BLACK WOMEN COMPOSERS

BLACK WOMEN COMPOSERS IN CLASSICAL MUSIC: “TOO MANY SONGS UN-SUNG”
Submitted by: Gerald J. Blanchard, DMA

THE DILEMA

The classical art music of the African American composer has been continually over-looked in the music anthologies, reference books, periodicals and other such resources, therefore limiting valuable exposure to student and teacher alike. The rare exception is in the repertoire of the spiritual, which is often misidentified as a “traditional” spiritual rather than an art song “arrangement” of a spiritual. To date, there are a mere four (4) song anthologies devoted exclusively to the repertoire of the African American classical composer that includes legitimate art song compositions. Of the aforementioned, only two (2) include a significant (5 or more) representation by the African American female composer.

As a student of the vocal arts I have always been encouraged to learn and perform the repertoire of the great European and American masters such as Robert Schumann, Johannes Brahms, Franz Schubert, Aaron Copland, Samuel Barber, Charles Ives and of course the works of Faure, Hahn, Caccini and Duparc. At no point was I encouraged to seek out repertoire composed specifically by women, therefore leaving me to question why? Was their music not worthy of performance? Was the music published and available? Did any actually exist, if so where could I gain access? It is this authors hope and desire to address the issue head on by making it the focus of today’s discussion.

THE RECITAL Program

The key objective of this lecture recital program is to examine and perform a small sampling of the vast collections of art songs composed by the African American female composer. Many will be recognized while others may be less familiar. Such works will include Night by Florence Price, a musical setting of the poem originally penned by Louise Wallace, The song cycle Seven Days by Mable Bailey, and The Negro Speaks of Rivers, as composed by Margaret Bonds, a work which sets the text of noted African American poet and author, Langston Hughes. Also featured on the recital is a powerful musical setting of a speech given by the former slave, abolitionist and author Frederick Douglas entitled Fourth of July Speech, as composed by Dorothy Rudd Moore. Fourth of July Speech had its world premier in 1985, within the context of the full opera; however, it will receive its Michigan premier on today’s program as an independent composition. The aria will be performed from a hand written manuscript penned by the composer.

Through this presentation of art songs, it is my desire to inspire performers, teachers and students of the voice to actively seek out the wealth of Black art music which exits with the same level of scholarship used in searching for European art music.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Abdul, Raoul, Blacks in Classical Music. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1977. Ammer, Christine, UNSUNG. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1980.

Baker, David N., Belt, Lida M., editor, The Black Composer Speaks. London: The Scarecrow Press Inc., 1978.

Berry, Lemuel, Biographical Dictionary of Black Musicians and Music Educators. Guthrie, Oklahoma: Midwest Publishing Company, 1978.

Charters, Samuel, A Language of Song: Journeys in the Musical World of the African Diaspora. London: Duke University Press, 2009.

Hibbard, Sara, “Selected Anthology of Vocal Music by Women Composers” (DMA diss., Michigan State University, 2000),1-5, 13-17, 105-114.

Green, Mildred D., Black Women Composers: A Genesis. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1983.

Hare, Maud Cuney, Negro Musicians and Their Music. New York: G. K. Hall & CO., 1996.

Hill, Helen Walker, From Spirituals to Symphonies: African American Women Composers and their Music. West Port, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 2002. Southern, Eileen, Readings in Black American Music. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1971.

Southern, Eileen, Biographical Dictionary of Afro-American and African Musicians. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1982.

Wright, Josephine, ed., New Perspectives on Music: Essays in Honor of Eileen Southern. Warren, Michigan: Harmonie Park Press, 1992.

PUBLISHED SONG SOURCES:

African American Heritage Hymnal. Chicago: GIA Publications, INC., 2001.

Anthology of Art Songs by Black American Composers. New York: Edward B. Marks Music Company, 1977.

A New Anthology of American Song: 25 Songs by Native American Composers. New York: G. Schirmer, Inc., 1942.

Handy, William C., editor, Unsung Americans Sung. New York: Handy Brothers Music Co., Inc., 1946.

Simmons, Margaret R., Wagner, Jeanine, A New Anthology of Art Songs by African American Composers. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 2004.