Role

:

Composer

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

September 23, 1899 in Anniston, AL

Death

:

May 2, 1990 in Tuskegee, AL

Genre

:

Choral

 

William Levi Dawson was an American composer, arranger, and conductor who was born on September 26, 1899, in Anniston, Alabama. He was the second of six children born to Eliza and George Dawson, who were both former slaves. Dawson's parents were deeply religious and instilled in him a love of music and a strong work ethic from a young age. Dawson's musical talent was evident from an early age, and he began playing the piano and singing in the choir at his local church. He attended Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) in Alabama, where he studied music under the tutelage of composer and educator R. Nathaniel Dett. Dawson graduated from Tuskegee in 1921 and went on to earn a master's degree in music from the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago in 1925. After completing his studies, Dawson returned to Tuskegee to teach music and conduct the Tuskegee Institute Choir. He also began composing and arranging music, drawing on his African American heritage and the spirituals and folk songs he had grown up singing. Dawson's music was deeply rooted in the African American experience and often featured themes of struggle, perseverance, and hope. One of Dawson's most famous works is his arrangement of the spiritual "Ezekiel Saw the Wheel," which he first composed in 1929. The piece features a driving rhythm and powerful harmonies, and has become a staple of choral repertoire. Dawson's other notable works include "Negro Folk Symphony," which he composed in 1934 and which was the first symphony written by an African American composer to be performed by a major orchestra, and "Ain't That Good News," a gospel-style piece that was popularized by the Robert Shaw Chorale in the 1950s. In addition to his work as a composer and arranger, Dawson was also a respected conductor. He led the Tuskegee Institute Choir for over 25 years, and also conducted the National Negro Opera Company and the Florida State College for Women Choir. Dawson was known for his dynamic and expressive conducting style, and was a sought-after guest conductor for orchestras and choirs around the world. Dawson's contributions to the world of classical music were recognized with numerous awards and honors throughout his career. He was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 1985, and received the National Medal of Arts from President George H.W. Bush in 1991. Dawson passed away on May 2, 1990, at the age of 90, but his music continues to be performed and celebrated by choirs and orchestras around the world.

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