Black Classical Music Composers You Should Know

In celebration of Black History Month, we’re highlighting some of the incredible black classical music composers you should know.

Black Classical Music Composers

There are many black classical music composers that you should know. These composers have made contributions to the world of classical music that cannot be ignored. Some of these composers include Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, William Grant Still, and Florence B. Price.

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was an English composer and conductor who was born in London in 1875 to a Creole mother and a father of Sierra Leonean descent. He is best known for his composition Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast, which was inspired by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s epic poem The Song of Hiawatha.

Coleridge-Taylor was a child prodigy and began composing music at the age of 10. He went on to study at the Royal College of Music, where he won several prizes for his compositions. After graduation, he became the first black composer to be accepted as a member of the Royal Philharmonic Society.

Coleridge-Taylor’s music was popular in both England and the United States, and he toured extensively in both countries. In 1912, he conducted a performance of Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast at Carnegie Hall in New York City. He died unexpectedly in 1912 at the age of 37, but his music continues to be performed and recorded today.

William Grant Still

William Grant Still was an African American composer, who wrote symphonies, concerti, operas, and works for dance. In addition to these credits, Still is recognized as the first African American to have a symphony performed by a leading orchestra – the New York Philharmonic in 1931. Two years later, his second symphony would be performed – again by the New York Philharmonic.

Florence Price

Florence Beatrice Smith Price (April 9, 1887 – June 3, 1953) was an American composer. She is considered the first African-American woman to be a professional composer, and she was the first to have a composition played by a major orchestra.

Price was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1887. Her mother, Florence Gulliver Smith, was a teacher and her father, James Rehabeth Smith, was a preacher. Both of her parents were musicians; her father played violin and her mother played piano.

Price began playing piano at the age of four and violin at the age of eight. She composed her first piece when she was eleven years old. She studied at the New England Conservatory of Music, where she earned degrees in piano (1906) and organ (1908). After graduation, she taught music in Atlanta and Little Rock.

In 1927, Price married carpenter Thomas Higgs; they had two daughters together. The family moved to Chicago in 1930 so that Price could study composition with Instruments: Ethel Glenn Hieronymous at the American Conservatory of Music. It was here that she wrote her Symphony in E Minor “The Negro”, which would make her famous. The symphony was premiered by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1933, making Price the first African-American woman to have a piece performed by a major orchestra.

Price continued to compose and teach throughout her life. In 1950, she became the first African-American woman to be elected to the National Association of Composers and Conductors. She died in Chicago in 1953 at the age of 66.

Why Black Classical Music Composers Matter

Music is often seen as a universal language, but it is also deeply intertwined with the cultures that create it. Classical music, in particular, can be seen as a reflection of Western culture and values. However, black classical music composers have often been left out of the history books. This is a shame, because they have made significant contributions to the genre. Here are just a few of the black classical music composers you should know.

Representation

Since the days of slavery, music has played an important role in the black community. It has been used as a tool for storytelling, a form of expression, and a way to connect with our heritage. For centuries, black classical music composers have been creating works that are not only beautiful but also reflective of our history and culture.

Despite their contributions, black classical music composers have often been overlooked and underrepresented in the mainstream classical music world. This is why it is so important to shine a light on their work and ensure that their legacy is not forgotten.

There are many black classical music composers who have made a significant impact on the genre. Here are just a few of them:

Wilbur Lawson Cohen (1896-1973) was an American composer and pianist who was best known for his ragtime compositions. Cohen was born in New York City and began studying piano at a young age. He went on to study composition at the Institute of Musical Art (now Juilliard) and later became a professor at Howard University. His most famous works include “The Entertainer” and “ Maple Leaf Rag”.

Florence Price (1887-1953) was an American composer and pianist who was the first black woman to be recognized as a symphonic composer. Price was born in Little Rock, Arkansas and began playing piano when she was four years old. She went on to study at the New England Conservatory of Music before moving to Chicago, where she composed most of her works. Her compositions include “Symphony in E minor”, “Piano Concerto in One Movement”, and “The Gettysburg Address”.

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912) was an English composer who was born in London to an English mother and a Sierra Leonean father. Coleridge-Taylor studied violin at the Royal College of Music before embarking on a successful career as a composer and conductor. He is best known for his oratorio “Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast”, which was inspired by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem “The Song of Hiawatha”.

These are just a few of the many black classical music composers who have made important contributions to the genre. By celebrating their work, we can help ensure that their legacy is not forgotten but rather celebrated for generations to come.

Influence

The incredible contributions of Black classical music composers extend far beyond the confines of the music world. They have helped to shape Western art music and have had a significant influence on popular culture.

Black composers have long been marginalized, both within the classical music world and society at large. However, their contributions are increasingly being recognized and celebrated. Here are just a few of the Black composers who have made a lasting impact on classical music.

Wynton Marsalis is a world-renowned trumpeter, composer, bandleader, and educator. He is one of the most influential artists in jazz today, and his work has helped to bridge the gap between classical and popular music. Marsalis has composed over 70 pieces for Orchestra, including his Pulitzer Prize-winning oratorio Blood on the Fields. He is also the founder and artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City.

Jessie Montgomery is a young American composer whose work blends elements of classical, jazz, and folk music. Her work has been performed by leading orchestras around the world, including the New York Philharmonic and London Symphony Orchestra. Montgomery is also a active performer on the violin, and her work as a soloist has been described as “astonishingly virtuosic” by The New York Times.

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was an English composer who was hugely popular in both Britain and America in the early 20th century. His opera The Canterbury Pilgrims was one of the most successful works by a Black composer at that time. Coleridge-Taylor’s compositions were strongly influenced by African American spirituals, and he was also an outspoken advocate for racial equality.

These are just a few of the many Black composers who have made a lasting impact on classical music. Their contributions continue to inspire musicians and audiences around the world.

Creativity

Black classical music composers have always been creating groundbreaking works, despite the racism they faced in the music industry. Here are just a few of the many talented Black classical music composers you should know.

Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799) was a composer, violinist, and fencer who performed for Marie Antoinette and was once called “the Black Mozart.” His Ouverture in D Major was the first symphony composed by a person of color.

George Bridgetower (1780-1860) was a virtuoso violinist who was a close friend of Ludwig van Beethoven. Bridgetower wrote his own variations on Beethoven’s “Kreutzer” Sonata, which Beethoven initially dedicated to him, but later withdrew because of Bridgetower’s comments about Jewish people.

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912) was an English composer who drew inspiration from African and Caribbean music. He is best known for his work Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast, which is based on Longfellow’s poem The Song of Hiawatha.

Florence Price (1887-1953) was the first Black woman to be recognized as a prominent symphonic composer. Her Symphony in E Minor was premièred by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1933, making her the first Black woman to have a composition performed by a major orchestra.

Will Marion Cook (1869-1944) was an American composer, conductor, and violinist who studied under Dvořák and wrote Broadway musicals such as In Dahomey and Clorindy, or The Origin of the Cakewalk.

Undine Smith Moore (1904-1989) was an American composer and teacher who wrote over 400 choral works, many of which were based on Negro spirituals. Her best known work is Rejoice!, which has been performed by numerous prestigious choirs including the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.