Black Classicists Past and Present

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception 

Photo of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

Classical music is the popular art music from the classical period. The Black community gave it a try and with success. Here is a look at  Afro-European stars of past and present.

Violists George Bridgetower and Joseph Emidy wowed the audiences in 19th century. Next, the famous composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was called the “African Mahler” in 20th century.

George Bridgetower
The story of violist George Bridgetower (1778 – 1860 ) told by Pulitzer Prize-winning and former United States poet laureate Rita Dove in her book, “Sonata Mulattica” a collection of poems subtitled “A Life in Five Movements and a Short Play,” intertwines fact and fiction to present Bridgetower, the son of a Polish-German mother and an Afro-Caribbean father. Read more about Bridgetower at www.100greatblackbritons.com
 See Sonata Mulattica movie trailer here: Sonata Mulattica

Joseph Emidy
Joseph Emidy (1775 – 1835) is  the19th century composer and virtuoso violinist, born in West Africa in 1775 and taken as a slave to Brazil who subsequently became a leading violinists at the Lisbon Opera House. He was a famous and celebrated violinist and composer in Cornwall in the UK.  Read more about Joseph Emidy at www.emidy.com
See movie trailer about the life of Joseph Emidy here: The Tin Violinist

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875 – 1912) was an English composer who achieved success that led to his once being called the “African Mahler”. He visited America on occasions when it was  extremely hard if not impossible for talented Black Americans to fulfill their cultural aspirations, and was therefore seen as a champion of their cause. The video link below is about that American connection. Read more of Taylor at www.100greatblackbritons.com 
Watch the movie trailer about Samuel Coleridge-Tayleor here: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

Chi-Chi Nwanoku 
The story of Chi-Chi Nwanoku, born in London of Nigerian and Irish parents. The  former track start, now a double bassist and founder member and principal double bassist of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and fellow of the Royal Academy of Music. Read more at www.oae.co.uk
Watch the movie trailer about Chi-Chi Nwanoku here: Tales From The Bass Line

Overview 
Britain’s Paul Gladstone Reid talks about how black people influenced classical music in Europe. Read the full story at http://mixtapemadness.co.uk

Tribute
The best way to honour George Bridgetower, Joseph Emidy and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor with a Jazz tribute is with American violist Noel Pointer’s (1954 – 1994)  “Night Song”.
Watch Noel Pointer’s Night Song video here: NightSong