On January 18th, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, DAHA presented a virtual panel discussion with Marcus Pyle, NYU/Davidson University, Douglas Shadle, Vanderbilt University, and Michael Beckerman, New York University. This broad exploration of musical and cultural issues raised pressing contemporary questions. At the center of the discussion were Antonín Dvořák’s views on the future of American music, the role Black composers and music should play, and a sense that almost 130 years later that promise has not been fulfilled. The event was also a book launch for Professor Shadle’s forthcoming Antonín Dvořák’s New World Symphony (Oxford University Press, 2021).

Panelists responded to Professor Beckerman’s thought-provoking statement: Antonín Dvořák was a famous champion of the idea of an American music based on African American sound. Further, he was a great supporter of his African American students, including Harry Burleigh, Maurice Arnold, and Will Marion Cook. But as the “New World” is performed over and over again, the music of African American composers like Florence Price, and William Grant Still is still ignored. It was suggested that the best way to celebrate Beethoven’s 250th anniversary would be by not performing his music for an entire year. In that spirit should we propose that in 2023, the “New World’s” 130th anniversary, we honor the composer’s progressive vision by replacing all performances of his symphony by the music of African American composers?

Watch the recording of this event on our YouTube Channel!

Florence Price, Harry Burleigh, Antonín Dvořák