In honour of Black History Month, CMC Prairie is paying tribute to Robert Nathaniel Dett (October 11, 1882 – October 2, 1943), a Canadian-American Black nationalistic composer, educator, conductor, pianist, essayist, and poet who helped to change the impressions people had about Black music during the early twentieth century. As president (1924-1926) of the Hampton Institute, Hamptom, Va. and until his death, Dett was a leading figure of the National Association of Negro Musicians, advancing the cause of black musicians. He espoused the preservation and dissemination of spirituals as compiler, arranger, and conductor.
Dett intentionally used Black folk music as the source material for anthems and motets. His intention was not to improve the music, but to find other ways to preserve the music and create songs for use in worship services. These songs remain true to the character of the folk songs either through repeat use of the melodies, motivic development based on the rhythms and melodic contour, or the use of characteristic idioms such as call and response, syncopation, and pentatonic scales. British conductor and academic Dwight Pile-Gray writes “Dett used his knowledge of spirituals and created a fusion with western art music. Through his collections of spirituals, expertise, and comprehensive experience, is contribution not only to the musical life of America but to the classical music world has been enormous”.
His compositions include a number of suites for piano which blend elements of blues, salon, and romantic concert music in short movements with descriptive titles. His harmonic vocabulary is inventive and often original. The choral-orchestral work “The Ordering of Moses” earned Dett a master’s degree in music from the Eastman School of Music in 1932. A symphony was left incomplete at his death. His “Juba Dance” from the piano suite “In the Bottoms” is one of the most popular pieces by any Canadian composer. It was a favourite piece of English composer Percy Grainger and was also performed by Sousa’s band.
His most notable work is the anthem “”Listen to the Lambs” that was based on the spiritual of the same name. This anthem can be found on the debut recording of the Natianiel Dett Chorale, “Listen to the Lambs”. The album features the most enduring songs of inspiration, hymns, and arrangements of spirituals by the choir’s namesake, Canadian composer R. Nathaniel Dett.
The Nathaniel Dett Chorale is Canada’s first professional choral group dedicated to afrocentric music of all styles including classical, spiritual, gospel, jazz, folk, and blues. The Chorale is comprised of classically trained, multifaceted vocalists whose work stretches beyond the traditional expectations of a classical chamber choir, and seeks to challenge us to broaden our vision to include all styles and genres of music as appropriate to the traditions of the African Diaspora.
Find “Listen to the Lambs” and the rest of the album HERE.