Robert Nathaniel Dett - The foundations of Afro American Nationalism in his Oratorio The Ordering of Moses
Lead Research Organisation:
University of West London
Department Name: London College of Music
Abstract
Please see pdf
People |
ORCID iD |
| Dwight Pile-Gray (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
| Title | Mammy |
| Description | The score and parts of "Mammy", the fourth movement from Dett's Magnolia Piano suite. Published by Schott |
| Type Of Art | Composition/Score |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | The concert on the 4th of November provided a world premiere for this piece. |
| Description | The key finding of this research was the discovery of a piece of music composed by Dett in the archives at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester New York. The composition called "Mammy" was from his Magnolia Suite. The piece had been orchestrated for a small chamber orchestra and there is no evidence that the piece had ever been performed. I was able to make a transcription from the original manuscripts, and the piece has been published and added to the music publisher Schotts catalogue. The work had its world premiere with the BBC Philharmonic in Manchester in November 2022. |
| Exploitation Route | The outcomes of this funding mean that a new piece of work is included in the classical canon. There is the opportunity for other musicologists to take forward the work of Nathaniel Dett in terms of more research, concerts and education, |
| Sectors | Education,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Description | My findings have been used to provide music for the BBC in a concert about ethnically diverse composers. The concert on the 4th of November 2022 was broadcast live and allowed the public to hear music from this composer for the first time. |
| Sector | Education,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural |
| Description | Interview for BBC |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | A short interview describing my research into the composer. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Interview for BBC Radio 3 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | I was invited by the BBC to present some factual and contextual information on Nathaniel Dett and the Ordering of Moses, when the City of Birmingham Orchestra gave the European premiere at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham on February the 23rd 2022. I did three interviews with the BBC for this, one was presented within the live concert and the other two were broadcast in the build up to the concert in the week before. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0014nqp |
| Description | Newspaper Article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | I was interviewed by the Guardian Newspaper, talking about the new work discovered in the archives at Eastman School of Music and the impact and significance of the discovery. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/oct/23/bbc-air-rediscovered-work-nathaniel-dett-composer-afri... |
| Description | Radio Interview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | A short interview - during the concert on the 4th of November on BBC Radio 3 talking about Nathaniel Dett and his compositional output |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |