Leveling Piano Music by Black Composers

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Two dissertation recitals and one piano pedagogy workshop were presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts (Music: Piano Pedagogy and Performance) at the University of Michigan. The music presented on the two recitals featured piano collections including dances, preludes, and Negro melodies. The first dissertation recital was presented on Saturday, April 15th, 2017 in Stamps Auditorium. The program included Preludes No. 7, No. 8, and No. 9 by Fredrico Mompou and Preludes Op. 32, No. 5 in G Major and Op. 32, No. 10 in B minor by Sergei Rachmaninoff. A collection of dances were also performed on this program which featured French Suite No. 5 in G Major BWV 816 by Johann Sebastian Bach and Danzas Argentinas by Alberto Ginastera. The second half of the program featured music by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. “Deep River” Op. 59, No. 10 from 24 Negro Melodies for piano solo was performed as well as Five Negro Melodies for piano trio. The lecture recital, Uncovering The Negro Melodies of America was presented on Saturday, December 9th, 2017 in Stamps Auditorium. This lecture recital explored the origin, evolution, and cultural relevance of Spirituals through selected works in Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s 24 Negro Melodies, Op. 59. The pieces performed from this collection were, “I’m Troubled in Mind,” “Many Thousand Gone,” “Going Up,” “Steal Away” and “The Angels Changed My Name.” There were also three vocalists on this program who performed excerpts of each Spiritual. The Pedagogy Workshop, Leveling Piano Music by Black Composers, was presented on Saturday, April 21st, 2018 in Stamps Auditorium. This workshop presented leveled piano music by Black composers. The aim of this presentation was to highlight that piano music by Black composers brings forth unique pedagogical approaches and advocates for their inclusion into the standard teaching repertoire.