Nathaniel Dett Chorale

The Nathaniel Dett Chorale is a Canadian choral group that specializes in Afrocentric music of all styles including classical, spirituals, gospel, jazz, folk and blues.[1][2] It is named after the Canadian-born Black composer and musician R. Nathaniel Dett (1882–1943), who had a long teaching career in the United States.[3][4] The group has performed in the Maritimes, Quebec, Manitoba, Western Canada, the United States and in France. The Chorale has been supported by the Canada Council for the Arts.

The Nathaniel Dett Chorale
OriginToronto, Ontario, Canada
InstrumentsA cappella
Years active1998–present
Websitenathanieldettchorale.org

Nathaniel Dett
Main article: Robert Nathaniel Dett

Canadian-born Black musician and composer Nathaniel Dett studied piano as a child.[3] He worked as a church organist in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada from 1898 to 1903. He graduated from Oberlin College with a Bachelor of Music in 1908, and later studied composition with the French composer Nadia Boulanger. Dett taught at Lane College in Jackson, Mississippi; Hampton Institute in Virginia; Samuel Houston College in Austin, Texas; and Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina. At the Eastman School of Music he earned a Master of Music degree in 1932. He won prizes from Harvard University for his article entitled The Emancipation of Negro Music and for a motet, "Don't Be Weary, Traveller". Dett edited several published collections of folk songs and spirituals, and served as president of the National Association of Negro Musicians from 1924 to 1926.

History

The Chorale was founded in 1998 by Brainerd Blyden-Taylor,[5][6] who continues to be the director of the group.[7][8]

As well as touring throughout Canada, the Chorale also performed at the Pollyfolia choral festival in France in 2004[9] and at the U.S. Library of Congress in 2007.

In 2009, the group performed at the inauguration of Barack Obama.[10]

References
  1. " Classical concert meets literary reading: a near-perfect pairing" KATE TAYLOR, The Globe and Mail, February 15, 2012
  2. Opera review: Toronto premiere of Scott Joplin's Treemonisha a significant cultural event". Musical Toronto, By John Terauds on May 31, 2012
  3. lian goodall (October 1, 2008). Singing Towards the Future: The Story of Portia White. Dundurn. pp. 39–. ISBN 978-1-894917-55-1.
  4. Ezra Schabas; Lotfi Mansouri; Stuart Hamilton; James Neufeld, Robert Popple, Walter Pitman, Holly Higgins Jonas, Michelle Labrèche-Larouche, Carl Morey (December 17, 2013). Dundurn Performing Arts Library Bundle. Dundurn. pp. 398–. ISBN 978-1-4597-2401-3.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. Dawn P. Williams (2006). Who's who in Black Canada 2: Black Success and Black Excellence in Canada: a Contemporary Directory. Who's Who in Black Canada. pp. 70–. ISBN 978-0-9731384-2-9.
  6. Tim Brooks (October 1, 2010). Lost Sounds: Blacks and the Birth of the Recording Industry, 1890-1919. University of Illinois Press. pp. 492–. ISBN 978-0-252-09063-9.
  7. "Musical sermon draws hearty amen". Bradford Expositor, By Murray Charters, April 10, 2013
  8. "Nathaniel Dett Chorale heads for Obama celebrations". CBC News, January 8, 2009
  9. "Nathaniel Dett Cover Story". The Whole Note, by Colin Eatock January 28, 2009
  10. Natasha L. Henry (July 12, 2010). Emancipation Day: Celebrating Freedom in Canada. Dundurn. pp. 248–. ISBN 978-1-77070-547-0.
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