Hale Smith Remembered as Influential Composer of Classical Music and Jazz on Anniversary of Birth June 29, 1925

Black Composers Series

Hale Smith: Ritual and Incantations (14:59)

Sony Music Custom Marketing Group 

DSO-1111 (2002)

Hale Smith (1925-2009), an African American composer, pianist and professor, is profiled at AfriClassical.com, which features a comprehensive Works List and a Bibliography by Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma, www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com.  Four years after the passing of composer Hale Smith, references to his career continue to appear frequently in music media.  What follows is a sampling from AfriClassical posts of the past year:


October 17, 2012: Soprano Icy Simpson and Pianist Artina McCain Record Spirituals and Art Songs on CD 'I, too' on Longhorn Music Label  The disc included Hale Smith's arrangement of Amazing Grace.

February 5, 2013: News12LongIsland: 'Freeport composer Hale Smith's inspiration lives on'

February 11, 2013: 'ANTHOLOGY: The Black Composers Series' by Dominique-René de Lerma  The post discussed Hale Smith's Ritual and Incantations (14:59), which is on the disc pictured above.

February 28, 2013: Dominique-René de Lerma wrote of a Black Music broadcast on Bill McLaughlin's Exploring Music: "The CD of Natalie Hinderas was welcomed back for Hale Smith's Evocation.  Time did not allow a richer exploration of this classic figures' output -- his Ritual and incantations  being even more evocative."

Comments by email:

Thank you so much for the remembrance.  Juanita  [Juanita Smith]

Hey, Bill: Thanks for the link. I celebrated Hale Smith’s 88^th birthday via a poem I wrote and read at a poetry reading ziz curated. When I get a chance, I’ll send it to you. All the best… Peace, Regina [Regina Harris Baiocchi]