Were black people ever part of Classical Music or was it just a white music?

Question

Is that one of the reasons black people created their own musics....cause they felt like they weren't wanted in the classical world?

I always hear Bach, beethoven. etc. most of which were european white or at least close to white. But what about other people?

Answer 1

Anyone that loves classical, is also part of it. But it was created in central and southern Europe (Austria, Germany and Italy) by Caucasians. ~

Answer 2

Overall classical music was and is still dominated by European composers. During the periods of music that back and Beethoven live black people where struggling with slavery, being moved from Africa to Europe and the Americas. They did not have neither the time or the opportunities available to learn how to compose and play instruments. You also have to consider that classical music was not part of their culture. It was part of the culture of those who captured them. When the africans were brought over they had their own idea of music. Later on this would develop into jazz, regaee, calypso, blues. There is one very famous black composer Scott Joplin. He created his own style of music called ragtime. He is famous for his piece the Entertainer.

Answer 3

From a purely historical perspective, there is no question that Black individuals have contributed to "classical" music as performers, composers and conductors.



Less well known and often “invisible”, black and African heritage classical composers and musicians span three centuries and come from the continents of Europe, Africa, and the Americas. One problem I have identified is that black history texts have neglected and overlooked this subject.



As an example of our information gap, I have identified more than 400 African heritage composers. Yet few can name more than a handful - at best.



Everyone is welcome to visit my web page that is devoted to the recorded work of black composers - www.blackcomposer.com



So far I have identified more than 130 black composers with works on CDs.



Further, I invite everyone to take a look at such performing groups as Imani Winds, the Ritz Chamber Players, the Marian Anderson String Quartet, the Chicago Sinfonietta, the Harlem Symphony Orchestra, etc.



Hopefully this information can be factored into the current discussion.



Richard

Answer 4

first of all in those times black people were thought of as inferior savage or some other thing, think of it as a superiority complex. If blacks and Latinos etc were in the classical world they would have made great pieces. but it was not like that. I like a few as you call it black music, jazz, a bit of blues, but my favorites are movie tracks and classical. as for other people they were not let in at the time. quite sad like squashing a child's potential. I don't think life has been fair for many people. Not a lot of opportunities, because of color, money, etc. hope this answers your question. PS, I am half Japanese half Mexican; I have been shunned by both races, how superficial and idiotic people can be.

Answer 5

I actually took a class in this. Classical music derives from Europe and is therefore prodominantly white. However, black people have had their own music dating back to ancient times as well. Black people didn't create there own music because they weren't accepted in the classical world. They've had there own music for centuries. This does not mean that black people weren't involved in classical or white people weren't involved in African music (for example). To me, the most amazing thing has happened in the last 100 years. Classical music is mainly regarding melody it has to make sense melodically and African music is mainly regarding rythm and has perfect timing. When these two came together it created Rock N Roll.

Answer 6

Great answer, Sid. I'd like to even add that, not only Europe was the home to classical music, but also, blacks invented african music, and often played in jazz, blues, R&B, Rap. This is all I can think of that falls into their group.



I'm sure many blacks enjoy classical music, although it wasn't really their interest to create it.

Answer 7

well, when one thinks of "Classical" music, they would traditionally think of Bach, Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Gounod, Chopin, Beethoven, Vivaldi, etc.



However, in my opinion, the meaning of "Classical Music" has changed in order to adapt to an ever changing society. In today's world, there are many African-American musicians that compose Classical music, although most of them are not exactly what you would call "famous".



As for the reasons why African-Americans developed their own types of music, that has much more history to it, and should be saved for another question.

Answer 8

welll the same could be said of the classical music writers why did they not write some Reggae or Jazz.. Like beauty is in the eye of the beholder. so music in the ear of the listener. that's the good thing about diversity. what would the world be if there was no color (everything just black and white), what if the world just had only one type of music. We should Respect and give an appreciation of others' taste in music, books, culture, and whatever else.

Answer 9

the earliest black composer of classical music I know of Chevalier de Saint-Georges. He was prominent in the Roccoco period (between Baroque and Classical). His music played in the French court although Rameau was the official composer for the French court at this time. Like many Black composers who followed him he was largely passed over just because of his being Black.

Answer 10

When classical music came out, black people were still considered slaves; thus no black artists at that time. Making music is about personality and soul not the color on your skin.

Answer 11

Scott Joplin is studied in general music history, or study of Western Art Music. Even though his music reflects ragtime, I still consider him a classical composer.



He was brilliant!

Answer 12

cultural stuff develops commensurate with a rising standard of living,,,,,,,,all the 20 factors that go along with civilization,,,,,,stable cities,agriculture,shopkeepers,tradesmen,transportation.all this stuff develpoed in europe over a thousand year period,so,for 500 or so years,white musician folks like germans,french,english,had enough material advantage to crank out music,wood for the instruments,princes & other wealthy people to pay composers' rent,food,ask the local bishop to give this guy a gig at the local cathedral, time on saturday to jump on the organ pedals,,,,,,,,the wealthy folks also financed sailing expeditions to faraway places,like africa,,,,and kidnapped,robbed,preached at,the black natives,,,,thousands,eventually millionsand brought them to america and the carribean,,,,civilizations wax and wane no matter where.........parts of africa had cities like alexandria .egypt 1100 years ago,,,,,as advanced.or more than middle ages in europe,,colonists had advantage of steel(swords & guns),natives were therefore conquered,not easy to advance in music composition & performance in sonditions like this,singer kathleen battle is well schooled in opera,sings in portuguese,spanish.french,i think german,she's probly the best coloratura soprano of the century.like lilly pons,she also sings gospel,sounds beyootiful,if she has kids,one might turn in to a great pianist/composer,,,,,,her vocal talent reflected in the kid having great dexterity of hands instead of voice,or he/she might be a sax player......maybe a composer,a nigerian choir leader in the 50s directed the kids & adults in MISSA LUBBA,a a sung presentation of the catholic mass,,,,,,kyrie,sanctus,,,,,,,had a more modern version on cd,remember it had a foto on front of native scenery,,but lost the cd,,,,,,,the other one above had drums solos that not only accompanied the singers,,,,,,the drums were so carefully struck,,,,they spoke,,,took alotta listening foren figured that out.wynton & branford marsalis too,wynton studied classical for a few years,and first recorded a mozart trumpet concerto,,,in the late 80s.

Answer 13

Try listening to Rastus Odinga's "Etude in D Minor for Four Banjos"

Answer 14

this guy started rag time music then genres like pop rock blues and every genres of song came.

Answer 15

they had their own music from their own culture. its not cuz they werent excepted elsewhere. classical originated in europe. african music originated in Africa.

Answer 16

yuppp they were,, being specified, they even had there own style in music, in rag time i guess ..

Answer 17

blue...