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Lineage and Heritage: Harry T. Burleigh Society and Urban Playground Chamber Orchestra

Lineage and Heritage: Harry T. Burleigh Society and Urban Playground Chamber Orchestra

“Lineage and Heritage,” a concert produced by the Harry T. Burleigh Society and the Urban Playground Chamber Orchestra, presented works by Harry T. Burleigh (1866-1949) and S. Coleridge Taylor (1875-1912) to foreground the friendship of these African American and African English men. Burleigh and Coleridge Taylor provided mutual support to each other that inspired them create works that embraced underrepresented black musical and literary themes which shaped turn of the 20th century culture. With a transatlantic approach, they were active in the intellectual circles of their day, corresponding with Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois. This concert invites listeners to consider their production of western music, not outside, but within the veil. 

Conducted by Dr. Thomas Cunningham, who also did the arrangements for the Urban Playground Chamber Orchestra, artists Haerim Elizabeth Lee, Marti Newland, Lucia Bradford, Chauncey Packer, Sidney Outlaw, Roy Jennings, Eddie Pleasant and scholars Dr. Horace Maxile and Lynne Foote participated in the event. 

The concert took place on Friday, March 9, 2018 at Calvary Church, of the Calvary-St. George’s Parish where Burleigh was baritone soloist for over 50 years.