The Negro Folk Symphony is a symphony composed by William L. Dawson and completed in 1934.[1]

The work consists of three movements:

  1. The Bond of Africa
  2. Hope in the Night
  3. O, Le' Me Shine, Shine Like a Morning Star!

Its world premiere on November 20, 1934, at Carnegie Hall in New York City was conducted by Leopold Stokowski and performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra.[2][3]

It was recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra conducted by Neeme Järvi in 2001.[4][5] A recording by the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Arthur Fagen [de] was released in June 2020.[6][7]

Notes edit

  1. ^ Ericson, Raymond (1964-08-17). "Symphonic Music by Negroes given; Leonard de Paul Conducts Orchestra of America". The New York Times. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  2. ^ "William Dawson 1934 / Philadelphia Orchestra (concert record)". Carnegie Hall. November 20, 1934.
  3. ^ "A Tuskegee Symphony; Stokowski to Present Dawson's Pioneer Work on Negro Themes". The New York Times. 1934-11-18. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  4. ^ Negro Folk Symphony at Discogs
  5. ^ Audio on YouTube, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Järvi
  6. ^ Huizenga, Tom (2020-06-26). "Someone Finally Remembered William Dawson's Negro Folk Symphony". National Public Radio. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  7. ^ Walls, Seth Colter (2020-07-02). "8 Things to Do This Fourth of July Weekend". The New York Times. Retrieved 2020-10-27.

External links edit