#ClassicsaDay #BlackHistoryMonth Week 2 2024

Classical music originated in Western Europe, but it's not exclusive to dead, white European males. The challenge for February is to post videos of classical music either written or performed by musicians of color. 

There's a lot to choose from. I decided to focus on composers, but there are plenty of conductors and performers going back farther than you might think. 

Here are my posts for the second week of #BlackHistoryMonth

02/12/24 William L. Dawson: Soon Ah Will Be Done

Dawson arranged several African-American spirituals that quickly entered the choral repertoire. "Soon Ah Will Be Done" was written in 1934, when he was at Tuskegee Institute.

 

02/13/24 R. Nathaneil Dett: Ave Maria

Dett was born in Canada but spent most of his life in America. He was the first Black composer to join ASCAP. He's one of many American composers to study with Nadia Boulanger.

 

02/14/24 Jose White Lafitte: La Bella Cubana

Lafitte was a Cuban-French violin virtuoso active in the late 19th Century. Most of Lafitte's works were written for the violin.

 

02/15/24 Jessie Montgomery: Strum

Montgomery is a violinist as well as a composer. She's served as composer-in-residence for the Chicago Symphony and is on the board of Chamber Music America.

 

02/16/24 Undine Smith Moore: We Shall Walk Through the Valley

Moore is known as the "Dean of Black Women Composers." Much of her work was inspired by African-American spirituals and folk music.