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612-822-4611
Black Opera, Voices of Responsibility

Black Opera, Voices of Responsibility

Paperback

General EducationGeneral Music

Publisher Price: $29.95

ISBN10: 1636525504
ISBN13: 9781636525501
Publisher: Btb Publishing
Published: Jun 15 2026
Pages: 236
Weight: 0.61
Height: 0.50 Width: 5.50 Depth: 8.50
Language: English

Black Opera: Voices of Responsibility began as a unit in the author's Music History & Appreciation class at Saint John Vianney College Seminary has blossomed into an eight-chapter exploration of Black composers in opera. The book examines how these composers' music animates Black history, liberation, social justice, and resistance. It spotlights figures such as Edmond Dédé, Scott Joplin, William Grant Still, Shirley Graham Du Bois, Harry Lawrence Freeman, Ulysses Kay, Alonzo Hamilton Levister, Adolphus Hailstork, Anthony Davis, Michael Raphael (Michael Hill), Terence Blanchard, Nkeiru Okoye, and Kevin Davis, showing how opera becomes a stage for confronting injustice and celebrating Black resilience. The narrative places these operas within the broader landscape of the genre, demonstrating how African American composers have transformed opera into a powerful instrument for storytelling, education, and social change. Their innovations and recurring themes challenge tradition and expand the possibilities of opera. Ultimately, the book honors the enduring legacy of Black operatic voices and their vital influence across generations.

Also from

Alexander, Otis D.

Also in

General Education