((Piano Large Works). From the Southland is the only work ...)
(Piano Large Works). From the Southland is the only work for solo piano by African-American composer Harry T. Burleigh. "On Bended Knees" was included in the historic 1912 Clef Club concert of black music at Carnegie Hall. Contents: Through Moanin' Pines * The Frolic * In de Col' Moonlight * A Jubilee * On Bended Knees * A New Hiding-Place.
Spirituals of Harry T. Burleigh: Low Voice Songbook
(Harry Burleigh's music falls into three categories: secul...)
Harry Burleigh's music falls into three categories: secular, religious, and sacred. This 200-page collection is a treasure of history made usable in his fine arrangements. "Deep River" was published in 1917, the first of many to make Burleigh well-known as a composer. This title is available in SmartMusic.
(Harry Burleigh's music falls into three categories: secul...)
Harry Burleigh's music falls into three categories: secular, religious, and sacred. This collection is a treasure of history made usable in his fine arrangements. "Deep River" was published in 1917, the first of many to make Burleigh well-known as a composer.
(Harry Burleigh's music falls into three categories: secul...)
Harry Burleigh's music falls into three categories: secular, religious, and sacred. This 200-page collection is a treasure of history made usable in his fine arrangements. ""Deep River"" was published in 1917, the first of many to make Burleigh well-known as a composer.
25 Spirituals Arranged by Harry T. Burleigh: With a CD of Recorded Piano Accompaniments Low Voice, Book/CD (The Vocal Library)
((Vocal Collection). A collection of the best-loved spirit...)
(Vocal Collection). A collection of the best-loved spirituals arranged by Harry T. Burleigh. Contents: Balm in Gilead * By an' By * Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray * Deep River * Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel * Don't You Weep When I'm Gone * Go Down, Moses (Let My People Go!) * Go Tell It on the Mountain * The Gospel Train * I Stood on the River of Jordan * I Want to Be Ready * Let Us Cheer the Weary Traveler * Little David, Play on Your Harp * My Lord, What a Mornin' * Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen * O Rocks, Don't Fall on Me * Oh, Didn't It Rain * Sinner, Please Don't Let This Harvest Pass * Sometimes I Fell Like a Motherless Child * Steal Away * Swing Low, Sweet Chariot * 'Tis Me, O Lord * Wade in the water * Weepin' Mary * You May Bury Me in the East. The CD includes piano accompaniments of each piece.
25 Spirituals Arranged by Harry T. Burleigh: With a CD of Recorded Piano Accompaniments High Voice, Book/CD (Vocal Library)
((Vocal Collection). One of the classic arrangers of spiri...)
(Vocal Collection). One of the classic arrangers of spirituals, the timeless work of Harry T. Burleigh (1866-1949) lives on in this newly engraved collection. Contents: Balm in Gilead * By an' By * Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray * Deep River * Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel * Don't You Weep When I'm Gone * Go Down, Moses (Let My People Go!) * Go, Tell It on the Mountain * The Gospel Train * I Stood on the River of Jordan * I Want to Be Ready * Let Us Cheer the Weary Traveler * Little David, Play on Your Harp * My Lord, What a Mournin', Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen * O Rocks, Don't Fall on Me * Oh, Didn't It Rain * Sinner, Please Don't Let This Harvest Pass * Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child * Steal Away * Swing Low, Sweet Chariot * 'Tis Me, O Lord * Wade in the Water * Weepin' Mary * You May Bury Me in the East
Harry Thacker Burleigh was an American singer and composer. He is noted as an internationally known African-American baritone, composer, and arranger of spirituals.
Background
Harry Thacker Burleigh was born on December 2, 1866 in Erie, Pennsylvania, the younger of the two sons of Henry Thacker Burleigh and Elizabeth (Waters) Burleigh. His father, a laborer, was a native of Newburgh, New York. Burleigh's maternal grandfather, Hamilton Waters, had been born a slave in Somerset County, Maryland, freed after being blinded by punishments received for his attempts to escape, he settled in Erie and became the town crier. From his grandfather, young Harry (as Burleigh was known) acquired an early familiarity with Negro folksongs. His mother, a graduate of a teachers' college, sang well and encouraged her son's interest in music.
Since the family was very poor, Harry worked from early childhood, running errands, selling newspapers, and lighting street lamps. He sang constantly and attended musical events whenever possible. His mother worked as a domestic at the home of a family named Russell, where well-known musical artists often performed.
Education
Burleigh graduated from the Erie high school, where he presumably learned typing and stenography, since for a time he worked as a stenographer. As he grew older he built up a local reputation as a singer and was able in that way to supplement his earnings.
At the age of twenty-six he went to New York City, planning to attend the National Conservatory of Music, which offered free tuition for those who could pass the stringent entrance examinations. He failed on his first try, but was given a second opportunity upon the recommendation of the registrar, Frances (Knapp) MacDowell, mother of the composer Edward MacDowell, who remembered him as the young doorman at the Russell musicales.
During his four years at the conservatory, Burleigh studied voice with Christian Fritsch, harmony with Rubin Goldmark, and counterpoint with John White and Max Spicker.
Career
Henry Burleigh played double bass and tympani in the conservatory orchestra. To support himself, he helped Mrs. MacDowell with clerical tasks, copied music scores, gave piano and voice lessons, and served as the orchestra librarian.
In 1894 Burleigh secured the position of baritone soloist at New York's St. George's Protestant Episcopal Church, winning in competition with fifty-nine white candidates. His appointment caused considerable consternation among the parishioners, but his talent earned him acceptance and he remained there for fifty-two years.
In 1898 he had a brief fling with vaudeville, being persuaded to play in the orchestra for a show by the black comedians Bert Williams and George Walker. Burleigh first began to compose about 1898.
Most frequently performed were "Jean" (1903), "The Prayer" (1915), "Little Mother of Mine" (1917), "In the Great Somewhere" (1919), and "Just You" (1921). Italian troops used his song "The Young Warrior" (1914), a setting of a poem by James Weldon Johnson, as their marching song during World War I. From 1911 until his death Burleigh was a music editor for the firm of G. Ricordi and Company. Burleigh made his great contribution to American music with his artistic settings of Negro spirituals.
Before Burleigh, spirituals had been available only in ensemble and choral arrangements. His "Deep River" (1916), the first concert arrangement of a spiritual for solo voice, was immensely popular. Other popular arrangements over the years were: "Weeping Mary, " "By and By, " "You May Bury Me in de Eas'" (all 1917); "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child, " "My Lord What a Morning" (1918); "There is a Balm in Gilead" (1919); "Were You There, " "Every Time I Feel the Spirit" (1924); "Joshua Fit de Battle of Jericho" (1935).
In addition to arranging approximately 100 spirituals for solo voice and chorus, Burleigh composed more than 250 art songs and miscellaneous choral pieces, arranged plantation melodies for violin and piano, and published the Old Songs Hymnal (1929).
Burleigh died of a heart attack at the age of eighty-two in Stamford, Connecticut, and was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Hastings, New York.
Achievements
Burleigh became the first prominent African-American composer in the United States and made the great contribution to American music with his artistic settings of the spirituals and minstrel songs. His compositions became popular with the most celebrated singers of the time, including John McCormack, Lucrezia Bori, and Ernestine Schumann-Heink.
His concert arrangement "Deep River” was considered his best work. In addition to composing he became also known as the first black soloist at Temple Emanu-El, and for his performances for royalties, including King Edward VII of England, Prince Henry of Prussia, Theodore Roosevelt, and many other notables.
During his service in the New York's St. George's Protestant Episcopal Church, he established two traditions: singing the Fauré's "The Palms" every Easter Sunday and an annual service of African-American Spirituals. During his lifetime he received many honors which included the Spingarn Medal (1917) and a Harmon Foundation Award (1929).
The style of his music varies according to the musical form, but typically is characterized by a basically diatonic harmonic texture discreetly flavored with chromatic coloring. His accompaniments are never obtrusive, but support and sustain the moods of the texts.
On the whole, the solo songs are superior to the choral pieces, the art songs and spirituals more imaginative than the ballads.
Membership
He was a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) .
Personality
Burleigh was a short, dignified, dapper man who looked twenty or more years younger than his age.
Interests
He was noted for his infectious enthusiasm for life, music, and poetry--which he read in French, Latin, German, Italian, and Hebrew--and for his generosity to struggling black musicians.
Connections
Burleigh married Louise Alston on February 9, 1898. They had one son, Alston Waters.
Father:
Henry Thacker Burleigh
Mother:
Elizabeth (Waters) Burleigh
protégés :
Marian Anderson
protégés :
Roland Hayes
He counted among his protégés Roland Hayes, Paul Robeson, and Marian Anderson.
protégés :
Paul Robeson
Wife:
Louise Alston
Son:
Alston Waters
Friend:
Antonin Dvorzhak
Burleigh also grew close to the Czech composer Antonin Dvorzhak, who was director of the National Conservatory from 1892 to 1895.
