Henry thacker burleigh biography

After publishing several versions of "Deep River" in andBurleigh became known for his arrangements of the spiritual for voice and piano. Prior to this time, spirituals were sung only by ensembles and choruses. His arrangements were the first to make spirituals available to concert singers [1]. Burleigh also made the first formal orchestral arrangements for more than Negro spirituals, including Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen [2].

Burleigh's best-known compositions are his arrangements of these spirituals, as art songs. They were so popular during the late s and s, that almost no vocal recitalist gave a concert in a major city without occasionally singing them. In many ways, the popularity of Burleigh's settings contributed to an explosion of popularity for the genre during the s.

Legacy Through the s and s, Burleigh continued to promote the spirituals through publications, lectures, and arrangements. His life-long advocacy for the spiritual eclipsed his singing career, and his arrangements of art songs. With the success of Roland HayesMarian Andersonand Paul Robesonamong others, his seminal role in carving out a place on America's recitals had been eclipsed.

His father was a laborer while his mother worked as a domestic servant despite being a teaching college graduate. Burleigh acquired his knowledge of Negro spiritiuals from his maternal grandfather, who had been born a slave but was freed after being beaten and partially blinded in punishment. From an early age Burleigh, who was known throughout his life as "Harry," worked as an errand boy and messenger, often accompanying his grandfather on his rounds as a lamplighter.

In her biography of the composer Anne Key Simpson explains that his love for music became apparent at an early age: he was hired as a doorman by his mother's employer, Elizabeth Russell, after standing knee-deep in snow for hours so that he could hear Rafael Joseffy perform at the Russell henry thacker burleigh biography. Burleigh graduated from Erie High School in and worked as a laborer and later a stenographer, supple-menting his income with local singing performances.

It was not untilat the age of 26, that he went to New York City and entered the National Conservatory of Music on a scholarship after his second attempt to pass the audition. In Burleigh began to make his way as a professional musician when he was auditioned for a position as baritone soloist at St. His skin color made him a controversial choice, but Burleigh beat 59 white candidates and began a relationship with the church that lasted 52 years.

He was also the first black soloist at the Temple Emanu-El, where he served between and Burleigh married poet Louise Alston on February 9,at about the same time as he began to compose. By the time Burleigh left Erie in Januaryhe was singing with the city's best vocalists at civic events and church gatherings. At the end of the summer ofBurleigh gave a performance in the Adirondacks, at North Hudson, New York, as the featured soloist in "the summer school for Christian workers".

Some parishioners opposed hiring Burleigh at the all-white church, because of his race, [3] at a time when other white New York Episcopal churches were forbidding black people to worship. Morgana member of St. George's at that time, cast the deciding vote to hire Burleigh. Inhe retired from this position after 52 years. He was instrumental in starting its tradition of an annual Spirituals service every May — Craig and his orchestra.

He recorded once infor a small label run by his friend George Broome, and again in for St. George's Church. As he performed his duties, he sang plantation songs to young Harry, thus passing on a music—the Negro spiritual—that his grandson would one day make known around the world. Elizabeth Russell. On one occasion, Burleigh. He would hear it at any cost; so he stood in the snow up to his knees outside the window of the drawing-room of the Russell house.

She gained permission from Mrs. Russell to have Harry answer the door when guests arrived for concerts. Burleigh, date unknown Into young adulthood, Burleigh took several jobs as a laborer to help support his family. Music, however, was his steady companion. He sang while at work, and he took advantage of any opportunity to hear musicians who came to town.

He sang at school and in the choirs at St. After graduating from high school inBurleigh continued to improve his skills as a musician while he was employed as a stenographer for two area businesses.

Henry thacker burleigh biography

Inat the age of 26, Burleigh heard that the National Conservatory of Music was holding auditions for a scholarship. Burleigh gave the most detailed account in a interview. It required him to sing for the jury and demonstrate his ability in basic music skills such as sight-reading. Pianist Rafael Joseffy headed the audition jury. To be judged by the famous pianist whom he had heard from such an impossible social and artistic distance several years earlier would have daunted a singer with far more extensive professional experience.