Jay Watt

Jay Watt’s mother met John Stix, a former Black Mountain student at a party at Yale University where Stix was a student, and Stix suggested Black Mountain might be a good school for Jay. He enrolled for the academic years 1948-49, 1949-50, and 1951-52.

He attended the 1951 and 1952 summer sessions. Watt was primarily interested in music, and he studied with Charlotte Schlesinger and Lou Harrison. At the college he composed music for several drama productions as well as Flabbergasted, a musical. He also participated in the Light Sound Movement Workshop given by Pete and Betty Jennerjahn.

After he left Black Mountain, Watt composed for different projects including music for Stan VanDerBeek films.

Biography written by Mary Emma Harris for the Black Mountain College Project.

Black Mountain College Project

Mary Emma Harris interviewed Jay in 2005 and the transcript is available from Appalachian State University under The Mary Emma Harris and Black Mountain College Project, Inc. Oral History collection.

Topics: Hearing about BMC and arrival – family background – pre-BMC music background – music with Charlotte Schlesinger – Studies Building apartment – Beidler music cubicle – music study with Erwin Bodky – chorus – concerts at African-American church – Charles Olson – early attempt at art – student study – Josef Albers in community – Nick Cernovich – work program – bookbinding with Johanna Jalowetz – music with Vollmer Hetherington – composition for Marriage on the Eiffel Tower – study with Lou Harrison – jazz musicians at BMC – music compositions at BMC – parties – Flabbergasted - John Cage – Lou Harrison – David Tudor – Viola Farber – Franz Kline – Peek’s Tavern – Katherine Litz – Asheville movies – move to New York and BMC New York community – work with Stan VanDerBeek on film – post-BMC composition – Francine du Plessix Gray – post-BMC work – discussion of music compositions – Women’s College arts forum and composition