7 Black Composers All Babies Need On Their Playlists

7 Black Composers All Babies Need On Their Playlists

Together, let’s explore the lives of 7 black composers. Their music needs to be on the playlist of all babies.

These composers poured all their energy and passion into their compositions. They revealed their very souls in their music as did Mozart, Beethoven, or Brahms.

All babies and their parents need to listen to all kinds of composers. Through their music, we learn about the world and ourselves.

Our goal should be to make the music of these black classical composers standard listening. Their music deserves to be recorded, promoted, and heard.

However, the only way to make these things happen for black composers is to listen to their music. So, that is where you, as a parent, can take action.

Find the music of black composers, download it, and start listening to it with your baby. Let your baby grow with this music and make it a part of themselves.

Author and activist James Baldwin said, “Nothing can be changed until it’s faced.” We all can call do things to make the world a better place right where we are.

Let’s “face the music” in a good way! Include the music of black composers on your baby’s playlist.

In the past, black composers have mainly received attention in the vocal, jazz, or popular music categories.

More recently, symphony orchestras have begun to program and perform the music of black composers. Their solo and chamber ensemble works are also finding their way onto recital programs.

The black composers you will learn about here were every bit as well-education as composers who have been in the mainstream for a century or more.

“Nothing can be changed until it is faced.”

James Baldwin

It’s time to put them in the main stream listening as well.

Late 18th-Early 19th Century Black Composers

Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges

The first composer on our list is Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799). He is recognized as the first classical composer of African origins.

Chevalier de Saint-Georges wrote many symphonies, concertos, and string quartets. He lived at the same time as Mozart. He was even referred to as ‘le Mozart noir” or the Black Mozart.

Here is an audio sample of Chevalier de Georges’ String Quartet No. 3 in C Major. It is quite lovely and would be a good addition to your baby’s playlist.

https://chevalierdesaintgeorges.homestead.com/saintgeorges_string_5.mp3

George Bridgetower

George Bridgetower (1778-1860) is the second black composer on the list. He wrote music for the violin, piano, voice, and other small ensembles. Bridgetower was also a virtuoso violinist.

Bridgetower and Beethoven performed together. Beethoven even dedicated one of his violin and piano sonatas to Bridgetower.

However, he took back the dedication because of an unkind remark Bridgetower made about a woman Beethoven knew. Beethoven was so angry that he changed the dedication to Rodophe Kreutzer, the great French violinist.

It might be that this kind of behavior did not endear Bridgetower to musicians and audiences alike. He and his music were soon forgotten and he died in poverty.

Here is just a snippet of Bridgetower’s composition “Jubilee”.

https://youtu.be/g9ZaEokJKak

Francis ‘Frank’ Johnson

The third black composer on this list is Francis ‘Frank” Johnson (1792-1844). He played the keyed bugle, violin, and piano.

Johnson was one of the first pioneers of the military brass band. He was the first African-American to give public concerts in the United States.

Johnson was also the first to play in racially integrated concerts in America. And yet another of his accomplishments was leading the first musical ensemble to give concerts in Europe.

His compositions include Ethiopian songs, opera arias, and patriotic marches. He was also the first African-American composer to have his works printed into sheet music.

Unfortunately, very little of Johnson’s music still exists. Typical for that time and how he composed, only basic notes were written.

Johnson would then give verbal instructions as to how to play that basic outline of the music. In this way, Johnson actually paved the way for jazz music.

A recording to check out is The Music of Francis Johnson and His Contemporaries: Early 19th Century Black Composers. It includes dances and marches that would be quite pleasant to put on your baby’s playlist.

Late 19th-Early 20th Century Black Composers

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

Fourth on the list is Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912). His compositions combined African-American folk music and concert music.

British composer Edward Elgar helped Coleridge-Taylor to premier some of his works. His career needed that boost considering the racial prejudice he faced most of his life.

His most important works are African Suite, African Romances, and Twenty-Four Negro Melodies. Coleridge-Taylor is especially well-known for his Song of Hiawatha. That work consists of three cantatas based on that epic poem.

This is an all too short excerpt of the Coleridge-Taylor’s Romance in G Major for Violin and Orchestra. Rachel Barton Pine, my favorite violinist, is the soloist. This one is definitely on my to-buy list. It is so beautiful!

https://chevalierdesaintgeorges.homestead.com/Cedille035SCTRomance.mp3

Scott Joplin

Our fifth black composer is Scott Joplin (1868-1917). He was called “King of Ragtime”. Joplin is by far one of the most important composers that lived at the beginning of the 20th Century, black or white.

He used unusual harmonies and complicated bass patterns. He also used syncopation (displacing the beat from its normal place in the music). Even today, composers still imitate his musical ideas.

Listen to this relaxing performance of “Solace” Rag by Joplin.

https://youtu.be/OKNHp-daefk

Florence Price

Number Six on our list of black composers is Florence Price (1887-1953). Price was the first African-American woman to have her music played by a major symphony orchestra. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra premiered her Symphony No. 1 in E Minor in 1933.

Florence Price’s music was influenced by her deep religious roots. Hence, her compositions reflect the music of the African-American church.

She was also influenced by the music of Dvorak, Tchaikovsky, and other late 19th Century European composers.

Listen to these two vocal selections by Price. The melodies are sweet and flowing. The harmonies are tightly written and sound so vibrant. They are perfect for your baby’s black composers’ playlist to relax in the afternoon.

https://chevalierdesaintgeorges.homestead.com/got_st_louis_3.mp3

https://chevalierdesaintgeorges.homestead.com/got_st_louis_4.mp3

William Grant Still

Last on this list of 7 black composers is William Grant Still (1895-1978). Still has a long list of “firsts” to his name.

He was the first African-American to conduct a major American symphony orchestra. The New York City Opera was first to produced one of his operas.

Still was the first African-American to have a symphony performed by a leading orchestra. He was also the first African-American to have an opera performed on national television.

William Grant Still composed more than 150 works. He wrote symphonies small chamber ensemble music. Still also vocal music, operas, and piano compositions.

This selection written for flute and piano makes me drift off into a daydream. Maybe it would be a good nap time tune for your baby’s playlist. See what you think…

http://chevalierdesaintgeorges.homestead.com/Koch371922H1Summerland.mp3

Begin Your Baby’s Playlist With These 7 Black Composers

Dr. Suzuki said, “Music is the language of the heart without words.”

If a composer has written fine music that touches our very being, then it deserves to be heard. Skin color should not be a barrier to getting compositions performed.

We can begin to pull down those barriers that exist by doing our part. It is as simple as finding the music of black composers. Then buy it and begin playing it for your baby.

As I researched the music of these 7 black composers, I was stunned at how beautiful their compositions are. To be completely honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I began listening to the audio samples.

There were some that carried me away (as I mentioned above). Others brought a tear to my eye. I think that happened because I suddenly realized what I had been missing.

Maybe it was sadness because the music of these composers has been ignored for so long. In a way, I feel cheated out of a part of my music education.

Fortunately for you and me, we live in the 21st century. Black composers’ music is so much more accessible than it once was.

You must make sure that your baby has the pleasure of listening to black composers’ music. Make sure they grow up with it and learn from it.

“Music is the language of the heart without words.”

Shinichi Suzuki

One of my goals is to continue researching more black , BIPOC , and women composers. I want to include more of these compositions in my Suzuki Early Childhood Baby Class. Look for future posts about them.

Let’s add them to the list of composers that are already mainstream. Your little one is counting on you to do that and so am I!

On the Beautiful Heart Musical Journey with you,

Susan

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