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23 Mar 19 - 10:54 AM (#3984132) Subject: Francis Johnson, Afro-American composer From: Jack Campin I was in Paris last week and found a CD of music that was entirely new to me: "The Music of Francis Johnson", Music Masters CD 7028-2-C / D 193198, 1990, performed by the Chestnut Brass Company, a band using early 19th century instruments. Johnson (1792-1844) was an African-American bandleader/arranger/composer who wrote a lot of dances and marches in the popular idiom of the time and was remarkably successful. His music is all lost in its band form but survives in piano reductions - the Chestnut people reconstructed band arrangements, easier than usual since the piano scores contain frequent hints to say which instrument is taking a solo. They had their arrangements for sale. Here's one not on the CD, in a version for flute and piano with hints for a band scoring: Recognition March for the Independance of Hayti This seems like a repertoire waiting wider exploitation. It's quite different from the somewhat later stufff the Carolina Chocolate Drops did. |
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24 Mar 19 - 04:14 PM (#3984409) Subject: RE: Francis Johnson, African-American composer From: Jack Campin I had a further look, and it seems the Chestnut Brass Company were pretty darn good researchers. Hardly any of the tunes on their CD are in the Lester Levy collection. One oddity I looked for was a "Valse a cinq temps" by A.J.R.Conner, maybe the first 5-time waltz published anywhere - no trace. Anybody here know more? This looks like Jim Dixon's field. |
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26 Mar 19 - 01:25 PM (#3984654) Subject: RE: Francis Johnson, African-American composer From: Stringsinger It seems reminiscent of the music of James Reese Europe, another African-American composer of band music. I'll bet there were many more African-American composers who were not as well known particularly with the prejudices common to that period of history. It would make a great recording. |
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26 Mar 19 - 07:51 PM (#3984696) Subject: RE: Francis Johnson, African-American composer From: leeneia Thanks for the information. This is good to know. |
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29 Mar 19 - 09:04 AM (#3985028) Subject: RE: Francis Johnson, African-American composer From: Donuel Florence Price was a AA symphonic composer who commanded all the bells whistles and chimes. Her symphoney #1 was strong |
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31 Mar 19 - 04:55 PM (#3985269) Subject: RE: Francis Johnson, African-American composer From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch "African-American" Minor correction. Johnson was born and raised a French citizen (Martinique.) Didn't move to the land of "African-American" proper until he was in his late teens. Love me some of that old school quadrille. Good stuff. |