Melanated Moments in Classical Music
Melanated Moments in Classical Music is a podcast produced by Classical Music Indy that shines a spotlight on musical works composed by, for, and about people of color. Melanated Moments is hosted by international opera soprano Angela Brown and music sociologist Joshua Thompson. For some listeners, Melanated Moments will uncover a hidden trove of classical music they never knew existed. For those with a deep knowledge of the genre, stories reflecting the cultural context of the African Diaspora will give a fresh voice to black contributions in the world of classical music.
Melanated Moments in Classical Music
Defining the Soundtrack of American Music with Dr. Portia Maultsby
Dr. Portia Maultsby, ethnomusicologist and curator of the inaugural exhibition of the National Museum of African American Music, talks with Angela and Joshua about her influential work on throughlines between classical and popular Black music. An esteemed professor emeritus at Indiana University, her work is regarded as an integral component of research and study in ethnomusicology. She is the founder of the popular I.U. Soul Revue and the Archives of African American Music and Culture at Indiana University. With a growing list of famous vocalists and artists from Broadway to TV and film under her tutelage, Dr. Maultsby scores the blueprint for future preservationists, performers, and scholars committed to sharing the comprehensive story of Black excellence in music.
Featured Music:
"Summertime"
"But Who May Abide," from Messiah, performed by Marietta Simpson and Robert Shaw
"Ah, mes amis," from La fille de régiment, performed by Lawrence Brownlee