In his Negro Folk Symphony, William Dawson uses a recurring 'missing link' motif to represent 'the link [that] was taken out of a human chain when the first African was taken from the shores of his native land and sent to slavery.'
Composition History
Ulysses Kay's Umbrian Scene was inspired by his memories of attending the Festival of Sacred Music near Perugia, Italy, and visiting historic towns during his 1949 Prix de Rome win.
Compositional Technique
Ulysses Kay's Fantasy Variations features a four-note cell in Phrygian mode that acts as an important thematic and structural element, appearing in most variations.
Composition History
Ulysses Kay's Fantasy Variations was commissioned by conductor Arthur Bennett Lipkin for the Portland (Maine) Symphony Orchestra, which premiered it in 1963.
Composition History
William Dawson revised his Negro Folk Symphony in 1952 after a trip to West Africa, aiming to infuse it with a rhythmic foundation inspired by African influences.
Notable Performances
The Negro Folk Symphony by William Dawson was premiered by Leopold Stokowski and The Philadelphia Orchestra on November 14, 1934, with a performance broadcast nationally on CBS radio.
Composer Biography
William Dawson ran away from home at age 13 to study at the Tuskegee Institute, later returning to establish and lead its music department.
