Melanated Moments In Classical Music

Series produced by Michael Toulouse

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20 brief highlights of a notable composer or artist of African descent. These pieces are informative and entertaining, containing facts about the featured figure and samples of relevant pieces.

Melanated Moments In Classical Music is a series of 20 two minute audio pieces that feature notable composers, artists, and pieces of African descent. Each episode is hosted by Joshua Thompson, music sociologist specializing in the works of black composers, and famed opera singer Angela Brown. Our hosts invite audiences to take a little time out of their day to learn about notable classical figures they might otherwise never have known existed. These short pieces are sure to intrigue listeners and simultaneously broaden their musical horizons.


19 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
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On this episode, Joshua highlights another piece from the amazing composer, William Grant Still. "Muted Laughter" is a wonderful and unique piece f...

Bought by WNMU-FM


  • Added: Feb 01, 2021
  • Length: 02:00
  • Purchases: 1
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On this episode, Joshua introduces Artie Matthews, early master of the ragtime art form and classical music educator.

Bought by WNMU-FM


  • Added: Jan 29, 2021
  • Length: 02:00
  • Purchases: 1
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On this episode, Angela introduces Camilla Ella Williams, an American operatic soprano and the first African American to sign a regular contract wi...

Bought by WNMU-FM and WAMC Northeast Public Radio


  • Added: Jan 29, 2021
  • Length: 02:00
  • Purchases: 2
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On this episode, Joshua introduces us to Harry Burley, a master adapter of folk songs and influential figure to Antonin Dvorak.

Bought by WNMU-FM


  • Added: Jan 29, 2021
  • Length: 02:00
  • Purchases: 1
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On this episode, Angela introduces Robert McFerrin, celebrated baritone and the first African American man to sing at the Metropolitan Opera in New...

Bought by WNMU-FM


  • Added: Jan 29, 2021
  • Length: 02:00
  • Purchases: 1
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On this episode, Joshua introduces Ignatius Sancho, who was born on a slave ship during the middle passage. Sancho escaped the institution of slave...

Bought by WNMU-FM


  • Added: Jan 29, 2021
  • Length: 02:00
  • Purchases: 1
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On this episode, Joshua introduces us to one of the most interesting figures of classical music. Chevalier D'Saint George was the son of a slave an...

Bought by WNMU-FM


  • Added: Jan 29, 2021
  • Length: 02:00
  • Purchases: 1
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On this episode, Angela introduces Sisserieta Jones, and American soprano sometimes known as "Black Patti." She was one of the first black performe...

Bought by WNMU-FM


  • Added: Jan 29, 2021
  • Length: 02:00
  • Purchases: 1
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On this episode, Angela introduces us to H. Leslie Adams, a world renowned American composer, best known for vocally-centric modalities such as ope...

Bought by WNMU-FM


  • Added: Jan 29, 2021
  • Length: 02:00
  • Purchases: 1
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On this episode, Angela introduces us to Stacey V. Gibbs, a renowned composer and arranger whose specialty is infusing new energy into familiar wor...

Bought by WNMU-FM


  • Added: Jan 28, 2021
  • Length: 02:00
  • Purchases: 1
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On this episode, Joshua introduces us to Samuel Coleridge Taylor, whose brief but prolific career left an indelible mark on classical music. The pi...

Bought by WNMU-FM


  • Added: Jan 28, 2021
  • Length: 02:00
  • Purchases: 1
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On this episode, Angela introduces us to composer Richard Danielpour, who has created notable works in conjunction with literary powerhouses Toni M...

Bought by WNMU-FM


  • Added: Jan 28, 2021
  • Length: 02:00
  • Purchases: 1
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On this episode, Joshua introduces us to the virtuosic Thomas "blind Tom" Wiggins. Born a slave, Blind Tom was an amazingly talented American music...

Bought by WNMU-FM


  • Added: Jan 28, 2021
  • Length: 02:00
  • Purchases: 1
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On this episode, Angela introduces us to Undine Smith Moore, the "dean of black women composers." Moore was a prolific and talented composer and ar...

Bought by WNMU-FM and WAMC Northeast Public Radio


  • Added: Jan 28, 2021
  • Length: 02:00
  • Purchases: 2
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On this episode, Joshua introduces us to composer and educator, George Walker. Known for his wide musical vocabulary, Walker is a pulitzer winning ...

Bought by WNMU-FM


  • Added: Jan 28, 2021
  • Length: 02:00
  • Purchases: 1
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On this episode, Angela introduces us to the composer and multi-intrumentalist Evelyn Simpson Curenton, and we hear an excerpt of her work, "O'Glory."

Bought by WNMU-FM and WAMC Northeast Public Radio


  • Added: Jan 27, 2021
  • Length: 02:00
  • Purchases: 2
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On this episode, Joshua introduces Robert Nathaniel Dett and his piece "Honey" from his "In the Bottoms" Suite. The piece evokes scenes and moods o...

Bought by WNMU-FM


  • Added: Jan 27, 2021
  • Length: 02:00
  • Purchases: 1
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On this episode, Angela introduces Moses Hogan, a 20th century American composer noted for his arrangements of spirituals.

Bought by WNMU-FM


  • Added: Jan 27, 2021
  • Length: 02:00
  • Purchases: 1
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On this episode, Joshua introduces William Grant Still, the "dean of black music." We hear an excerpt of Still's work "Ringplay," on piano.

Bought by WNMU-FM


  • Added: Jan 27, 2021
  • Length: 02:00
  • Purchases: 1