Friday, June 12, 2020

Choral works by African-American composers

I asked a question on the FB group for Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir 6 about how to find choral works by African American composers.  I'm compiling a list of the responses.  I'll update this as a I get more


Composers and pieces:


  • joiharper.com  (has recordings of several of her works on her website)
  • ysaye m. barnwell (2 votes)
  • I Got a Song — Colin Lett
  • Travelin Shoes — Faith Morgan
  • William Grant Still’s “And They Lynched Him On A Tree”
  • Dr. Rosephanye Powell - “sacred and secular works for mixed chorus, women’s chorus, men’s chorus, and children’s voices.” example: https://youtu.be/HLqrIOI86hg == esp "Non Nobis Domine" (2 votes for her)
  • Andre Thomas's gospel mass: A Celebration of Life and Joy
  • Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concert
  • William Grant Still’s “And They Lynched Him On A Tree”
  • "Treemonisha" an opera by Joplin
  • Florence Price https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Price
  • Sydney Guillaume
  • Rollo Dilworth (4 votes for him after my original question)
  • William Dawson
  • Brandon Williams
  • Moses Hogan (4 votes) see esp https://youtu.be/OPL7gwKzpag at 25:45
  • Robert Ray
  • Victor Johnson
  • André Thomas director of the London Gospel Choir
  • Gia Music
  • James Fuhrman wikipedia article about him a former student who has a collection of his works
  • Mark Miller https://ism.yale.edu/people/mark-miller
  • Lea Morris https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ1XVD7jH-tOmuRjOA3HZvw
  • Melanie DeMore
  • Arnaé Batson
  • Sweet Honey in the Rock, esp Ella’s Song
  • Brandon Waddles -- arrangements of the works of Thomas Whitefield link on GIA music
  • Uri Caine's "The Passion of Octavius Catto" (Chorus and alto soloist)
  • Adolphus Hailstork
  • Dr. Roland Carter
  • Dr. Nathan M Carter, Jr
  • "Elijah Rock" by Hall Johnson
  • Jester Hairston
  • Zanaida Robles
  • Rosephanye Powell
  • Sheldrake Alonzo Andrews https://www.facebook.com/erosdaartiste


Places to look for more information



Some choirs are commissioning pieces