Glenn Jenks

Jenks was a "prolific ragtime composer, teacher and performer from Maine who fused traditional ragtime with classical music themes".{{cite web |url=http://www.ragtimepiano.ca/rags/classical.htm |title=The Interplay Between Classical Music, Ragtime, and Jazz |last=Tjaden |first=Ted |date=January 1, 2021 |website=Ragtimepiano.ca |publisher= |access-date=January 1, 2023 |quote= |archive-date=January 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102042624/http://www.ragtimepiano.ca/rags/classical.htm |url-status=live }} He attended the New England Conservatory{{cite web |url=https://www.americanpianomusic.com/post/glenn-jenks |date=January 1, 2022 |title=American Piano Music: Glenn jenks |last=Swearingen |first=Corte |website=Americanpianomusic.com |publisher= |access-date=December 31, 2022 |quote= |archive-date=January 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102031845/https://www.americanpianomusic.com/post/glenn-jenks |url-status=live }} before going on to receive a degree in music from Earlham College, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. Jenks toured with singer-songwriter Jud Strunk between 1975 and 1978.{{cite web |url=https://syncopatedtimes.com/ragtimer-glenn-jenks-has-died/ |date=March 1, 2016 |title=Ragtimer Glenn Jenks has died |last=Shaw |first=Lew |website=Syncopatedtimes.com |publisher=The Syncopated Time |access-date=December 31, 2022 |quote= |archive-date=January 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102033346/https://syncopatedtimes.com/ragtimer-glenn-jenks-has-died/ |url-status=live }} He also performed with such acts as Manhattan Transfer, Dick Hyman, Gordon Bok, Doc Watson{{cite web |url=http://www.ragtime.nu/jenks.htm |title=Glenn Jenks |last=Mezjuev |first=Oleg |website=Ragtime.nu |publisher= |access-date=January 3, 2023 |quote= |archive-date=June 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617032450/http://www.ragtime.nu/jenks.htm |url-status=live }} and Andy Williams. In 1978, Jenks began his solo performing career and in 1979 released his first album entitled Antidote on the Bonnie Banks record label.

Throughout the 1980s, Jenks served as pianist for the New England Vaudeville Review, the New Vaudeville Revival, and husband and wife dance duo Tony and Karen Montanaro. Jenks was an original founding member of numerous ragtime festivals and between 1989 and 2000 he produced the Harvest Ragtime Revue in Camden, Maine.{{cite web |url=https://knox.villagesoup.com/2019/08/22/ragtime-revue-revives-the-music-of-glenn-jenks-1827897/ |title=Ragtime Revue revives the music of Glenn Jenks |last=Mustapich |first=Susan |date=August 22, 2019 |website=Knoxvillagesoup.com |publisher= |access-date=December 31, 2022 |quote= |archive-date=January 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102031847/https://knox.villagesoup.com/2019/08/22/ragtime-revue-revives-the-music-of-glenn-jenks-1827897/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.mainepublic.org/show/maine-calling/2022-10-20/an-exploration-of-ragtime-including-maine-musician-glenn-jenks |title=An Exploration of Ragtime, including Maine Musician Glenn Jenks |last=Rooks |first=Jennifer |date=October 20, 2022 |website=Mainepublic.org |publisher= |access-date=December 31, 2022 |quote= |archive-date=January 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102031850/https://www.mainepublic.org/show/maine-calling/2022-10-20/an-exploration-of-ragtime-including-maine-musician-glenn-jenks |url-status=live }} Jenks was a noted ornithologist and botany specialist on roses who conducted tours of gardens throughout the Camden area.{{cite web |url=https://www.boothbayregister.com/article/glenn-jenks-ragtime-revue-oct-23/166423 |title=Glenn Jenks Ragtime Revue Oct. 23 |last=Robinson |first=Aaron |date=October 13, 2022 |website=Boothbayregister.com |publisher= |access-date=December 31, 2022 |quote= |archive-date=October 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013153240/https://www.boothbayregister.com/article/glenn-jenks-ragtime-revue-oct-23/166423 |url-status=live }} He founded the annual Rose Day celebration at the Merryspring Nature Center.{{cite web |url=https://knox.villagesoup.com/2022/06/17/merryspring-nature-center-announces-annual-rose-day-celebration/ |title=Merryspring Nature Center announces annual Rose Day celebration |last=Herald |first=Camden |date=June 17, 2022 |website=Knoxvillagesoup.com |publisher=Courier Gazette |access-date=December 31, 2022 |quote= |archive-date=January 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102031849/https://knox.villagesoup.com/2022/06/17/merryspring-nature-center-announces-annual-rose-day-celebration/ |url-status=live }}

{{Blockquote

|text= “As a performer, Jenks was known for his energetic playing, focusing mostly on traditional ragtime idioms. As a composer, he wrote wonderfully sensitive rags, sticking close to the traditional ragtime form, but blending in sophisticated contemporary harmonies. He wrote over 30 piano rags, a string quartet, a ragtime piano concerto and many non-ragtime compositions as well.”

|author=Corte Swearingen

}}

Jenks was commissioned by Down East Singers to compose Heaven and Earth are Full of Thy Glory for their concert tour of Russia.{{cite web |url=https://choralnet.org/archives/announcements/down-east-singers-present-jenks-and-jazz |title=Down East Singers Present “Jenks and Jazz” |last=Antolini |first=Anthony |date=December 5, 2016 |website=Choralnet.org |publisher= |access-date=January 1, 2023 |quote= |archive-date=January 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102042618/https://choralnet.org/archives/announcements/down-east-singers-present-jenks-and-jazz |url-status=live }} His String Quartet in Ragtime has been recorded and performed by several string quartets including the Laurentian Quartet,{{cite news |last=Sherman |first=Robert |date=May 5, 1996 |title=MUSIC;Works by Women Gain New Attention |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/05/05/nyregion/music-works-by-women-gain-new-attention.html |work=New York Times |location=USA |access-date=January 2, 2023 |archive-date=January 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103002124/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/05/05/nyregion/music-works-by-women-gain-new-attention.html |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |last=Thompson |first=Gwen |date= |title=A Maine You Can Hear |url=https://issuu.com/portlandmagazine/docs/199707sep |magazine=Portland Magazine |location=Portland, Maine |publisher= |access-date=January 1, 2023 |archive-date=January 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102042621/https://issuu.com/portlandmagazine/docs/199707sep |url-status=live }} Vancadium Quartet and the Halcyon Quartet.

Jenks died on January 21, 2016, in Portland, Maine.

In 2019, the Glenn Jenks Ragtime Revue premiered at the Camden Opera House in Camden, Maine. The Revue revived a tradition that Jenks started 30 years prior which brought nationally-known artists together in "song, dance, humor and ragtime."{{cite web |url=https://knox.villagesoup.com/2019/10/04/ragtime-greats-remember-jenks-with-revue-revival-1834683/ |title=Ragtime greats remember Jenks with revue revival |last=Mustapich |first=Susan |date=October 4, 2019 |website=Knox.villagesoup.com |publisher=courier-gazettee |access-date=December 31, 2022 |quote= |archive-date=January 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102031850/https://knox.villagesoup.com/2019/10/04/ragtime-greats-remember-jenks-with-revue-revival-1834683/ |url-status=live }} The Revue has presented awards to various ragtime performers including Sue Keller, Edward A. Berlin and Max Morath.{{cite web |url=https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/lifestyle/arts-and-entertainment/mr-ragtime-max-morath-public-tv-pioneer-is-happily-living-his-coda-in-duluth |title='Mr. Ragtime' Max Morath, public TV pioneer, is happily living his coda in Duluth |last=Gabler |first=Jay |date=December 26, 2022 |website=Duluthnewstribune.com |publisher=Duluth News Tribune |access-date=December 31, 2022 |quote= |archive-date=February 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207185950/https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/lifestyle/arts-and-entertainment/mr-ragtime-max-morath-public-tv-pioneer-is-happily-living-his-coda-in-duluth |url-status=live }} It also sponsors the "Glenn Jenks Future in Music Prize" in association with the Bay Chamber Concerts and Music School in Rockport, Maine.{{cite web |url=https://www.baychamber.org/young-stars-of-maine |title=Glenn Jenks - The Complete Ragtime Works for Piano |last=Berlin |first=Ed |date=July 30, 2020 |website=Syncopatedtimes.com |publisher=The Syncopated Time |access-date=December 31, 2022 |quote= |archive-date=January 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102031845/https://www.baychamber.org/young-stars-of-maine |url-status=live }}

In 2020, a collection of Jenk’s complete rags for piano was released.{{cite web |url=https://syncopatedtimes.com/glenn-jenks-%e2%80%a2-the-complete-ragtime-works-for-piano/ |title=Glenn Jenks • The Complete Ragtime Works for Piano |last=Berlin |first=Ed |date=July 30, 2020 |website=Syncopatedtimes.com |publisher=The Syncopated Time |access-date=December 31, 2022 |quote= |archive-date=January 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102031850/https://syncopatedtimes.com/glenn-jenks-%E2%80%A2-the-complete-ragtime-works-for-piano/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://syncopatedtimes.com/glenn-jenks-ragtime-revue-scheduled-for-oct-23/ |title=Glenn Jenks Ragtime Revue Scheduled for Oct. 23 |last=Melton |first=Larry |date=September 29, 2022 |website=Syncopatedtimes.com |publisher=The Syncopated Time |access-date=December 31, 2022 |quote= |archive-date=March 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324181958/https://syncopatedtimes.com/glenn-jenks-ragtime-revue-scheduled-for-oct-23/ |url-status=live }} In May 2024, American pianist Corte Swearingen released the album The Complete Ragtime Works for Piano by Glenn Jenks - Vol. 1.{{cite web |url=https://syncopatedtimes.com/corte-swearingen-introduces-a-ragtime-master-to-a-new-generation/ |title=Corte Swearingen Introduces a Ragtime Master to a New Generation |last=Robinson |first=Aaron |date=May 29, 2024 |website=syncopatedtimes.com |publisher=The Syncopated Time |access-date=June 19, 2024 |quote= }} The Scott Joplin International Ragtime Festival in Sedalia, Missouri posthumously awarded Jenks their 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award.[https://www.scottjoplin.org/post/glenn-jenks-outstanding-achievement-award The Scott Joplin International Ragtime Festival. June 4, 2024. Glenn Jenks: Outstanding Achievement Award.]

• Jenks, Glenn (1993). A Garden of Ragtime, Squanlake Music. 68 pages.{{cite web |url=http://www.ragtime.nu/books_jenks.htm |title=Glenn Jenks’ Music books |last=Mezjeuv |first=Oleg |date=January 1, 1996 |website=Ragtime.nu |publisher= |access-date=January 1, 2023 |quote= |archive-date=January 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102031845/http://www.ragtime.nu/books_jenks.htm |url-status=live }}
• Jenks, Glenn (2020). The Complete Ragtime Works For Piano by Glenn Jenks. 265 pages.{{cite web|url=https://syncopatedtimes.com/glenn-jenks-%E2%80%A2-the-complete-ragtime-works-for-piano/|title=Glenn Jenks - The Complete Ragtime Works for Piano|last=Berlin|first=Ed|date=July 30, 2020|website=Syncopatedtimes.com|publisher=|access-date=January 1, 2023|quote=|archive-date=January 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102031850/https://syncopatedtimes.com/glenn-jenks-%E2%80%A2-the-complete-ragtime-works-for-piano/|url-status=live}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{IMDb name|7286828|Glenn Jenks}}
• [https://www.mainepublic.org/show/maine-calling/2022-10-20/an-exploration-of-ragtime-including-maine-musician-glenn-jenks Maine Public Radio: An Exploration of Ragtime - Glenn Jenks]
• [https://www.americanpianomusic.com/post/glenn-jenks List of Piano Compositions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102031849/https://www.americanpianomusic.com/post/glenn-jenks |date=2023-01-02 }}
• [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRvQ9vNQqG2wWekT9VA4XmLLBIEZsILP- Glenn Jenks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430214825/https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRvQ9vNQqG2wWekT9VA4XmLLBIEZsILP- |date=2023-04-30 }} at YouTube

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Category:1947 births

Category:American male classical composers

Category:American classical composers

Category:Ragtime composers

Category:People from Camden, Maine

Category:Musicians from Maine

Category:Boston Conservatory at Berklee alumni

Category:Earlham College alumni

Category:American music historians

Category:2016 deaths