MUSIC: CLASSICAL: COMPOSERS: AFRICAN AMERICAN : MUSIC: CLASSICAL: RECORDINGS: Classical Music Recordings of Black Composers: A Reference Guide

[David P. Dillard]

MUSIC: CLASSICAL: COMPOSERS: AFRICAN AMERICAN :
MUSIC: CLASSICAL: RECORDINGS:
Classical Music Recordings of Black Composers: A Reference Guide

Classical Music Recordings of Black Composers: A Reference Guide
Compiled by Richard Greene
<http://astro.temple.edu/~rgreene/BlackComp/index.html>

Classical Music Recordings of Black Composers:
A Comprehensive Reference Guide to Recorded Works Available on
Compact Disc
Compiled by Richard Greene

Website Table of Contents

Project Overview
Comprehensive CD Recording
Publication
Composer Listing
128 names
Recent Recordings
Updated
May 2006
Reference Sources and Web Links
Suggested Listening
Performers and Conductors
Philadelphia Music

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Project Overview

Musicians, Educators, Librarians and Friends of Music
<http://astro.temple.edu/~rgreene/BlackComp/index.html>

"Less well known and often invisible, black and African heritage
classical composers span three centuries and come from the continents of
Europe, Africa, and the Americas . In an effort to increase awareness,
this effort is being undertaken to unveil and to acknowledge black
composers and their creative output within the rich tapestry of classical
music.

It may also be of interest to learn that in 1934 the Philadelphia
Orchestra, conducted by Leopold Stokowski, premiered William Levi Dawsons
Negro Folk Symphony. For the classical music world, this was
significant and historic - but it was not a first. Dawson was only one
among many talented African heritage composers whose musical voices began
to emerge in the early 1900s.

At this web site you will find varied information including a
comprehensive Black composer discography. It will ease the search for
specific recorded works by these composers. Currently, more than 130
black composers have been recorded on compact discs.

The 800 (+) listed works are primarily instrumental, ranging in format
from solo to orchestral."

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Order Your Own Print Copy of This Work

Publication (updated December 2004)
Comprehensive Reference Guide to Black Composer Recordings
alphabetical by composer and composition title: includes album title, CD
label and catalog number.
<http://astro.temple.edu/~rgreene/BlackComp/index.html>

BLACK COMPOSERS on COMPACT DISC

The following composers are included in the:.
Comprehensive Reference Guide to Black Composer Recordings

<http://astro.temple.edu/~rgreene/BlackComp/index.html>

RECENT BLACK COMPOSER CD RELEASES
Updated June 2006
<http://astro.temple.edu/~rgreene/BlackComp/index.html>

This listing supplements the
Comprehensive Reference Guide to Black Composer Recordings

Year of release

2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001

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Selected Reference Bibliography : Historical LP Recording of Note :

Web Information Links

<http://astro.temple.edu/~rgreene/BlackComp/index.html>

Content Sample from the Links Section of the Content at the URL
immediately above:

African American History & Heritage Site : Offers wide-ranging information
regarding history - including music. Focuses on teacher resources and
information.

African-American Sheet Music; 1850 1920: From the collections of Brown
University, this includes 1,305 pieces of African-American sheet music
dating from 1850 through 1920. Post-Civil War music reflects the problems
of Reconstruction and the beginnings of urbanization and the northern
migration of African Americans. Selected African-American composers
include James Bland, James Reese Europe, and Will Marion Cook.

Afrocentric Voices in Classical Music : Focuses on African-American
performers and composers and on the vocal music forms they influenced;
especially opera, art songs and Negro spirituals composed for concert
performance. Includes an extensive bibliography, a chronology of major
events and accomplishments, a list of libraries and research centers with
significant resources by and about African-American musicians.

Archives of African American Music and Culture : The Undine Smith Moore
Collection includes a collection of original scores and manuscripts by
African-American composers. The Archives of AAAMC is devoted to the
collection, preservation, and dissemination of materials for the purpose
of research and study of African-American music and culture.

Center for Southern African-American Music: at the University of South
Carolina's School of Music. There are three components: an Archive,
Curriculum Initiatives, and an Educational Outreach Program.

Classical Music in Black and White: a National Public Radio interview with
musicologist Dr. Dominique-Ren de Lerma.

Dictionary of African Composers: This project aims to more properly
document the music of Africa and its composers. The dictionary is a
research project of the University of Pretoria's music department (South
Africa). Edited by Alexander Johnson and Chris Wallon. Where possible,
each composer entry is given in both English and their mother tongue.

Dr. Estrella's Incredibly Abridged Dictionary of Composers : Accurate
biographical information on more than 500 composers of Western art music.

Jamaica's Classical Musicians: Identifies and provides background
information on individuals who have achieved an international classical
music reputation - composers and musicians. There is also some emphasis
on those who have pursued their careers chiefly in Jamaica.

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Suggested Listenting
<http://astro.temple.edu/~rgreene/BlackComp/index.html>

Content Sample:

Always a subjective arena, I am providing suggested listening from
available Black composer recordings. I recognize that there are many
recordings to choose from so I intend to periodically offer additional
suggestions in the future. RG

Recommended selections by composer:

Fela Sowande's African Suite is available on several recordings. It is a
delightful blend of Nigerian melodies and orchestrations for strings and
harp.

A recent recording of piano compositions by "Blind Tom" (Thomas Wiggins
Bethune) has been released. It offers an extraordinary glimpse into the
capabilities of one born into U.S. slavery and who had evident musical
talent.

The MAPS Violin Concerto by Anthony Davis has long been a personal
favorite. The final movement can be likened to a duo concertante for
violin and percussion.

George Walker's Lyric for Strings is a beautiful composition that should
be required listening and performing. Originally written as the second
movement of a string quartet it has been rewritten for string orchestra.
It deserves the same attention as Samuel Barber's famous Adagio for
Strings.

Almost any of the available recordings by Chevalier de Saint-Georges are
worthy listening. There are many to choose from including string
quartets, violin concertos, sonatas and symphonies.

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CLASSICAL MUSIC PERFORMERS and PERFORMANCES of SPECIAL INTEREST
<http://astro.temple.edu/~rgreene/BlackComp/index.html>

Black and African-American

Music Performance Groups and Organizations
Musicians
Conductors
Special Interest

Directory of Philadelphia Area Groups and Performances

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PHILADELPHIA AREA CLASSICAL MUSIC ORGANIZATIONS and CONCERT SERIES
<http://astro.temple.edu/~rgreene/BlackComp/index.html>

Sincerely,
David Dillard
Temple University
(215) 204 - 4584
jw...@temple.edu
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