Rhapsody in Black: Recent Episodes
YourClassical
Rhapsody in Black, from YourClassical, is an ecstatic exploration of classical music that’s aesthetically and uncompromisingly Black. Join host Tesfa Wondemagegnehu as he examines the impact of Black composers and performers on the genre.
Flautist, composer and producer Allison Loggins-Hull is often described as someone whose work “defies classification.” Co-founder of the boundary-breaking flute duo Flutronix and current Cleveland Orchestra’s Daniel R. Lewis Composer Fellow, her music and performances reflect current events, responding to humanitarian, political and social justice themes. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Flautist, composer and producer Allison Loggins-Hull is often described as someone whose work “defies classification.” Co-founder of the boundary-breaking flute duo Flutronix and current Cleveland Orchestra’s Daniel R. Lewis Composer Fellow, her music and performances reflect current events, responding to humanitarian, political and social justice themes. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Known for singing roles in operas that demand his particular Bel Canto voice and leading projects that uplift music by African American composers, tenor Lawrence Brownlee is conscious of how the work of Black singers in the past have helped him succeed in his career, and he intends to do the same for upcoming young singers. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Pianist Awadagin Pratt is a world-class pianist who has earned awards, international competitions and an Avery Fisher Career Grant. He has never shied away from talking about his experiences as a Black man in the predominantly white world of classical music and has worked hard to help others following the same path. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
In 2021, Terence Blanchard became the first Black composer to have an opera staged at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Whether it’s performing or composing jazz, film music and opera, Blanchard does it exceptionally well, receiving awards and nominations for his work at every turn. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
A musician of multiple hats and genres, Damien Sneed is recognized today as a pianist, vocalist, organist, composer, conductor, arranger, producer and arts educator in high demand. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Tania León has been hailed as an astoundingly original composer and a music ambassador who continues to impact classical music significantly. Her story inspires, showcasing her perseverance and commitment to excellence in the face of adversity. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Tania León has been hailed as an astoundingly original composer and a music ambassador who continues to impact classical music significantly. Her story inspires, showcasing her perseverance and commitment to excellence in the face of adversity. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Tania León has been hailed as an astoundingly original composer and a music ambassador who continues to impact classical music significantly. Her story inspires, showcasing her perseverance and commitment to excellence in the face of adversity. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Tania León has been hailed as an astoundingly original composer and a music ambassador who continues to impact classical music significantly. Her story inspires, showcasing her perseverance and commitment to excellence in the face of adversity. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Conductor Roderick Cox is notable for his dynamic, engaging performances, often highlighting works by underrepresented composers and exploring various musical styles. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Gil Scott-Heron, the self-proclaimed "bluesologist," emerged as a courageous musical figure during the 1970s and 80s, skillfully blending social commentary with musical artistry. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Conductor André J. Thomas has spent more than three decades as a director of choral activities and professor of singing. To this day he refuses to slow down. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Jazz vocalist Bobby McFerrin is a musical multi-tasker like no other. Not afraid to break tradition, McFerrin has opened up the world of music to embrace all different kinds of sounds. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Song leader, composer, scholar and social activist Bernice Johnson Reagon understands firsthand the power and function music has to unite people. Her life through music exemplifies that notion. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Composer Joel Thompson continues the history of challenging society with his music, like so many artists that came before him. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
In the 1970s, pianist and composer Eubie Blake was one of the only survivors of the early ragtime era, which began in the late 1800s, and he was still going strong. In fact, the highly skilled pianist’s rags were so challenging that they had to be simplified before being published. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Pop superstar Prince was far more than the chart-topping musician everyone loved. He was a modern-day composer that explored and was an expert in many styles of music. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Rapper Kendrick Lamar won the Pulitzer Prize in music for his album ‘DAMN.’ Many people were excited and happy about such a change in the awarding of the prize, while others loathed it. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Composer Sydney Guillaume came to the United States at 11 from Haiti. While he calls America home, his compositions pay homage to his ancestors and their fight for independence. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Guitar virtuoso Jimi Hendrix has many similarities to violin virtuoso Niccolò Paganini. Both were charismatic, had international success and both had a love for classical music. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Haitian composer and educator Jean-Paul Coffy has always seen the importance of music in early childhood development. It has been the center of his work in the community and compositions. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Composer Errollyn Wallen has had teachers tell her that classical music is ‘not her sort of music’ and has had to deal with being underestimated her whole life. Now she is one of the United Kingdom’s leading composers. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Composer Valerie Coleman does a little bit of everything. She is a flute virtuoso, a famous composer, a model for Black musicians worldwide and a mentor to her students. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Haitian composer and pianist Ludovic Lamothe was known by the problematic nickname ‘The Black Chopin’ during his life. Now he is receiving the recognition he deserves. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Soprano Leontyne Price has many firsts in the opera world and among those accolades came fame. She put that fame to good use fighting racism her way. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Soprano Measha Brueggergosman is an amazing Canadian singer that has stood her own in the worlds of opera, jazz and gospel. While singing brilliantly across genres, she is also an activist and educator for social justice. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Composer Robert Nathaniel Dett was a collector and preserver of spirituals. He saw the music as a rich and artistic source of melody for American music. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Bassist Chi-Chi Nwanoku is more than a world-class performer. She also promotes music by composers of color in Europe through her Chineke! Foundation. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Pianist André Watts made his debut at 16 when he was featured in a Young People’s Concert, with Leonard Bernstein conducting. Bernstein was blown away by the performance! Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Composer Anthony Davis has been creating operas that center on the Black experience for years. With a recent thirst for Black operas, it’s easy to forget composers who have been here all along. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Pianist Jon Batiste has been pushing the boundaries of classical music since he was a child, fusing jazz and R&B with classical music to create an unforgettable sound. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger and activist Nina Simone found her calling in jazz after a career as a classical pianist was faulted before her eyes. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Singer, rapper and flutist Lizzo was introduced to music from an early age through the church and marching band. Her love for the community marching band gave to her growing up is consistently influencing her music. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Composer Fela Sowande was introduced to classical and church music from an early age. While he was successful as a musician, he moved to London in 1934 to study civil engineering. Ultimately, his love of music won. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Violinist and composer George Bridgetower was good friends with Ludwig Van Beethoven. So much so that Beethoven wrote a violin sonata just for him. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Bass baritone Ryan Speedo Green has experienced an all-too-familiar upbringing that is similar to many troubled Black youths in America. But with the support of an outstanding teacher, he beat the odds to become a rising star in opera. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
George Walker is credited with many firsts throughout his career. Despite all his success, his career was greatly stunted by racism and neglect. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Undine Smith Moore knew the importance of music education from an early age. But despite her success, she still doubted her abilities and accomplishments as a composer, citing racism. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s life often focuses on his pivotal moments such as his "I Have a Dream" speech. But music filled and inspired his most intimate moments that made him the leader he is remembered as today. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Singer Paul Robeson had a commanding physical presence, but it was his intense bass voice that led him to popularity. His successful career as an actor, singer and Socialist activist came to an end during the Cold War. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Composer Adolphus Hailstork has had his music performed by major orchestras and ensembles around the world since the 1970s. He has always used his music to amplify Black voices. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Choral conductor Anton Armstrong has been sharing the power and beauty of singing since he was a child. His work in choral music involves breaking down racial and cultural barriers that keep us from uniting in song. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Guadeloupean Creole composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de St. George, was born to a slave woman and rose to join French aristocratic circles as a musician. While sometimes called “the Black Mozart,” find out why he’s far too interesting and multifaceted to be seen as anything but his own in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Composer Jessie Montgomery is in a constant state of creation. She actively plays violin and teaches, while composing award-winning pieces. Find out more about her amazing achievements in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Composer William Grant Still is the record holder for many firsts in the Black classical world. His ‘Afro-American Symphony’ was the first to be performed by a major orchestra. Find out more about his many firsts in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Composer Omar Thomas remembers never playing music in concert band that celebrates Black traditions while he was growing up. He has made it his mission to create music that speak directly to the issues of representation, social consciousness and liberation. Find out more about Thomas’s socially conscious compositions in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Composer Nkeiru Okoye doesn’t fit neatly into any kind of classical category. Her compositions showcase her genius by incorporating different types of musical styles that help create a sound that’s uniquely hers. Find out more about Okoye’s diverse compositions in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Composer Scott Joplin is best known for his ragtime piano compositions that include ‘The Maple Leaf Rag’ and ‘The Entertainer.’ Like many other Black artists, he composed so much more than that! Find out more about Joplin’s other compositions in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Composer Julius Eastman’s personal philosophy was “to be what I am to the fullest. Black to the fullest, a musician to the fullest, and a homosexual to the fullest.” Find out more about his brilliant, beautiful and challenging life in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Baritone Henry T. Burleigh is a forgotten figure in American music history. His singing caught the attention of Antonin Dvorak, who made Burleigh his assistant. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Contralto Marian Anderson sang her way to the top. Despite racism and sexism, she found support from first lady Eleanor Roosevelt and sang at the Lincoln Memorial. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Justin Holland is not the first name that people think of when asked about the classical guitar. It might come as a surprise that one of the best guitar virtuosos of the 19th century was a free black Oberlin College graduate. Find out more in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Margaret Bonds dealt with racism as she broke barriers for future generations of Black women composers. Find out how the words and friendship of renowned Black novelist Langston Hughes helped her with that struggle in the latest episode of the 'Rhapsody in Black' podcast.
Composer Florence Price dealt with many systemic barriers in her pursuit of musical greatness. In the first episode of the ‘Rhapsody in Black’ podcast, find out how her hard work paid off after she won a composition competition and formed a partnership with Chicago Symphony Orchestra conductor Frederick Stock.