Nathaniel Dett Chorale
| The Nathaniel Dett Chorale | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Instruments | a cappella |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Website |
www |
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. Brainerd Blyden-Taylor formed the choral group in 1998. 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. [1] The group has performed in the Maritimes (2000, 2004 and 2006), Quebec (2002, 2005 and 2006), Manitoba (2003), Western Canada (2001, 2004, 2005, 2009 and 2010), and the United States (2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010.) [2] The Chorale also performed at the Pollyfolia choral festival in France in 2004 and at the U.S. Library of Congress in 2007. The Chorale has been supported by the Canada Council for the Arts.[3]
Background
The Chorale is named for the Canadian-born Black musician and composer Nathaniel Dett. Dett's first instrument was piano. He worked as a church organist in Niagara Falls, Ontario (Canada) from 1898 to 1903. After working as an organist, he attended Oberlin College, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Music in 1908. Dett later studied composition with the French composer Nadia Boulanger. Dett stayed in the United States for his lengthy music teaching career. He taught at Lane College in Jackson, Mississippi; Hampton Institute in Virginia; Samuel Houston College in Austin, Texas; and Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina. During his university teaching career, he continued his studies at the Eastman School of Music, where he earned a Master of Music degree in 1932. He won prizes in 1920 from Harvard University for his article entitled The Emancipation of Negro Music and for a motet, “Don’t Be Weary, Traveller.” Dett served as an editor of published collections of folk songs and spirituals. Dett was a long-time supporter of Black music, and he served as president of the National Association of Negro Musicians from 1924 to 1926.
Founder
The Chorale was founded in 1998 by Brainerd Blyden-Taylor, who wanted to "...create a professional choral group where persons of African heritage could see themselves represented." [4]