(seen in the image is Opera singer Jessye Norman)

Ludwig van Beethoven was black, and that’s how we’re gonna start this off. Of course we all have African descent, but in the document below you’ll see Beethoven being described as a “Blackamoor”, in short term moor, literally meaning the color black. Documents will try to prove that he was German and Austrian,which is based on factual evidence, however, Moors and African people’s did and still do exist everywhere on earth. https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/ludwig-van-beethoven-was-actually-black-so-why-are-we-taught-otherwise.102277/

The painted images of Beethoven are not necessarily reliable considering other white washed paintings of people we all know are black. I am not one to rely on history that was written by those out to keep us in the shadows of our own strength and wisdom. And if you were wondering why I started with Beethoven, it is because the mind was trained from an early age to know this man as the face of the Romantic era.

The Classical period spanned from 1750-1820, which included different time divisions such as Midieval, Renaissance, and the Common practice period: Baroque, Classical and Romantic. The differences between these forms of Classical music are simply rhythm, chords, speed, vocalists and instrumentation..along with a bunch of other musical terms. I suggest reading The Enjoyment of Music 12th edition.

Moving forward, here are a list of Black Classical music artists historically and currently that you should know just as well as white Beethoven.

 

Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (December 25, 1745 – June 10, 1799) was a classical composer, virtuoso violinist, and conductor of the leading symphony orchestra in Paris.

 

Marian Anderson (February 27, 1897 – April 8, 1993) Opera singer and first black person, American or otherwise, to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City on January 7, 1955. 

Robert Nathaniel Dett (October 11, 1882 – October 2, 1943), was a Canadian-American Black composer, organist, pianist, choral director, and music professor.

Jessye Norman (September 15, 1945 – September 30, 2019) was an American opera singer and recitalist. Norman was trained at Howard University , the Peabody Institute , and the University of Michigan.

Kathleen Deanna Battle (born August 13, 1948) is an American operatic soprano  known for her distinctive vocal range and tone.

Regina A. Harris Baiocchi (born July 16, 1956) is an American  musician, music educator, composer and writer of short stories and poetry. Her music has been performed by Detroit and Chicago Symphony orchestras, US Army Band, and internationally-acclaimed artists. 

Mark Steven Doss (born July 2, 1957) is a Grammy Award-winning African-American bass-baritone, specializing in opera, concert and recital. He has performed major roles with many international opera companies, including Milan’s La Scala, Vienna State Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, the Royal Opera HouseCovent Garden, Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin, Brussels’ La Monnaie, Canadian Opera Company, and Oper Frankfurt.