Vida Chenoweth
(1934 - 2018)
Profession: Ethnomusicology
Hometown: Enid
Inducted: 1985
From an early age, Vida Chenoweth was fascinated with music. As a child, she was an incredibly skilled clarinetist and pianist. In her family's music shop, Chenoweth was introduced to the marimba. Years later, after studying performance and music literature at Northwestern University, as well as linguistics at Attends Alliance Française, Paris, she launched her career. Chenoweth was dedicated to elevating the marimba's status in professional music settings.
Chenoweth performed worldwide, from New York City to Guatemala, showcasing her talent on every continent. She became known as the first concert marimbaist, the Segovia of the marimba, and one of the "Outstanding Musicians of the 20th Century." Chenoweth authored several books and articles and was the inspiration to several significant musical works.
During the height of her career, Chenoweth almost lost a finger after a kitchen accident. She took advantage of her time away from performing and began investing in linguistics. At the time she was introduced to the Usarufa people of Papua, New Guinea. After her hand miraculously healed, she began translating the Bible into the language of the Usarufa people. Chenoweth then spent thirteen years in New Guinea teaching literacy and developing a written language while studying the music styles of the Usarufa tribe. In 1974, she graduated with a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from the University of Auckland, New Zealand. She gave her last performance on June 9, 1980.
Want to hear more?
Click below to listen to Vida Chenoweth perform J. S. Bach's Praeludium in E Major on the marimba.