Black Music Research Newsletter, Fall 1983
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Columbia College Chicago Digital Commons @ Columbia College Chicago Center for Black Music Research: Black Music Research Newsletter Publications Fall 9-1-1983 Black Music Research Newsletter, Fall 1983 Samuel Floyd Columbia College Chicago Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.colum.edu/cbmrnews Part of the Arts and Humanities Commons, and the Education Commons Recommended Citation Floyd, Samuel, "Black Music Research Newsletter, Fall 1983" (1983). Center for Black Music Research: Black Music Research Newsletter. 17. https://digitalcommons.colum.edu/cbmrnews/17 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Publications at Digital Commons @ Columbia College Chicago. It has been accepted for inclusion in Center for Black Music Research: Black Music Research Newsletter by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Columbia College Chicago. For more information, please contact [email protected]. BLACK MUSIC RESEARCH NEWSLETTER COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO/FISK UNIVERSITY Vol. 6, No.1 ISSN Number 0271-3799 Fall 1983 News and Notes From ... The Institute for Research in Black American Music at Fisk University by William T. Dargan, Fisk University Samuel A. Floyd, Jr. has resigned as there should be some movement More than a decade ago in the Institute Director to accept a position toward establishing an archive of aftermath of M.L. King's at Columbia College in Chicago as black folk music and culture that will assassination, the Indiana University Director of its Center for Black Music enhance the already signikant community made a commitment to the Research. Through his work in holdings of the Fisk University greater utilization of blacks in all founding the Black Music Research Library. facets of JU opera productions, and to the commissioning of works by black Newsletter at Southern Illinois, and his Several recent musical events and composers. The production of Porgy work as fou nding Director of the developments come to mind that and Bess several years ago, and the Institute for Res,earch in Black should be mentioned, including the American Music (IRBAM) at Fisk, his world premiere of an opera by T.J. world premiere of Dr. Anderson's contributions to research in this field Anderson, the release of a very opera based on a libretto by poet and novelist, Leon Forrest, are noteworthy are well-documented. We at Fisk are important documentary film on black indebted to him for the excellent gospel music, and the induction of beginnings. The hope is that other standard that has been established. He William Christopher Handy, commissions and performances will has agreed to continue his association immortalized as the "father of the follow. with the Institute as a member of the blues", into the Nashville Songwriters While the reviews of Soldier Boy, Advisory Board. Dr. Floyd will also Association lnternational's Hall of Soldier have been mixed, the continue to edit the Journal and the Fame. composer has indicated that he was Newsletter, which will be continued as Commissioned by the Indiana "very pleased" with the conception of joint publications of Columbia College the work and its performance. Sources and Fisk University. University Foundation in conjunction with the School of Music and Office of in a major American city have As of September 26, 1983, I have Afro-American Affairs, Soldier Boy, reportedly expressed interest in formally accepted the position of Soldier, an opera in two acts, received producing a second performance of the Institute Director. By way of its world premiere performance at the opera. introduction, I received the doctorate Indiana University Opera Theater in Dr. Anderson is continuing his work in ethnomusicology from Wesleyan October, 1982. with music in multi-media contexts University in 1983 for a dissertation The opera tells the story of the through a collaboration with Chicago entitled, "Congregational Gospel sculptor, Richard Hunt, Stan Madeja, Songs in a Black Holiness Church: a Vietnam War's effect on members of an inner-city black community Dean of Performing Arts at Northern Musical and Textual Analysis." This is niinois, and Michael Harper, my second year as Assistant Professor Clarence Cratwell, a black Vietnam War veteran (William Brown); distinguished poet on the faculty at of Music and Director of the Jazz Brown. Entitled "Thomas Jefferson's Ensemble at Fisk. My hope is that the Priscilla Jones, Cratwell's ex-girlfriend (Alteouise DeVaughn); Delores-Sue Orbiting Minstrels and Contraband," Institute will continue its scholarly this work is targeted for a 1984 publications and annual conferences as Tobias, Cratwell's fiancee (Robert Gumbel); Rev. thuston Norwood, performance in Chicago, and follows means by which scholars and upon an earlier work "Thomas educators can exchange and debate Pastor of the Rock of the Redeemed ideas and information. In addition, Heart Baptist Church (Kevin Maynor); and jazz bass player/street-wise hip Continued on page 2 talker, Main Man Crutchfield (William Johnson). 2 Jefferson's Minstrels," scored for black Produced with major funding from by Mr. Handy. Reflecting on the interlocutor and white glee club and NEH and NEA, this film gives witness occasion, Moses Dillard, the first and premiered at Tufts. According to the to the possibility that documentary only black on the NSAl's Board, noted composer, the earlier work deals with film can constitute high entertainment that the "Manny Award" to Mr. minstrelsy in the 19th century, while as well as surpassing creativity. Handy follows upon the Songwriters' the more recent effort considers Or. Pearl Williams-Jones, the movie's induction of other legendary black minstrelsy in the world of the 21st chief technical advisor, was also composer-performers into their Hall of century. Bruce Thompson is writing a featured in the leading role of Fame in recent years, such as biography on the life and work of Or. "Mahalia's Song," a play on the life of Leadbelly, Thomas A. Dorsey, and Anderson. MahaJja Jackson. Directed by Michael Chuck Berry. The movie "Say Amen, Somebody" Malone, this work was presented in IRBAM recently received a planning has opened in several art theatres early September as the first production grant from the Tennessee Committee around the country to rave reviews. of the 1983-84 season at the Howard for the Humanities to develop the Produced and directed by George University Theatre. concept of a radio program series on Nierenberg and his wife, Karen, who On October 9, 1983, the Nashville the religious music of Black America. is Co-Producer, with technical advice Songwriters Association International This project would address the from Pearl Williams-Jones, Jeff T. inducted William Christopher Handy relationship between music/ musicians Titon, and John Szwed, the film into its Hall of Fame. On hand to and the communities/ cont,exts in features Thomas A. Dorsey, the accept the posthumus award was Mrs. which they function through broadcast renowned "father of gospel music" on W.C. (Inna Louise) Handy. As the interviews, commentary, and full whom Fisk University conferred an climax of the awards ceremony, length musical examples. honorary doctorate in 1982, and Bobby Jones and the New Life Singers Finally, IRBAM is planning a Mother Willie Mae Ford Smith, the performed a medley of secular and conference to be held in Nashville legendary gospel singer from St. Louis sacred compositions and arrangements during the fall of 1984. A call for who is known for her use of papers and further details will be distinctively Afro-American vocal announced at a later date. elements in gospel song performances. News and Notes From ... The Center for Black Music Research at Columbia College Chicago by Samuel A . Floyd, Jr., Columbia College Columbia College is proceeding with Advancement of Creative Musicians the vertical file materials held by the plans to establish and develop an (AACM) with its members and former Center. international Center for the study of members spreading a new music • A vertical file of materials on, of, black music and black music history. around the world and influencing and by black composers and Such a Center, because of its untold numbers of their performers, to include sheet music, resources, would emerge as tl,e place contemporaries. scores, lead sheets, news clippings, for substantial research in any branch promotional flyers, and ot her suitable Columbia College, with its central of the discipline of black music, location in the city, with its programs matHials. including concert music, jazz, blues, that will effectively compliment the A Research Institute ragtime, gospel, and other genres. activities of the Center, and with the It is expected that the Center, with its vision of its leadership, is a perfect The city of Chicago is an excellent material resources, will also be a location for such a Center because of home for the concept. There is not in research institute for scholars. To its distinction as perhaps the only city existence anywhere a Center such as facilitate this aspect of the program, a in the world where all black music the one proposed here. Research Fellows program will be genres have actually flourished, with a A Research Library established to provide encouragement high level of quality and visibility, at and sustenance for black music one time or another. Black music in all The Columbia College Center will be based upon and will function around a scholarship, and to attract scholars to its fom1s has always been important in the Center. the city at-large. Important national resource library that will include the and international influences and following: A Publishing Program movements have emerged from the • A collection of all the important The results of Center-sponsored city's creative cauldron-witness, for books and sound recordings pertinent scholars will be published in Center example, the modem blues movement, to black music research.