Harry T. Burleigh: From the Spiritual to the Harlem Renaissance

Harry T. Burleigh was an African American composer, music editor, vocal coach, and mentor who played a significant role in American music and culture in the twentieth century. He was the first African American composer to create a significant body of art song and his arrangements of spirituals were praised as among the best of their time. Jean E. Snyder's book explores Burleigh's life from his Pennsylvania childhood through his fifty-year tenure as soloist at St. George's Episcopal Church in Manhattan, providing rich historical, social, and political contexts that explore his professional and personal life within an era complicated by changes in race relations, class expectations, and musical tastes.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 448 pages
Publication date: 31 August 2021
Publisher: University of Illinois Press

Harry T. Burleigh (1866-1949) was a prominent figure in American music and culture during the 20th century. Renowned for his arrangements of spirituals, Burleigh holds the distinction of being the first African American composer to create a substantial body of art songs. His compositions have been performed by an international roster of opera and recital singers, who have praised them as among the finest of their era. Jean E. Snyder delves into Burleigh's life, tracing his journey from his childhood in Pennsylvania to his fifty-year tenure as a soloist at St. George's Episcopal Church in Manhattan.

As a composer, Burleigh's pioneering work not only preserved but also transformed the African American spiritual. He played a crucial role in facilitating the work of other black composers through his music editing endeavors. Moreover, Burleigh served as a role model, vocal coach, and mentor, exerting a profound influence on American song. In his private life, he maintained friendships with notable figures such as AntonÃn Dvořák, Marian Anderson, Will Marion Cook, and other luminaries of American society.

Snyder offers rich historical, social, and political contexts that shed light on Burleigh's professional and personal life during a period characterized by significant changes in race relations, class expectations, and musical tastes. Through her comprehensive analysis, Snyder provides a deeper understanding of Burleigh's contributions to American music and his enduring impact on the cultural landscape.

Weight: 692g
Dimension: 157 x 233 x 39 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780252086328