Sara Opal Search

Sara Opal Piontkowski Heron Search[1] (14 July 1890 - 3 September 1961)[2] was an American composer[3] who wrote chamber music as well as works for orchestra,[4] concert band, and voice[5] under the name Sara Opal Search.

Search was born in Fort Worth, Texas.[6] Her mother was Countess Dolly von Piontkowski.[7] Little is known about her education. She married Herbert Heron in 1905 or 1906, and they had two children, Billie and Constance. In 1923, she divorced Heron and married cellist and composer Frederick Preston Search,[8] who was an orchestra leader at the Hotel del Monte in Carmel, California, at the time.[9]

Search’s first composition, Symphony in c minor, was copyrighted in 1941.[10] In a letter to Howes Norris Jr., who had requested her autograph, she noted that. . .  "my Symphony in c minor is my first composition; Mr. Wallenstine [probably Alfred Wellenstein] is the first conductor to read it and conduct it; and you are the first person to ask me for my autograph!"[11]

Search’s works are archived at the University of California, Berkeley’s Hargrove Music Library.[12] Her compositions include:

Band
  • Barcarolle[12]
  • Serenade (trombone and concert band)[12]
  • Waltz[12]

Chamber
  • Allegro Giocoso (flute solo)[13][14]
  • Quintet (woodwind quintet)[12]
  • Scherzo (string quartet)[12]
  • Solo for Cello[12]
  • Solo for Trumpet[12]
  • String Quartet in e flat minor[12]
  • String Quartet No. 2[12]

Orchestra
  • Allegro Giocoso (flute and orchestra)[12]
  • Allegro Moderato (violin or cello and orchestra)[12]
  • Suite for Symphony Orchestra[12]
  • Symphony in c minor (string orchestra)[15][10]
  • Symphony No. 2[1]

Piano

Vocal
  • “Dirge” (voice and piano), lyrics by George Sterling from his play Lilith[12]
  • “I’m So Blue” (voice and piano)[12]
  • “Kathleen” (voice and piano)[12]
  • “Linda” (voice and piano)[12]
  • Remember, My Darling (voice, brass, and strings)[12]
  • “Song for Susie/Kitty Song” (voice and piano)[12]

References
  1. Butterworth, Neil (2019-05-23). The American Symphony. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-429-78944-1.
  2. Search, Sara Opal. "Sara Opal Search". www.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  3. Hixon, Donald L. (1993). Women in music : an encyclopedic biobibliography. Don A. Hennessee (2nd ed.). Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-2769-7. OCLC 28889156.
  4. Stern, Susan (1978). Women composers : a handbook. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-1138-3. OCLC 3844725.
  5. Stewart-Green, Miriam (1980). Women composers : a checklist of works for the solo voice. Boston, Mass.: G.K. Hall. ISBN 0-8161-8498-4. OCLC 6815939.
  6. Cohen, Aaron I. (1987). International Encyclopedia of Women Composers. Books & Music (USA). ISBN 978-0-9617485-2-4.
  7. Piontkowski, Dolly von (19 Jan 1906). "Actor Wins Pretty Bride". Los Angeles Herald. p. 7.
  8. Wier, Albert E. (1938). The Macmillan encyclopedia of music and musicians : in one volume. The Macmillan Company. OCLC 861908.
  9. Search, Frederick Preston (27 Feb 1923). "Carmel Couple Wed Here at Early Hour by Justice of Peace". The Californian. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  10. Catalog of Copyright Entries: Musical compositions. Library of Congress, Copyright Office. 1941.
  11. "Autograph Letter Signed by SEARCH, Sara Opal (?-?): Signed by Author(s) | Main Street Fine Books & Mss, ABAA". www.abebooks.com. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  12. "Inventory of the Sara Opal Search musical compositions, [19--]". oac.cdlib.org. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  13. Search, Sara Opal. "Search, Sara Opal". archives.nypl.org. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  14. Boenke, H. Alais (1988). Flute Music by Women Composers: An Annotated Catalog. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-0-313-26019-3.
  15. Search, Sara Opal (1981). Bibliographic Guide to Music. G. K. Hall. ISBN 978-0-8161-6961-0.
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