Whenever I want to do something for Black History Month, my first impulse is always to program music by composers of color. They’re not exactly overplayed (unless you’re Mozart or Tchaikovsky, who is?), and I am always interested in sharing worthwhile music that’s off the beaten path.
Today, however, I thought I’d try something a little different. While no doubt there will be some music by composers of African descent, and just about all of it will be off the beaten path, my focus this afternoon will really be on Black conductors. Black performers (singers and instrumentalists) seem to be fairly well represented at this point, but the Black conductor is still something of a novelty.
In terms of recordings, it seems to be the attitude that Black conductors, in common with conductors from anywhere outside the Austro-German mainstream and perhaps the United States, are most bankable when they specialize in music of their own kind. You’ll find the same attitude toward Spanish, Czech, or Scandinavian conductors, for instance. On the other hand, I suppose it would make sense that many are enthusiastic about the chance to advocate for music of their own kind.
Recordings of Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert and Schumann by pioneering African-American conductor Dean Dixon tend to be very difficult to get a hold of. But many Black conductors have had opportunities to record a broader spectrum of American or 20th century music, and we’ll get to enjoy some of that today.
Of course, the color of one’s skin should have no bearing on one’s abilities on the podium, unless the players happen to be resistant to one’s authority. But we’ll use it as an organizing principle as we enjoy an afternoon of great music-making.
First, on today’s Noontime Concert, perhaps looking ahead to Valentine’s Day, the ensemble Khorikos will present “Love and Lamentation.” The program will focus on works from Hildegard von Bingen to Claudio Monteverdi. There will even be a piece by the notorious Carlo Gesualdo, “Mille Volte il di Moro” (“A thousand times a day I die”). Gesualdo plotted to have his wife murdered, when she was discovered with her lover. If that doesn’t put you in the mood for romance, I don’t know what will.
The concert is another brought to us by Gotham Early Music Scene, or GEMS. GEMS is a non-profit corporation that supports and promotes artists and organizations in New York City devoted to Early Music. Free lunchtime concerts are held at the chapel of St. Bartholomew’s Church, 325 Park Avenue, every Thursday at 1:15 p.m. To learn more about these and other GEMS events, look online at gemsny.org.
We’ll have valentines to Early Music and Black conductors this afternoon, from 4 to 7 p.m. EST, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.
PHOTOS: Dean Dixon (top) and Philaldelphia’s own James DePreist