BlackPast.org: Black Composers & Musicians in Classical Music History

[John Blanke, Royal Trumpeter for King Henry VIII, at Westminster Tournament, 1511. Copyright: National Archives of the United Kingdom.]

BlackPast.org has published a survey article, drawn from profiles at AfriClassical.com, which illustrates the continuous contributions of Black composers and musicians from the 16^th century to the 20^th century. This resource for Black History Month is approximately 1,000 words in length, and is illustrated by a colorful detail from a pictorial manuscript. It depicts John Blanke, a Black trumpeter for England's Kings Henry VII and Henry VIII, performing while on horseback at the Westminster Tournament of 1511. The most recent artist mentioned is the African American oboist, composer, arranger and conductor William Grant Still (1895-1978), whose Afro-American Symphony remains one of the most recognized works by a composer of African descent. The article outlines an uninterrupted succession of Black classical composers and musicians from the 18^th century to the 20^th century.

Black+Composers" rel="tag">Black Composers
Black+Musicians" rel="tag">Black Musicians
Classical+Music" rel="tag">Classical Music
Black+History" rel="tag">Black History
John+Blanke" rel="tag">John Blanke
William+Still" rel="tag">William Still