William Dawson "Negro Folk Symphony"

In 1934, the Philadelphia Orchestra led by Leopold Stokowski came to Carnegie Hall with a brand new symphony. It was William Dawson's "Negro Folk Symphony." Despite an ecstatic public and critical reaction, the piece has all but disappeared from the stage. Today we'll talk about this wonderful and incredibly underrated symphony. We'll explore its unique and innovative structure, its use of folk song, and its deeply profound character. I bet you've never heard this piece before - let's change that today!