Someone Finally Remembered William Dawson's 'Negro Folk Symphony'
Broadcast nationwide in 1934 and praised by listeners and critics alike, a masterful symphony soon fell silent. A new recording hopes to help revive an American treasure.
On Nov. 20, 1934, a brand new symphony brought a Carnegie Hall audience to its feet. The concert featured the Philadelphia Orchestra, led by its star conductor Leopold Stokowski. The music was the Negro Folk Symphony, by the 35-year-old African American composer William Dawson. He was called back to the stage several times to take bows after his symphony ended.
Stokowski conducted four back-to-back performances of the piece, one of which was nationally broadcast, : "This music has dramatic feeling, a racial sensuousness and directness of melodic speech."
