chair "Folk Icons"

1995 Sonneck Society for American Music, Madison, WI
Nation Conference Program Chair
Session Chair "American Originals"

1994 College Music Society, Savannah, GA
Sessions Chair "Twentieth Century Popular Influences I and II"

1992 American Musicological Society, South-Central Chapter, Maryville, TN
Session Chair "Music in Tennessee"

1992 The Appalachian Conference, "The Arts in Appalachia" Lexington, KY
Program Chair

Invitations

2002 "Jean Ritchie" at Eastern Kentucky University's Appalachian Music Series

2002 "There's Life in the Old Boy Yet: A Brief History of Old Time Music" at American Studies Association (Kentucky-Tennessee Chapter)

2001 Humanities scholar and musician for "Voices from Home" initiative in New York, NY sponsored by Appalshop and funded by NEH

2001 Humanities scholar and musician for "Voices from Home" initiative in Anchorage, Alaska sponsored by Appalshop and funded by NEH

2001 "History of Old Time Music" at Christopher Newport College, Newport News, VA

2000 "Jazz: The Audible History of Racial Integration" at Lindsey-Wilson College, Columbia, KY

2000 "Talking about Jazz and Race" Panel in association with the "Jazz in Paris" symposium, Lexington, KY

1999 "A History of Old Time Music: The perspective from Olde Kaintuckee" keynote address at the Music Librarians Association National Conference, Louisville, KY

1997 "Defining American Identity: Preservation, Presentation, and Transformation" at the Southern Chapter of the American Musicological Society, University of Alabama

1997 "Shape Note Singing School" at Kentucky Music Educators Association Conference, Louisville, KY

1996 "Niles-Ulmann: Vision and Transformation" at the J. Paul Getty Museum, Malabu, California

1996 Lecture/Performance: "Appalachian Music" at the Donovan Scholars Forum, Lexington, KY

1995 Artist-In-Residence, The Birke Symposium, Marshall University, Huntington, WV (Lectures and Performances of Appalachian music)

1995 "Shape Note Singing" at The Society for Seventeenth-Century Music National
Conference, Shaker Village, KY

1994 Presenter at the Doris Ulmann Colloquium, The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, CA "The Appalachian Photographs: Collaboration Between John Jacob Niles and Doris Ulmann"

Recent Papers Presented

1999 "Defining American Identity: Preservation, Presentation, and Transformation
at the American Musicological Society National Conference, Kansas City, MO

1997 "Defining American Identity Through Early Folk Music Collections: Preservation, Presentation, Transformation" at the Sonneck Society for American Music National Conference, Kansas City, MO

1997 "Defining American Identity: Preservation, Presentation, and Transformation" at the American Musicological Society, South-Central Chapter Meeting, Murfreesboro, TN

1996 "Marion Sumner: Fiddle King of the South" Paper presented at the International Country Music Conference, Meridian, MS

1994 "Squares, Triangles, Circles, and Diamonds: An Examination of the Transformational Role of Folk Revivalism in the Preservation of Shape Note Tradition" National Conference of the Sonneck Society for American Music, Worcester, MA

1994 "She's But a Lassie: Women and Cultural Context Reflected in Traditional Scottish Song" Kentucky-Scottish Seminar, Carrolton, KY

1993 "John Jacob Niles and the John Jacob Niles Collection" Midwest Chapter of the Music Library Association, Pleasant Hill (Shakertown), KY

1993 Squares, Triangles, Circles, and Diamonds: An Examination of the Transformational Role of Folk Revivalism in the Preservation of Shape Note Hymnody" The American Musicological Society, South-Central Chapter, Maryville, TN

1993 "The Kirkin' O' the Tartan: The Role of Music in the Scottish Church" Kentucky-Scottish Seminar, Carrolton, KY

1992 "Squares, Triangles, Circles, and Diamonds: An Examination of Revivalism in Shape Note Preservation" The College Music Society, Lexington, KY

1992 "The Career of John Jacob Niles: A Study in the Intersection of Traditional and Popular Musical Performance' The Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association Conference, Louisville, KY

1992 "From Haggis to Neeps: Music and Cuisine in Scottish Life" Kentucky-Scottish Seminar, Carrolton, KY

1991 "The Career of John Jacob Niles: A Study in the Intersection of Elite, Traditional, and Popular Musical Performance" American Musicological Society, South-Central Chapter, Nashville, TN

1991 "Appalachian Music: A Window into the Cultural Heritage of the Appalachian People" Conference on Appalachia, Lexington, KY

Other Professional Activity

Society for American Music
2002 Local Arrangements Chair, National Conference, Lexington, KY
2000- Book Review Editor, American Music
1998-1999 Chair, Lowens Book Award Committee
1996- Board Member, Student Liaison to the Board
1996- Chair, Folk and Traditional Music Interest Group
1996-1997 Chair, Sonneck Bulletin Editor Search Committee
1995 Program Chair, National Conference, Madison, WI
2001 Program Committee for American Musicological Society South-Central Chapter Meeting, Atlanta, GA 2001
2000- Chair of Vernacular and Elite Art Music Roundatable for the NEH-sponsored Regional Center at the University of Ohio
1988- Contributing Music Critic, Lexington Herald-Leader
1983- Organist/Choirmaster, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church,
Georgetown, KY
1998- Advisory Board Member of the Kentucky Music Country Museum
1997-1999 Singer, Musick's Company (performing ensemble of The Center for Old Music in the New World)
1995-1996 Singer, The New Winchester Chorale, Winchester, KY
1987-1992 Host, "Arts Plus" and "Accent" radio programs produced at WUKY (Public Radio) Lexington, KY
1983- Appalachian Association of Sacred Harp Singers
1986-1988 Director, Appalachian Association of Sacred Harp Singers
1998-2000 Director, Appalachian Association of Sacred Harp Singers
1989-1996 Dulcimer Instructor in the Donovan Program
1988-1996 Kentucky Humanities Council Speakers Bureau
1991-1992 Featured Speaker
1988-1989 Featured Speaker
1990- Staff at Hindman Settlement School Folk Week
Instructor for shape note singing class
1992- Fiddler in string band for Lexington Traditional Dance Society, Lexington, KY
1995- Instructor, Swannanoa Gathering at Warren Wilson College, Asheville, NC. (shape note singing and folklore)
2000 Staff at Berea College Christmas Dance School, Berea, KY

External Peer Tenure Review

2000 University of West Virginia
1999 The Georgia State University
1998 The University of Vermont
1997 The George Washington University
1996 Georgia Technological University
1995 University of Missouri at Kansas City, Conservatory of Music

Teaching Awards

1996 Finalist for the Acorn Award sponsored by Kentucky Advocates for Higher Education
1994 Great Teacher Award, University of Kentucky Alumni Association
1992 Excellence in Teaching Award, College of Fine Arts, University of Kentucky

Selected Extramural Grants

2000 Niles Center Collections Endowment ($150,000.)
1999 Library Technology/Data Conversion Grant from the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives ($10,000.)
1999 Thomas Grant to endow Jazz Studies through the Niles Center ($10,000)
1998 Receipt of the Charles F. Faber Collection of Recorded Country Music (collection appraised at $7,475.)
1997 Kentucky Humanities Council grant to support Lexington Jazz Artist Residency. Principal Humanities Advisor ($3,000)
1997 Receipt of the Glenn and Helen Wilcox Collection funded through matching portion of the Niles bequest and additional funding provided by the College of Fine Arts ($186,000)
1997 Receipt of bequest from Justin Ruschell to administer a scholarship known as the "Justin Luke Ruschell Appalachian Academic Scholarship Fund" in support of an Appalachian student at the University of Kentucky (at least $1,200 per annum)
1997 Kentucky Arts Council grant to support Lily May Ledford recording project. Ms. Cari Norris was the grant recipient, I served as humanities advisor ($3,000)
1997 National Endowment for the Humanities grant to support the "Humanities
Bridge" project to support CD ROM and Website access to humanities at
the middle and high school level. Sponsored by KET, I serve as a
Humanities Advisor. Pending, Resubmitted in 1998.
1994 Matching gift from Mrs. Rena Niles to establish the John Jacob Niles Center for American Music at the University of Kentucky. Funding received by the University Libraries. ($250,000)
1992 Barry and Mary Bingham, Sr. Foundation grant to underwrite the Appalachian Conference "State of the Arts in Appalachia" ($3,000)
1989 Lexington Arts Cultural Grant to support American Dance Ensemble Residency ($3,000)

University Service

2001 Undergraduate Research and Creativity Grant Committee
2000- Chair of Appalachian Director Position Search Committee
1999- University Senate
1999- University Press Publications Board
1999- Futures Committee
1999- Chair, College of Fine Arts Advisory Council
1998 External review of Arts Administration Program
1998- Instructor, Gaines Seminar in the Humanities
1997- Instructor, Gaines Sophomore Initiative Interdisciplinary Course
1997- James Still Fellowship Committee
1994-97 National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Stipend Review Committee
1995- Reader for Singletary Scholarship applications
1993- Appalachian Center Associate
1993-1995 Board Member, Hilary Boone Faculty Center
1992-1995 University Senate
1991-1994 Undergraduate Council

Scholarly Organization Membership

American Musicological Society
Society for American Music
Appalachian Studies Association
College Music Society
Kentucky Music Educators Association