“Sawney Freeman, likely America’s first published Black composer”

May 24, 2024 12:24 AM

A once-enslaved man’s music was hidden for centuries is an article by Diane Orson about Sawney Freeman, who published a book of his violin compositions in 1801 in New Haven, Connecticut. That work is lost, but in 1817, Gurdon Trumbull copied down many of Freeman’s tunes, and that manuscript survived. His music was arranged for a quintet by Anthony Padolfe Jr. and is available online. My favorite is the haunting New Death March, but all 15 compositions are lovely. Connecticut Public Television also made a video based on Orson’s article, part of a series on Connecticut’s history of slavery.
posted by Kattullus (3 comments total)

The performers are Ilmar Gavilán, Jonathan Frelix and Briana Almonte on the violin, Paul Vanderwal on the cello, and flautist Jessica Valiente.
posted by Kattullus at 12:25 AM on May 24

Prudence Crandall is a Connecticut hero. Amistad landed in New London. Marvelous music!
posted by HearHere at 1:13 AM on May 24 [1 favorite]

Amazing. "Jefferson's March" is fun. How tantalising to think that a copy of the "Musician’s Pocket Companion" might be lurking in an archive or family library somewhere...
posted by rory at 1:18 AM on May 24 [1 favorite]