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The following spreadsheet is a work in progress and includes only a small sampling of the many great piano works by Black composers.
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Here are a few resources for further research:
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Music by Black Composers: Living Composers Directory
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Castle of our Skins: Resources
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Institute for Composer Diversity: Works Diversity Database
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African American Composers Initiative
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African American Composers: New Voices, New Music
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Black Composers Scores
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List of Composers of African Descent
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Compiled by Allegra Chapman. Additions, edits, and comments are very welcome - this is a work in progress. Please write to chapman.allegra@gmail.com.
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First NameLast NameDatesAboutPieceInstrumentationYear WrittenLengthRecording LinksSheet Music (Purchase)Download (Out of Copyright)Sheet Music (Library)Notes
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MichaelAbelsb. 1962WikipediaIconoclasmsolo piano20173 minLara Downes: To Lennylinklink
commissioned by Lara Downes to commemorate Leonard Bernstein
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H. Leslie Adamsb. 1932WikipediaEtudes for Pianosolo piano1990-2014each 2-5 minPart 1: 1-3; 4-6; 7-9;10-12; Part II: 1-3; 10-11; 14; 6 and 12linklink
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H. Leslie Adamsb. 1932WikipediaThree Preludes for Pianosolo piano19618 minlink
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H. Leslie Adamsb. 1932WikipediaContrastssolo piano2001link
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LeilaAdu-GilmorelinkColour Wheelsolo piano2013link
Write to littleredhen.publishing@gmail.com or info@leilaadu.com
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EleanorAlbergab. 1949WikipediaJamaican Medleysolo piano19835 minlinkTo purchase score, write to scores@eleanoralberga.com.
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EleanorAlbergab. 1949WikipediaIce Flowsolo piano12 minlinkTo purchase score, write to scores@eleanoralberga.com.
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EleanorAlbergab. 1949WikipediaIt's Timesolo piano12 minlinkTo purchase score, write to scores@eleanoralberga.com.
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EleanorAlbergab. 1949WikipediaFizzsolo piano19882 minlinkTo purchase score, write to scores@eleanoralberga.com.
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EleanorAlbergab. 1949WikipediaIf The Silver Bird Could Speaksolo piano3 minlinkTo purchase score, write to scores@eleanoralberga.com.
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EleanorAlbergab. 1949WikipediaThree Day Mixsolo piano9 minlinkTo purchase score, write to scores@eleanoralberga.com.
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EleanorAlbergab. 1949Wikipedia
Oh Chaconne! (Original version ‘Lingua Franca’ by Robert Cohan)
solo piano201411 minlinkTo purchase score, write to scores@eleanoralberga.com.
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EleanorAlbergab. 1949WikipediaPresence (first portion of Piano Sonata ‘Seraph’)solo piano201918 minTo purchase score, write to scores@eleanoralberga.com.
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Regina HarrisBaiocchib. 1956linkAzurettasolo piano20005 minlinkcontact
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Regina HarrisBaiocchib. 1956linkDéjà Vusolo piano19994 mincontact
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Regina HarrisBaiocchib. 1956linkEquipoise by Intersection: Two Piano Etudessolo piano199510 mincontactlink
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Regina HarrisBaiocchib. 1956linkLegacysolo piano19922 mincontact
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Regina HarrisBaiocchib. 1956linkLiszten, My Husband is Not a Hat!solo piano1994, 20097 minlinkcontact
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Elizabeth A.Bakerb. 1988WebsitePantonal Poetrysolo piano2007-20104 minlinkcontact
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Elizabeth A.Bakerb. 1988WebsiteGlow, Op. 5solo piano20105 minlinkcontact
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Elizabeth A.Bakerb. 1988WebsiteSonata No. 1solo piano201013 minlinkcontact
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Elizabeth A.Bakerb. 1988WebsiteElegiesolo piano20103 minlinkcontact
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Elizabeth A.Bakerb. 1988WebsiteThree Compositions for Piano and Electronicspiano and electronics201320 minlinkcontact
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Elizabeth A.Bakerb. 1988WebsiteFour Planessolo piano2015link
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Elizabeth A.Bakerb. 1988WebsiteCompositions for the Contemporary Piano Studentsolo pianolinkPedagogy pieces
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EdwardBland1926-2013WikipediaSketchessolo piano11 minSet 7: Segment No. 1; No. 2; No. 3; No. 4; No. 5contact
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MargaretBonds1913-1972LinkTroubled Water (from Spiritual Suite)solo piano1952 (sketch) pub. 19675 minlinklinklink
final movement of her Spiritual Suite, based on "Wade in the Water"
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Harry T. Burleigh1866-1949linkFrom the Southlandpiano and orator191031 minlink
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ValerieCapersb. 1935WikipediaPortraits in Jazzsolo pianoI. Ella Scats the Little Lamb; II. Waltz for Miles; III. Sweet Mister Jelly Roll; IV. The Monk; V. Blues for the Duke; VI. A Taste of Bass; VII. Billie's Song; VIII. Mr. 'Satchmo'; IX. Cancion De La Havana; X. Bossa Brasilia; XI. Blue Bird; XII. Cool-Tranelink
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SamuelColeridge-TaylorThree Humoresques, Op. 31solo piano1897link (IMSLP)
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SamuelColeridge-TaylorPapillonssolo piano1908link (IMSLP)
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SamuelColeridge-TaylorThree Fours Valse Suite, Op. 71solo piano1909linklink (IMSLP)
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SamuelColeridge-TaylorFive Forest Scenes, Op. 66solo piano19079 minlinklink (IMSLP)
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SamuelColeridge-TaylorFour Scenes de Ballet, Op. 64solo piano1906link (IMSLP)
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SamuelColeridge-TaylorScenes from an Imaginary Ballet, Op. 74solo piano9 minlink
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SamuelColeridge-Taylor24 Negro Melodies, Op. 59solo piano1905link (IMSLP)
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JuliusEastman1940-1990SchirmerPiano 2 (and 12 other works - see Column L)solo piano198616 minlinklink
Schirmer is currently publishing Eastman's music. Check this page regularly for updates and apply for a licence in some cases.
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Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbroub. 1923linkThe Homeless Wanderersolo piano7 minlinklink
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Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbroub. 1923linkThe Last Tears of Deceasedsolo piano~8 minlinklink
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Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbroub. 1923linkA Young Girl's Complaintsolo piano6 minlinklink
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Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbroub. 1923linkThe Mad Man's Laughtersolo piano~4 minlinklink
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Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbroub. 1923linkPresentimentsolo piano3.5 minlinklink
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Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbroub. 1923linkMother's Lovesolo piano3.5 minlinklink
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Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbroub. 1923linkBallad of the Spiritssolo piano~6 minlinklink
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Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbroub. 1923linkThe Song of the Seasolo piano9.5 minlinklink
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Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbroub. 1923linkHomesicknesssolo piano~4 minlinklink
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Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbroub. 1923linkGolgothasolo piano5 minlinklink
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Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbroub. 1923linkThe Jordan River Songsolo piano2.5 minlinklink
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Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbroub. 1923linkThe Garden Of Gethesemaniesolo piano~3.5 minlinklink
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Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbroub. 1923linkThe Song of Abayisolo piano3 minlinklink
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Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbroub. 1923linkThe Story of the Windsolo piano~2.5 minlinklink
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Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbroub. 1923linkEvening Breezesolo piano~2.5 minlinklink
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Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbroub. 1923linkTenkou! Why Feel Sorrysolo piano2 minlinklink
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AdolphusHailstorkb. 1941WikipediaTwo Scherzossolo piano200910 minlinklink
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AdolphusHailstorkb. 1941WikipediaEight Variations on "Shalom Chaverim"solo piano8 minlinklink
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AdolphusHailstorkb. 1941WikipediaIgnis Fatusssolo piano19768 minlinklink
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AdolphusHailstorkb. 1941WikipediaPiano Sonata No. 2solo piano1989linklink
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AdolphusHailstorkb. 1941WikipediaTrio Sonatasolo piano19919 minlinklink
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AdolphusHailstorkb. 1941WikipediaPiano Sonata No. 3solo piano200013 minlink
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ScottJoplin1868-1917WikipediaMany rags and other pieces - find on IMSLPsolo pianolink
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Ulysses S.Kay1917-1995WikipediaInventionssolo piano19464 minNo. 1 in G minor; No. 2 in A minor; No. 3 in C MajorInvention No. 2
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Ulysses S.Kay1917-1995WikipediaSonata for Pianosolo piano1940link
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L ViolaKinney1890-1945WikipediaMother's Sacrificesolo piano19095.5 minlink
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TaniaLeónb. 1943WikipediaMomentumsolo piano19845 minlinklink
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TaniaLeónb. 1943WikipediaRitualsolo piano19875 minlinklink
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TaniaLeónb. 1943WikipediaTumbaosolo piano3 minlinklink
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TaniaLeónb. 1943WikipediaMisticasolo piano20037 minlink
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TaniaLeónb. 1943WikipediaHomenatgesolo piano20117 minlinklink
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TaniaLeónb. 1943WikipediaSatinétwo pianoslink
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Dorothy RuddMooreb. 1940WikipediaA Little Whimsysolo piano19822 minlinklinklink
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Undine SmithMoore1904-1989WikipediaBefore I'd Be a Slavesolo piano19534 minlinklinklink
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Coleridge-TaylorPerkinsonScherzoSolo piano9 minhttps://youtu.be/C-byEs1PNjM
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Coleridge-Taylor PerkinsonToccataSolo piano3 minhttps://youtu.be/GS-LnnUBWcg
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JuliaPerry1924-1979WikipediaPreludesolo piano1946, rev. 1962link
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Zenobia PowellPerry1908-2004WikipediaHomagesolo piano4 minlinklink
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FlorencePrice1887-1953WikipediaSonata in E minorsolo piano193225 minI. Andante - Allegro; II. Andante; III. Scherzolink
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FlorencePrice1887-1953WikipediaDances in the Canebrakessolo piano19539 minI. Nimble Feet; II. Tropical Noon; III. Silk Hat and Walking Cane
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FlorencePrice1887-1953WikipediaThe Goblin and the Mosquitosolo pianoposs. 1951?1 minlinklink
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FlorencePrice1887-1953WikipediaThe Old Boatmansolo piano2 minlink
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FlorencePrice1887-1953WikipediaSong without Words in G Major (Pleading)solo pianoposs. 1928?3 minlink
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FlorencePrice1887-1953WikipediaSnapshotssolo piano1947-19529 minlink"one of her most persistently modernist works"
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FlorencePrice1887-1953WikipediaFantasie negresolo piano192910 minlink
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FlorencePrice1887-1953WikipediaSketches in Sepiasolo piano3 minlink
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FlorencePrice1887-1953WikipediaFantasie nègre No. 2 in G minorsolo piano19327 minlinklink
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FlorencePrice1887-1953WikipediaFantasie nègre No. 4 in B minorsolo piano19325 minlinklink
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FlorencePrice1887-1953WikipediaImpromptu No. 1solo pianopub. 19261.5 minlink
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FlorencePrice1887-1953WikipediaCloudssolo piano5 minlinklink
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FlorencePrice1887-1953WikipediaMeditationsolo piano19292 minlinklink