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R. Nathaniel Dett
Robert Nathaniel Dett (October 11, 1882 – October 2, 1943), often known as R. Nathaniel Dett and Nathaniel Dett, was a Canadian-American composer, organist, pianist, choral director, and music professor. Born and raised in Canada until the age of 11, he moved to the United States with his family and had most of his professional education and career there. During his lifetime he was a leading Black composer, known for his use of African-American folk songs and spirituals as the basis for choral and piano compositions in the 19th century Romantic style of Classical music. He was among the first Black composers during the early years after the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) was organized. His works often appeared among the programs of Will Marion Cook's New York Syncopated Orchestra. Dett performed at Carnegie Hall and at the Boston Symphony Hall as a pianist and choir director. |
Birth and Death Data: Born October 11, 1882 (Niagara Falls), Died October 2, 1943 (Battle Creek)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1917 - 1941
Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, arranger
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victor | C-28892 | 12-in. | 12/27/1923 | Follow me | Reinald Werrenrath | Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra | composer | |
Victor | B-28892 | 10-in. | 11/14/1923 | Follow me | Reinald Werrenrath | Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra | composer | |
Victor | B-28893 | 10-in. | 11/14/1923 | Somebody's knocking at your door | Reinald Werrenrath | Baritone vocal solo, with piano and orchestra | composer | |
Victor | B-29229 | 10-in. | 12/27/1923 | I'm so glad troubles don't last always | Reinald Werrenrath | Baritone vocal solo, with harp and orchestra | composer | |
Victor | BVE-47904 | 10-in. | 10/1/1928 | Juba dance | Victor Symphony Orchestra | Orchestra | composer | |
Victor | B-[Unnumbered 1923-01-22-01] | 10-in. | 1/22/1923 | Juba dance | Guy Maier | Piano solo | composer | |
Victor | BS-068314 | 10-in. | 11/14/1941 | Steal away to Jesus (Hymn of deliverance) | Dorothy Maynor | Soprano vocal solo, with unaccompanied male chorus | arranger | |
Victor | BS-068315 | 10-in. | 11/14/1941 | I couldn't hear nobody pray | Dorothy Maynor | Soprano vocal solo, with unaccompanied male chorus | arranger | |
Victor | BS-068316 | 10-in. | 11/14/1941 | I'm a-going to travel (Hymn of tribulation) | Dorothy Maynor | Soprano vocal solo, with unaccompanied male chorus | arranger | |
Victor | BS-068317 | 10-in. | 11/14/1941 | Rise up, shepherd an' follow (Hymn of Christmas) | Dorothy Maynor | Soprano vocal solo, with unaccompanied male chorus | arranger | |
Victor | BS-068319 | 10-in. | 11/15/1941 | Were you there? (Hymn of the death of Christ) | Dorothy Maynor | Soprano vocal solo, with male vocal chorus, unaccompanied | arranger | |
Columbia | 81401 | 10-in. | 12/10/1923 | I'm so glad trouble don't last alway | Carroll Clark ; Fletcher Henderson | Male vocal solo, with piano | composer | |
Columbia | 49281 | 12-in. | 12/3/1917 | Valse in A flat | Percy Grainger | Piano solo | composer | |
Columbia | 49749 | 12-in. | 2/10/1920 | Brahms valse in A-flat | Percy Grainger | Piano solo | composer | |
Columbia | W141628 | 10-in. | 2/15/1926 | I'm so glad trouble don't last alway | Three Harmony Hounds | Male vocal trio, with piano | composer | |
OKeh | S-72292 | 10-in. | Jan. 1924 | Juba | Elinor Remick Warren | Piano solo | composer |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Dett, R. Nathaniel," accessed September 12, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/104956.
Dett, R. Nathaniel. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved September 12, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/104956.
"Dett, R. Nathaniel." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 12 September 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: R. Nathaniel Dett
Discogs: R. Nathaniel Dett
Grove: R. Nathaniel Dett
IMSLP: R. Nathaniel Dett
IMDb: R. Nathaniel Dett
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Dett, R. Nathaniel, 1882-1943 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n85152451
Wikidata: R. Nathaniel Dett - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q2158341
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/39642105
MusicBrainz: R. Nathaniel Dett - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/934458b7-e019-42bd-ac6e-8df24a703798
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