Ulysses Kay (1917-1995)
is featured at AfriClassical.com
John Malveaux of
writes:
American composer Ulysses Simpson Kay was born
January 7, 1917 and this is the Centennial of his birth. If you are of European
or Asian ancestry and willing to consider little known contributions by an
African American in classical and opera music or if you are of African descent
and willing to consider little known achievements by an African American in
music outside of Jazz, Pop, Gospel, World Music, R&B, RAP, and related
genres, please see http://chevalierdesaintgeorges.homestead.com/Kay.html
Seeking
to learn about African American contributions in classical and opera music
about 35 years ago, I contacted Dr. Kay and he graciously permitted me to visit
his home in New Jersey and interview him at CBS Records in New York. Dr.
Kay had an international perspective far beyond my awareness without any
international travel. He had been a member of the first State Department
cultural exchange with the Soviet Union. I recall being surprised when he
mentioned that of all the places he had visited, the Soviet people were most
like Americans.
Dr.
Kay’s composition Markings; symphonic essay. A tribute to Dag Hammarskjöld
(1905-1961) may be found on CBS Black Composers’ Series Volume 3
Side V. In 1953 Dag Hammarskjöld was elected Attorney General of the United Nations.
In 1961, he was killed when his plane crashed in Northern
Rhodesia (now Zambia) on a peace mission to the Congo. The United States
and Soviet Union were involved in an intense nuclear race. The Soviet Union
opposed Dag Hammarskjöld leadership.
Hammarskjöld posthumously received the Nobel Peace Prize in
1961. Dag Hammarskjöld kept a diary, which came into print
in the 1960s with the title "Markings."
No comments:
Post a Comment