Customer Reviews

From Spirituals to Symphonies: African-American Women Composers and Their Music

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This book is fantastic. Helen Walker-Hill does another great job of publishing a work about African American Women composers. The book also contains never before seen photos and detailed biographical information about the composers. This book is a gem!
This book goes great with African American Women Composers: A century of Music, edited by Helen Walker-Hill.

I love this book! While the research is scholarly, the writing is fluid and compelling, devoid of academic lingo which might otherwise frighten off those who are not students of music. I felt like I really got to know each of the composers here personally, and the book prompted me to track down their music online. I have a list of sources at my website, AfroAmericanHeritage dot com

This is an essential work providing a historical overview plus a closer look at the life and works of Undine Smith Moore (1904-1989) Julia Perry (1924-1979) Margaret Bonds (1913-1972) Irene Britton Smith (1907-1999) Dorothy Rudd Moore (b.1940) Valerie Capers (b.1935) Mary Watkins (b. 1939) and Regina Harris Baiocchi (b. 1956). Despite having gained national and international recognition during their lifetimes, the contributions of many of these women are forgotten today. Includes a selected list of composers and a selected Bibliography/Discography.

Recommended to anyone interested in Music History, African American and/or Women's Studies.