Musical Landscapes in Color
Conversations with Black American Composers
Published on 29. March 2003
Book
Hardback
400 pages
978-0-8108-3706-5 (ISBN)
Description
A sequel to the award-winning The Black Composer Speaks (Scarecrow Press, 1978), this exploration of the creative world of African American composers traces the lives and careers of 40 talented individuals and, in their own words, provides perspectives on a world that has been slow to recognize their remarkable contributions to classical music. The discussion places the music of these composers within the greater context of Western art music, but analyzes it through the lenses of sociology, Western concepts of art and taste, and vernacular musical forms, including spirituals, blues, jazz, and contemporary popular music. Each chapter is devoted to an individual composer, who discusses his or her musical training, compositional techniques and style, and the composer's personal philosophy as reflected in his or her music. A selected list of compositions for each composer is included, as well as a photo and sample of the composer's "hand." Banfield offers unprecedented insight into the history and influence of the African American composer with this documentary, which will appeal to everyone from the music scholar to the general reader.
Reviews / Votes
A valuable guide to the repertoire... * Times Union * Forty-one composers including the author offer personal perspectives on their art, mostly through first-person narratives and occasionally in Q-and-A format. Included here are such important orchestral figures as Hale Smith, Adolphus Hallstork, George Walker, Olly Wilson, David Baker, T.J. Anderson, H. Leslie Adams, Leslie Dunner, Bobby McFerrin, Patrice Rushen, Michael Abels, Anthony Davis, Jonathan Holland, Anthony Kelley, Jeffrey Mumford, Gary Powell Nash, and James Kimo Williams. Banfield provides a biographical synopsis for each composer, and his opening chapter is an historical overview of the African-American composer's experience. * SymphonyNOW * The heritage of jazz, blues, R&B, rap, and popular music is evident, as expected, but the entries inevitably go past the confines of music. Essential..... * CHOICE * The heritage of jazz, blues, R&B, rap, and popular music is evident, as expected, but the entries inevitably go past the confines of music. Essential. * CHOICE *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Lanham, MD
United States
Dimensions
Height: 259 mm
Width: 182 mm
Thickness: 32 mm
Weight
1012 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8108-3706-5 (9780810837065)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
William C. Banfield is Professor of Africana Studies/Music/Society at Berklee School of Music. A musician, composer, conductor, and musical director, Banfield is the consulting editor for African American Cultural Studies for the Scarecrow Press, Inc.
Content
Part 1 Contents Part 2 Foreword Part 3 Introduction Part 4 1 Laying the Foundation Part 5 2 The Arrived and the Acknowledged, Part 1 (1922-1936) Chapter 6 Leslie Adams Chapter 7 Thomas J. Anderson Chapter 8 David Baker Chapter 9 Noel De Costa Chapter 10 George Russell Chapter 11 Hale Smith Chapter 12 Frederick C. Tillis Chapter 13 George Walker Part 14 3 The Arrived and the Acknowledged, Part 2 (1937-1945) Chapter 15 Adolphus Hailstork Chapter 16 Wendell Logan Chapter 17 Dorothy Rudd Moore Chapter 18 Olly Wilson Part 19 4 Perspectives on Spiritual, Jazz, and Contemporary Popular Languages Chapter 20 Dwight Andrews Chapter 21 Ysaye Maria Barnwell Chapter 22 Billy Childs Chapter 23 George Duke Chapter 24 Jester Hairston Chapter 25 Herbie Hancock Chapter 26 Stephen Newby Chapter 27 Michael Powell Chapter 28 Billy Taylor Chapter 29 Tony Williams Chapter 30 Michael Woods Part 31 5 The Composer as Conductor and Composer Chapter 32 Leslie Dunner Chapter 33 Bobby McFerrin Chapter 34 Coleridge Taylor Perkinson Chapter 35 Patrice Rushen Chapter 36 Kevin Scott Chapter 37 Julius Williams Part 38 6 Generation X and Beyond (1950-1965) Chapter 39 Michael Abels Chapter 40 Lettie Beckon Alston Chapter 41 William C. Banfield Chapter 42 Regina Harris Biaocchi Chapter 43 Anthony Davis Chapter 44 Donal Fox Chapter 45 Jonathon Holland Chapter 46 Anthony Kelley Chapter 47 Jeffrey Mumford Chapter 48 Gary Powell Nash Chapter 49 Evelyn Simpson-Curenton Chapter 50 James Kimo Williams Part 51 Postlude: Extensions of the Tradition-Linkages and Canon Part 52 Index Part 53 About the Author