John Malveaux: 'I hold hope and strong recommendation for a Los Angeles performance of Negro Folk Symphony' of William Levi Dawson (1899-1990)

The Spirituals of William L. Dawson; The St. Olaf Choir; Anton Armstrong, conductor; Marvis Martin, soprano; St. Olaf Records 2159 (1997)

William Levi Dawson: Negro Folk Symphony (1934)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJX1jCmCev8 

A YouTube posting has made Dawson's only symphony available in its entirety online.  The Negro Folk Symphony (35:44) was posted on YouTube May 23, 2012.

William Levi Dawson (1899-1990) is profiled at AfriClassical.com, which features a comprehensive Works List by Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma, http://www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com

John Malveaux of www.MusicUNTOLD.com writes:

French horn player Robert Watt retired from the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra after 37 years in 2008. After Mr. Watt successfully auditioned for the LA Phil., he became the youngest and only African American member. Not long after his retirement, I observed Mr. Watt attending the City of Los Angeles annual African American Heritage Month Celebration at City Hall. I suggested to him that during all those 37 years, the LA Phil missed an opportunity to program William Levi Dawson’s Negro Folk Symphony and shine a light on him.

I was shocked to learn that Mr. Watt was unaware of the symphony and therefore unable to engage me in discussion. William Levi Dawson’s Negro Folk Symphony premiered in 1934 under Maestro Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra.

The Negro Folk Symphony includes three movements:

1. The Bond of Africa

2. The Hope in the Night

3. O, le’me shine, shine like a Morning Star 

The first movement, "The Bond of Africa," opens with a plaintive theme played by a solo French horn that symbolizes for the composer a "missing link," a break in the human, social chain when his ancestors were taken from Africa in slavery.

I greatly appreciate the recording and had several conversations with Dawson and greatly want to see/hear a Los Angeles performance to include Robert Watt playing the haunting solo in the opening bars.

Since retirement, Mr. Watt can be seen playing with the Southeast Symphony (oldest African American founded orchestra in the nation) and the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles who performed two concerts in the iconic Disney Concert Hall in 2013. Both orchestras include significant diversity in player personnel and were founded by African Americans. 

To date, I don’t know if Mr. Watt has heard a recording of Negro Folk Symphony but I hold hope and strong recommendation for a Los Angeles performance of Negro Folk Symphony by any capable orchestra.