Melanated Moments in Classical Music
64 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 months ago -Melanated Moments in Classical Music is a new podcast that shines a spotlight on musical works composed by, for, and about people of color. Melanated Moments is hosted by international opera soprano Angela Brown and music sociologist Joshua Thompson. For some listeners, Melanated Moments will uncover a hidden trove of classical music they never knew existed. For those with a deep knowledge of the genre, stories reflecting the cultural context of the African Diaspora will give a fresh voice to black contributions in the world of classical music.
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Episodes
Recap Pt. 2: Melanated Moments in Classical Music
November 15, 2023 05:00 - 57 minutes - 39.5 MBFeaturing some of the world's most talented and innovative Black composers and musicians from seasons 4 through 7, Melanated Moments in Classical Music wraps up its comprehensive recap. Joshua and Angela discuss the themes and trends that emerged in these seasons and reflect on Melanated Moments' impact on the classical music world. Both retrospective episodes encourage reflection on the progress that has been made in promoting diversity and inclusion in classical music while acknowledgin...
Recap Pt. 1: Melanated Moments in Classical Music
November 08, 2023 05:00 - 39 minutes - 27.3 MBJoin us for a recap of the first three seasons of the Melanated Moments in Classical Music podcast, featuring some of the world's most influential Black composers and musicians. From William Grant Still to Rosephanye Powell , these artists have made significant contributions to the world of classical music, and their work continues to inspire and amaze. Whether you're a longtime fan of the podcast or you're just getting started, we invite you to listen in on this retrospective celebration ...
The Ordering of Moses: An African-American Masterwork
November 01, 2023 04:00 - 36 minutes - 24.8 MBJoshua and Angela examine the remarkable oratorio The Ordering of Moses by African-American composer Robert Nathaniel Dett. This powerful and moving work tells the biblical story of Moses leading the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and is considered one of the most important works of African-American classical music. Scored for chorus, orchestra, and soloists, Dett's oratorio features a variety of musical styles, including spirituals, folk music, and classical forms. It is a powerful work...
Joshua Thompson: A Force for Change in Classical Music
October 25, 2023 04:00 - 40 minutes - 28.2 MBPianist, music sociologist, and occasional trumpeter, Joshua Thompson, is an active change agent in the classical music world. Learn more about our host’s passionate advocacy for diversity and inclusion, his work to promote social justice through music, and his unique perspective on the role of music in society. Listen in as Angela teases out how Joshua got to where he is today and where he might be going next. Featured Music: "Summerland" - William Grant Still Joshua Thompson, piano ...
Oswald Russell: Jamaica's Artistic Ambassador
October 18, 2023 04:00 - 23 minutes - 31.7 MBThe international impact of pianist/composer, Oswald Russell, wows Joshua and Angela as they discuss his beginnings in Jamaica and a globe-trotting classical music career that followed. Oswald serves as an example of the highest level of musicality, life-long learning, and global citizenship. Featured Music: "Papillons" - Oswald Russell Joseph Talleda, piano Three Jamaican Dances: No. 1 & 2 - Oswald Russell William Chapman Nyaho, piano "Thème Du Générique" - Les Vieilles Lunes - Oswal...
Karen Slack: The Melanated Maven of Opera
October 11, 2023 04:00 - 42 minutes - 58.7 MBAngela and Joshua welcome opera superstar, arts administrator, and 2022 Sphinx Medal of Excellence winner, Karen Slack, to the Melanated Moments in Classical Music family. Bringing her dynamic, down to earth vibe and perspective, Slack details her beginnings in music and an illustrious career that keeps her in demand with leading artists and stages the world over. Equally devoted to music education and meaningful community engagement, Karen Slack reminds us of the personal power found in sh...
Dawson’s Negro Folk Symphony: A Symphony of Our Ancestors' Spirit
October 04, 2023 04:00 - 28 minutes - 38.9 MBJoshua and Angela discuss the foresight and impact of composer, musicologist, arranger, and premier torchbearer of Negro spirituals, William Levi Dawson. A protege of Booker T. Washington, the life and works of Dawson score an accurate narrative of Black people during the Great Migration. His symphony illustrates the cultural links that were lost and then found as a result of the colonial world’s Global Slave Trade. Revered internationally, Dawson’s tenure and role as an educator and chora...
Cracking Classical Music’s Cultural Code with Nkeiru Okoye
September 27, 2023 04:00 - 40 minutes - 56.1 MBIn this episode, Angela and Joshua introduce our listening audience to 2021 Guggenheim Fellow, composer, and lyricist, Nkeiru Okoye. As one of the most sought after composers and creative minds of the 21st century, Okoye provides an exuberant account into her musical influences, training, and invaluable approach to scoring Black history as a way to engage, educate, and entertain audiences of the future. Featured Music: "Nothing but the Grave," Harriet Tubman - Nkeiru Okoye, composer - Ja...
Mary Lou Williams: The First Lady of Jazz Makes Her Mark
September 20, 2023 04:00 - 33 minutes - 46.2 MBAngela and Joshua open Season Seven with an exposé on pianist, musicologist, and The First Lady of Jazz; Mary Lou Williams. This stunning artist’s impact crosses multiple genres from jazz to classical and sacred to bebop. She navigates compositional shifts seamlessly all while providing the world of classical music with a much-needed approach to archival, analysis, and expansion to welcome those previously left out of the industry. An undisputed artistic prodigy, Williams’ expansive influe...
Singing as Service with Kenneth Overton
April 26, 2023 05:00 - 41 minutes - 57.2 MBSeason Six wraps with a high-energy conversation with Grammy Award-winning baritone Kenneth Overton. Known for his rich and booming voice, Overton is booked and busy across the U.S. and around the world, yet still finds time to intentionally dedicate part of his career to the mentorship of the next generation of young Black vocalists in classical music. Featured Music: "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child," arranged by George Crumb "There's A Man Goin' Round Taking Names" "Look to the ...
Paul Robeson: A Rebel with a Cause
April 19, 2023 05:00 - 25 minutes - 34.7 MBJoshua and Angela delve into the many facets of Paul Robeson, the man behind the voice that made him a household name on stage and screen. An academic scholar, bass-baritone concert artist, and stage and film actor, Robeson was as well-known for his artistic prowess as he was for his outspoken commitment to disrupting the hypocritical political strategies of the American government in the 1940s. Featured Music: "Scandalize My Name," arranged by Harry T. Burleigh, performed by Paul Robeson l...
Defining the Soundtrack of American Music with Dr. Portia Maultsby
April 12, 2023 05:00 - 47 minutes - 65.5 MBDr. Portia Maultsby, ethnomusicologist and curator of the inaugural exhibition of the National Museum of African American Music, talks with Angela and Joshua about her influential work on throughlines between classical and popular Black music. An esteemed professor emeritus at Indiana University, her work is regarded as an integral component of research and study in ethnomusicology. She is the founder of the popular I.U. Soul Revue and the Archives of African American Music and Culture at I...
The Artistic Kaleidoscope of Amanda Ira Aldridge
April 03, 2023 14:00 - 20 minutes - 27.6 MBBritish-born composer, opera singer, and teacher Amanda Ira Aldridge is the topic of conversation for Joshua and Angela on this episode. A promising operatic contralto, Aldridge studied and performed the vocal works of compatriot Samuel Coleridge Taylor. A severe case of laryngitis ended her singing career but provided the catalyst for her to mold and teach vocal legends Roland Hayes, Paul Robeson, and Marian Anderson. Adaptable, resourceful, and musically imaginative, Aldridge created a lin...
Call Him by His Name: Joseph Bologne, The Man Who Influenced Mozart
March 29, 2023 05:00 - 25 minutes - 35.5 MBAngela and Joshua welcome Maestro Marlon Daniel, a dynamic up-and-coming conductor and one of the leading scholars on the life of Joseph Bologne. Daniel discusses the life of the mixed-race aristocrat who single-handedly put French classical music of the 18th century on the map and helps our audience reframe and properly reposition the virtuosic composer and violinist as the leading influencer of some of classical music’s most recognized contributors. Featured Music: "String Quartet No. 1 i...
Swinging the Classics with Hazel Scott
March 22, 2023 05:00 - 23 minutes - 31.8 MBThis week’s episode features Hazel Scott, a child prodigy, piano virtuoso, and one of the most outspoken civil rights activists of the mid-20th century in the entertainment industry. Whether playing the classics on the nose or employing her fiery fingers to fuse jazz and classical music, Hazel Scott was as unapologetic in her talents as she was in her commitment to changing the way Black actors were portrayed on film and television which ultimately led to the demise of her short but illustri...
Creating a "New Canon" of Classical Music with Portia Dunkley
March 15, 2023 05:00 - 48 minutes - 66.2 MBIn this episode, Angela and Joshua welcome Portia Dunkley, founder of the New Canon Chamber Collective. Sharing her all too familiar experience of young Black classical musicians being few and far between in the industry, Dunkley found her passion and motivation to create and cultivate an ensemble that identifies, elevates, and celebrates the contributions of the African diaspora within the genre in Miami, FL. Dunkley features "Symphony No. 5" by William Grant Still and "The Oaks" by Florenc...
Scott Joplin: The King of Ragtime Writes an Opera
March 08, 2023 06:00 - 25 minutes - 35.5 MBSeason Six debuts with a feature of Scott Joplin, the King of Ragtime. Bridging the gap between the Reconstruction era and the early 20th century, Scott Joplin and his ragtime music became a genre-defining cultural phenomenon. In this episode, our co-hosts trace Joplin’s musical cultivation, which led him to position ragtime as an extension of the romantic stylings of classical music, as evidenced through the storyline and compositional makeup of his opera, Treemonisha. Featured Music: Hous...
CAAPA's Melanated Mission: Bringing Color to the Classics
December 07, 2022 16:00 - 46 minutes - 63.8 MBAngela and Joshua cap Season Five with Terri Allen, Executive Director of the Coalition for African-Americans in the Performing Arts (CAAPA). From humble origins to a nationally respected model, Terri details the 20-year journey of CAAPA's intentional strategies for leveling the playing field in the world of classical music. CAAPA's dedication to providing scholarships for burgeoning Black classical musicians and unwavering commitment to arts education at all talent levels exemplify the powe...
George Bridgetower: A Classical Commodity
November 30, 2022 18:00 - 24 minutes - 33.7 MBJoshua and Angela discuss the life and times of Europe's most renowned virtuoso violinist of the 18th and 19th centuries, George Bridgetower. In the age of the global slave trade, competing empires, and revolution, Bridgetower exemplified the refinement, sophistication, and mastery of the classical era while rubbing elbows with the European elite. Featured Music: "Henry, A Ballade," by George Bridgetower, feat. soprano Benita Borbonus "Violin Sonata No. 9, Mvt. 3: Finale," by Ludwig Van Be...
George Bridgetower: A Classical Commodity
November 30, 2022 18:00 - 24 minutes - 33.7 MBJoshua and Angela discuss the life and times of Europe's most renowned virtuoso violinist of the 18th and 19th centuries, George Bridgetower. In the age of the global slave trade, competing empires, and revolution, Bridgetower exemplified the refinement, sophistication, and mastery of the classical era while rubbing elbows with the European elite. Featured Music: "Henry, A Ballade," by George Bridgetower, feat. soprano Benita Borbonus "Violin Sonata No. 9, Mvt. 3: Finale," by Ludwig Van Be...
Afton Battle: A Change Agent Without Compromise
November 21, 2022 16:00 - 53 minutes - 72.9 MBAngela and Joshua welcome dramatic soprano and Artistic Director of the Fort Worth Opera, Afton Battle. Known for her tenacity, vision, and unapologetic commitment to programming operatic works that are a true reflection of the communities they serve, Ms. Battle outlines the importance of intentionality in a field that continues to push Black and brown artists to the margins. Featured Music: "Fruhling," by Richard Strauss, feat. Jessye Norman "Agnus Dei," from An African-American Requiem b...
Harlem Hangout with Liz Player and The Harlem Chamber Players
November 16, 2022 17:00 - 39 minutes - 54.8 MBJoshua and Angela welcome clarinetist and co-founder of The Harlem Chamber Players, Liz Player. Detailing her return to music from a career in computer science, Liz Player traces the origins of The Harlem Chamber Players and the organization's evolution from programming mostly Mozart to performances filled with melanated masterpieces, most notably from composer Dr. Adolphus Hailstork. Featured Music: "Tulsa 1921," by Adolphus Hailstork, feat. J'Nai Bridges and The Harlem Chamber Players "No...
Interpreting Identity with Jessie Montgomery
November 08, 2022 20:00 - 45 minutes - 62.8 MBJoshua and Angela sit down with Musical America's Composer of the Year, Jessie Montgomery. Violinist, educator, and one of the 21st-century's premier composers, Montgomery sheds light on her musical upbringing and her social awakening as a composer of color in a field that is still all too reticent to uplift and highlight the contributions in classical music from the African diaspora. Featured Music: "Starburst" by Jessie Montgomery, feat. Minnesota Orchestra "Smoke" from Break Away by Jes...
From Stage to Screen with Robert McFerrin Sr.
November 02, 2022 16:00 - 19 minutes - 27.2 MBAngela and Joshua introduce listeners to extraordinary baritone Robert McFerrin Sr. Tracing McFerrin's performance journey from Broadway to The Metropolitan Opera to Hollywood, Joshua and Angela discuss McFerrin's vocal prowess, his ability to take advantage of the evolving entertainment industry, and the influential vocal model he set that generations of successful vocalists have followed. Featured Music: "I Got Plenty of Nothin’" from Porgy and Bess "Pari Siamo" from Rigoletto Support the...
Composing as a Citizen of the World with Tania León
October 26, 2022 20:00 - 18 minutes - 25.7 MBJoshua and Angela share the rich musical and cultural legacy of composer, pianist, Pulitzer Prize winner, and Kennedy Center Honors Inductee Tania León. A self-professed ‘citizen of the world,' Leon defies classification while elevating the significant contributions from her Afro-Cuban, Nigerian, Chinese, and French heritage. Featured Music: "Prelude No. 1: Sorpressa" "Alegre" by Tania León "Stride," featuring the New York Philharmonic Support the show
Composing as a Citizen of the World with Tania Leon
October 26, 2022 20:00 - 18 minutes - 25.7 MBJoshua and Angela share the rich musical and cultural legacy of composer, pianist, Pulitzer Prize winner, and Kennedy Center Honors Inductee Tania León. A self-professed ‘citizen of the world,' Leon defies classification while elevating the significant contributions from her Afro-Cuban, Nigerian, Chinese, and French heritage. Featured Music: "Prelude No. 1: Sorpressa" "Alegre" by Tania León "Stride," featuring the New York Philharmonic Support the show
Recording Inclusivity with Adam Eccleston and All Classical Portland
October 19, 2022 19:00 - 40 minutes - 55 MBAngela and Joshua interview Adam Eccleston, internationally renowned flutist and Chair of All Classical Portland’s "Recording Inclusivity Initiative (RII)." Drawing upon his Caribbean heritage and desire to program and perform works by composers of African descent, Eccleston details the origins and process of the RII, a collection of never-before recorded compositions from the African diaspora now made available to radio stations and media outlets the world over in October 2022 via All Class...
Icon of Instagram: Drew Forde is ThatViolaKid
April 20, 2022 12:00 - 35 minutes - 48.4 MBSeason Four culminates with violist, entrepreneur, and podcaster Drew Forde, known to over 100,000 Instagram followers as ThatViolaKid. Angela and Joshua spend time with Forde, who shares remarkable insights into the power of classical music. He explains how the viola serves as a window into his soul and shapes his trajectory within the classical genre and outside of it by collaborating with mainstream artists Alicia Keys, Adele, and others. Through it all, Drew Forde is a champion for artis...
Reaching Beyond Reggae with Dr. Mikhail Johnson
April 13, 2022 20:00 - 36 minutes - 50 MBJoshua introduces us to pianist and composer Dr. Mikhail Johnson. Born and raised in Jamaica, Dr. Johnson traces his musical influences from the region's choral composers to his foray into instrumental and 21st-century composition. Angela and Joshua listen to three contrasting works as Dr. Johnson provides compelling insights into the origins of their inception. Relying heavily on the lineage and language of an island and a people who continue to impact nearly every aspect of global and musi...
Julia Perry: A Prelude in Postmodernism
April 06, 2022 14:00 - 24 minutes - 33.2 MBJoshua familiarizes us with the short but exceptional life of composer Julia Perry. He and Angela explore the meaning of postmodernism in connection with Perry's compositional evolution from traditional to postmodern stylings. A two-time recipient of the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship, Perry studied with the renowned Madame Nadia Boulanger in France, composed despite multiple strokes and significant health challenges, and had her music recorded by the New York Philharmonic in 1965. Featu...
Reflections on Roland Hayes with Robert Sims
March 30, 2022 17:00 - 51 minutes - 71.4 MBIn this episode, Angela and Joshua welcome scholar, author, and renowned vocalist Robert Sims to discuss the life and legacy of Roland Hayes. An in-depth discussion reveals Sims' great care in charting Hayes' pioneering career pathway for Black male vocalists at the turn of the 20th century. Sims' research also highlights Hayes' influence on subsequent generations of celebrated singers throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, including himself. Featured Music: "Du bist die ruh," sung by Rola...
Leontyne Price: America’s Leading Lady in Opera
March 23, 2022 13:00 - 29 minutes - 41.2 MBJoshua and Angela salute the illustrious career of opera soprano Leontyne Price. We hear three signature selections by Ms. Price and learn of her journey from Laurel, Mississippi, to capturing the attention and admiration of the world for her unparalleled vocal prowess and artistry. She remains a standard-bearer for opera singers globally. Featured Music: "Summertime" from Porgy and Bess, performed by Leontyne Price "O patria mia" from Aida, performed by Leontyne Price and The Metropolitan...
On Creation, Culture, and Connection with James Lee III
March 16, 2022 17:00 - 37 minutes - 52.1 MBAngela and Joshua introduce and interview composer James Lee III. Lee gives us a peek into his composing process, deeply rooted in his fascination with and inspiration from his cross-cultural and musical background. Listeners are treated to three exquisite compositions that indicate why Lee is prized and in constant demand for his musical imagination and socio-historical significance. Featured Music: "Sonata for Violin and Piano" "Niiji Memories," performed by the Columbia Orchestra, featu...
The Legacy of a Legend - Shirley Verrett
March 09, 2022 15:00 - 27 minutes - 37.1 MBIn this episode, Angela introduces everyone to the life and legacy of trailblazer Shirley Verrett. Her remarkable voice and artistry allowed her to successfully span mezzo-soprano and soprano roles. Verrett ascended to the heights of operatic stardom during the Civil Rights era of the 1960s, defying the racist and exclusionary customs of the industry. Verrett is recognized as one of the most revered Black operatic figures and continues to be a role model to generations of aspiring vocalists....
Francis Johnson: A Commission in Cotillion Culture
March 01, 2022 18:00 - 19 minutes - 27.2 MBThe first episode of Season 4 introduces audiences to the life, work, and continued impact of composer, bandleader, and culture creator Francis Johnson. Angela and Joshua listen to Johnson's March and New Bird Waltz while providing commentary on Johnson's unmistakable role in defining the sound of patriotic music for a young America desperate to cultivate an identity of its own. Featured Music: "Johnson's March" by Francis Johnson "New Bird Waltz" by Francis Johnson Support the show
Castle of Our Skins - Ashleigh Gordon
October 06, 2021 11:00 - 30 minutes - 41.7 MBAngela and Joshua wrap up Season Three with a flourish by speaking with solo and collaborative violist Ashleigh Gordon. She is recognized internationally as an effective social change agent through education. Ashleigh reflects on her journey as a musician and how she endeavors to center and celebrate the works of Black artists and composers through her Boston-based organization, Castle of Our Skins. Featured Music: "The Negro Speaks of River" by Margaret Bonds, arranged by Ashleigh Gordon "...
A Classical Case Study in Identity – Rev. Dr. Alisha Lola Jones presents Florence Price
September 29, 2021 11:00 - 43 minutes - 58.8 MBJoshua and Angela welcome the distinguished ethnomusicologist Rev. Dr. Alisha Lola Jones to discuss one of the most important women composers of all time, Florence Price. An authority on Price, Dr. Jones tells of Price's groundbreaking career path that dispelled the overwhelming barriers to a Black female composing music. Featured Music: "Fantasie Negre" performed by Samantha Ege "Feet o' Jesus" performed by Dr. Ollie Watts Davis "My Soul's Been Anchored in the Lord" performed by Leontyne P...
The Dean of Black Women Composers - Undine Smith Moore
September 23, 2021 01:00 - 27 minutes - 37.3 MBAngela and Joshua reflect on the inspiring life and work of the brilliant composer Undine Smith Moore. As a woman living through the time of the Jim Crow South, Moore's body of work mirrors the deliberate and intentional evolution of her personal worldview. Featured Music: "Love, Let the Wind Cry" by Undine Smith Moore, performed by Aundi Marie Moore "Allegro" from the Afro-American Suite by Undine Smith Moore, performed by Kate Steinbeck, Tim Holley, and Dewitt Tipton "Watch and Pray" by ...
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor - The Song of Hiawatha
September 15, 2021 13:00 - 21 minutes - 17.6 MBJoshua and Angela expound on the life and work of the iconic British composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, focusing on one of his most famous works, the Song of Hiawatha. Excerpts from the Hiawatha Overture punctuate the discussion of Coleridge Taylor’s international career, prolific body of work, and how composers of that era often did not receive fair financial compensation for their work. Featured Music: "Hiawatha Overture" by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, performed by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra a...
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor - The Song of Hiawatha
September 15, 2021 13:00 - 21 minutes - 17.6 MBJoshua and Angela expound on the life and work of the iconic British composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, focusing on one of his most famous works, the Song of Hiawatha. Excerpts from the Hiawatha Overture punctuate the discussion of Coleridge Taylor’s international career, prolific body of work, and how composers of that era often did not receive fair financial compensation for their work. Featured Music: "Hiawatha Overture" by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, performed by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra a...
Creating Classical Conversations in Jazz - David Baker
September 08, 2021 13:00 - 23 minutes - 32.6 MBAngela and Joshua survey the multifaceted life of legendary David Baker. An iconic composer, educator, performer, and native of Indianapolis, Baker is revered globally for his unique ability to traverse the worlds of jazz and classical music deftly and equally. His works Calypso, A Good Assassination Should be Quiet, and Bolling Suite for cello and jazz piano are featured to demonstrate his signature style that continues to be a model for classical and jazz composers. Featured Music: "A Go...
Masterful Movements for THE Movement - Margaret Bonds
September 01, 2021 11:00 - 25 minutes - 34.4 MBJoshua and Angela acquaint us with a groundbreaking composer and pianist, Margaret Bonds. Joshua takes us through the life of Margaret Bonds, who was at the epicenter of cultural and artistic expression during the turn of the 20th century, collaborating with luminaries Florence Price and Langston Hughes, among others. We hear a performance of Bonds' Montgomery Variations, performed by the University of Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, a stunning example of the composer's ability to "score" th...
The Architect of American Music - Harry T. Burleigh
August 25, 2021 11:00 - 19 minutes - 27.2 MBJoshua and Angela discuss the pioneering work of Harry Burleigh and how he directly influenced the sound of American music and paved the way into the traditional classical music space for the Black artists and composers who followed him. We are introduced to one of Burleigh's non-choral works, Southland Sketches for violin and piano, and a rare recording of Burleigh singing Go Down, Moses. Featured Music: "Southland Sketches" performed by Harry T. Burleigh "Go Down, Moses" performed by Harr...
Composing a Culture with Rosephanye Powell
August 18, 2021 11:00 - 44 minutes - 56 MBAngela and Joshua explore the global and diasporic works of Rosephanye Powell and speak with the artist herself. Our co-hosts discuss Rosephanye's approach to arranging, how to avoid cultural appropriation while honoring the roots of cultural inspiration, and why presenting a story can help diverse audiences understand music derived from the Negro spiritual. We'll hear works performed by the Eastman Chorale, Vocal Essence, and the Philander Smith Collegiate Choir. Featured Music: "Sorida"...
Performance as Preservation - Dr. Everett McCorvey
April 28, 2021 10:00 - 43 minutes - 60.3 MBAngela and Joshua explore the depths of the American Negro Spiritual with Dr. Everett McCorvey, noted tenor, conductor, and founder of the American Spiritual Ensemble. They explain how the American Negro Spiritual differs from gospel, its foundational relationship to American music, and how the art form transcended from the cotton fields to concert halls worldwide. Featured Music: "You Must Have That True Religion" by Roland Carter, performed by American Spiritual Ensemble "Soon I Will Be D...
In the Bottoms: The True Song of the South - Robert Dett
April 21, 2021 10:00 - 25 minutes - 35.6 MBJoshua introduces Robert Nathaniel Dett, a quintessential Diasporic composer who blended African-American folk music traditions with classic European musical styles to create masterful and unique compositions. A performance by William Chapman Nyaho of Robert Nathaniel Dett's piano suite, In the Bottoms, is showcased to illustrate Robert Nathaniel Dett's prowess as a musical scenescape painter. Featured Music: "In the Bottoms" by Robert Nathaniel Dett, performed by William Chapman Nyaho Sup...
Variations on Vodou - Ric’key Pageot
April 14, 2021 10:00 - 28 minutes - 38.8 MBJoshua and Angela welcome acclaimed and multifaceted performer Ric’key Pageot to the show. He speaks about his recent journey to explore his Haitian heritage and discover an impressive trove of classical music inspired by a legacy of Vodou and revolution. They discuss an amazing piece by Haitian-born composer Carmen Brouard entitled Baron la Croix. Featured Music: "Baron la Croix" by Carmen Brouard, performed by Orchestre symphonique de Montréal Support the show
Variations on Voduo - Ric’key Pageot
April 14, 2021 10:00 - 28 minutes - 38.8 MBJoshua and Angela welcome acclaimed and multifaceted performer Ric’key Pageot to the show. He speaks about his recent journey to explore his Haitian heritage and discovering an impressive trove of classical music inspired from a legacy of Vodou and revolution. They discuss an amazing piece by Haitian born composer Carmen Brouard entitled Baron la Croix. Support the show (https://classicalmusicindy.org/support-classical-music-indy/)
The Accidental Activist - Marian Anderson
April 07, 2021 10:00 - 31 minutes - 42.7 MBIn this episode, Angela enlightens us about a performer she refers to as an “accidental activist.” Marian Anderson was an amazing and groundbreaking performer who used her talents to blaze a trail and help move our country and world toward a more equitable future. Featured Music: "My Country 'Tis of Thee (hymn)" performed by Marian Anderson "Deep River" by Harry Burleigh, performed by Marian Anderson "Ave Maria" by Charles Gounod, performed by Marian Anderson Support the show
The Spirituals Guru - Moses Hogan
March 31, 2021 10:00 - 22 minutes - 30.6 MBAngela and Joshua discuss the short but immensely impactful life of Moses Hogan and his contributions to music through making spirituals a standard part of choral repertoires. Featured Music: "Elijah Rock" arranged by Moses Hogan "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho" arranged by Moses Hogan "I'm Gonna Sing 'Til the Spirit Moves in My Heart" arranged by Moses Hogan Support the show