William Banfield

Black American composers to be featured in Arts & Sciences forum

A prominent composer, writer, arranger and performer will be the next College of Arts and Sciences Forum speaker when the series resumes Feb. 19. William Banfield, endowed chair in humanities and fine arts at the University of St. Thomas (Minn.) will discuss his new book, Musical Leadership in Color: Conversations with Black American Composers, at 12:30 p.m. in 228 Bowen-Thompson Student Union.

In this sequel to his award-winning The Black Composer Speaks, Banfield interviewed 40 black composers to learn their philosophy, background and technique, placing their work within the greater context of Western music. A scholar of black music, Banfield has held residencies at Duke University, Morehouse College and the University of Texas and was the W.E.B. DuBois Fellow at Harvard University in 2001. In 2002, he was invited by author Toni Morrison to be the Atelier visiting artist at Princeton.

Banfield has composed eight symphonies, seven operas, a musical, six orchestral concerti and numerous works for voice, choir, choir solo instrumentalists and chamber ensembles. He synthesizes a number of musical styles and traditions, from classical to jazz, in works such as his opera “Soul Gone Home” and his piano concerto “No Mirrors in My Nana’s House.” He formed the 14-piece BMagic Orchestra after moving to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, which since 1997 has performed with a number of well-known musicians, including Bobby McFerrin, Patrice Rushin and the Plymouth Music Series Ensemble Singers.

Banfield’s free, 12:30 p.m. presentation will be preceded by a noon luncheon. The $8.75 taco buffet may be paid for with cash, check or bursar account. Reservations for lunch are due by Feb. 13. Call 2-2017 or email ajoyce@bgnet.bgsu.edu with your BGSU ID number.