Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

A Great and Noble Music

In the second of three programmes charting the contribution that black composers have made to the story of western classical music, Eleanor Alberga focuses on 20th-century America.

In this second programme of this series, in which British composer Eleanor Alberga charts the contribution that black composers have made to the story of western classical music, the focus is America, and how 鈥渂lack pride and identity鈥 have helped to shape American classical music from the turn of the 20th century to the present day.

In the early 1890s, Antonin Dvorak was invited to the country to help establish an American national music. 鈥淲ith the negro melodies of America鈥, he said, 鈥淚 discover all that is needed for a great and noble school of music鈥. There were several black classical composers who emerged at this time, and their music is often characterised by the use of spirituals; an example is the music of William Levi Dawson.

鈥淭he history of black people in America can never be divorced from the story of slavery鈥, and Eleanor continues her story with a look at the impact on American culture of the 鈥楴orthern Migration鈥 of black people from the south and the emergence of the Harlem Renaissance. She features music by Lawrence Freeman, William Grant Still, Margaret Bonds, Julia Perry and Margaret Price.

There can be no denying that the 鈥榖lack experience鈥 has proved an important catalyst for expression amongst black American composers, but as Eleanor is at pains to point out, this is 鈥渁 story of composers who, like myself, just happen to be black鈥. It is a not sub-genre of composition; the contribution that black classical composers make to the music of America is as broad as music itself. She foregrounds contrasting examples of American classical music from composers such as Adolphus Hailstork, Florence Price, George Walker, Julius Eastman, Jeffrey Mumford and Jonathan Bailey Holland.

(photo credit: Ben Ealovega)

59 minutes

Last on

Sun 14 Nov 2021 23:00

Music Played

  • Oliver Wallace

    "When I See An Elephant Fly"

    Performer: Cliff Edwards. Performer: Jim Carmichael. Performer: Hall Johnson. Choir: Hall Johnson Choir.
  • Trad.

    "Great Camp Meeting in the Promised Land"

    Music Arranger: Hall Johnson. Choir: Hall Johnson Choir.
  • William Dawson

    Negro Folk Symphony: 3rd movement "O let me shine like a Morning Star!"

    Orchestra: Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme J盲rvi.
  • Lawrence Freeman

    Chloe's Aria from Act 2 of the opera 'Voodoo'

    Singer: Crystal Charles. Ensemble: Morningside Opera/Harlem Opera & Harlem Chamber Players. Conductor: Gregory Hopkins.
  • William Grant Still

    Three Visions - No.2 "Summerland"

    Performer: Alexa Still. Performer: Susan DeWitt Smith.
  • William Grant Still

    Prelude for flute, string quintet and piano: 1st movement (moderately fast)

    Performer: Alexa Still. Performer: Michael Steer. Performer: Susan DeWitt Smith. Ensemble: New Zealand String Quartet.
  • Margaret Bonds

    Troubled Water

    Performer: Joel Fan.
  • Julia Perry

    Stabat Mater

    Performer: Makiko Asakura. Orchestra: Japan Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: William Strickland.
  • Florence Price

    Violin Concerto no 1 in D major: 2nd movement (Andante)

    Performer: Er-Gene Khang. Orchestra: Jan谩膷kova filharmonie Ostrava. Conductor: Ryan Cockerham.
  • Adolphus Hailstork

    Symphony no.1 (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Virginia Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: JoAnn Falletta.
  • Adolphus Hailstork

    Epitaph For The Man Who Dreamed

    Orchestra: Chicago Sinfonietta. Conductor: Paul Freeman.
  • Julius Eastman

    Evil Nigger

    Performer: Julius Eastman. Performer: Frank Ferko. Performer: Janet Kattas. Performer: Patricia Martin.
  • Ulysses Kay

    Suite - The Quiet One: 4th movement ('Crisis')

    Orchestra: Metropolitan Philharmonic. Conductor: Kevin Scott.
  • George Walker

    Lyric for Strings

    Orchestra: Cleveland Chamber Symphony.
  • Jeffrey Mumford

    An expanding distance of multiple voices: 1st movement

    Performer: Miranda Cuckson.
  • Jonathan Bailey Holland

    Halcyon Sun

    Orchestra: Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Paavo J盲rvi.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 17 May 2020 23:00
  • Sun 27 Sep 2020 23:00
  • Sun 14 Nov 2021 23:00

Featured in...