In an online article, I read “Tyler Diaz… played music composed by Charles Francis Johnson, University of Pennsylvania, in 1824 for Lafayette’s visit. This was an exceptional honor for a Black composer.” A Black American composer in the first quarter of the 19th century?
The reference was in Peter Feinman’s Institute of History, Archaeology, and Education piece titled July 3, 1825/July 3, 2025: Lafayette’s ‘Naturalizes’ Americans at Federal Hall.
There is a Wikipedia page: “Francis ‘Frank’ Johnson (June 16, 1792 – April 6, 1844)… wrote more than two hundred compositions of various styles—operatic airs, Ethiopian minstrel songs, patriotic marches, ballads, cotillions, quadrilles, quicksteps and other dances. Only manuscripts and piano transcriptions survive today.
“Johnson was the first African American composer to have his works published as sheet music. He was also the first African American to give public concerts and the first to participate in racially integrated concerts in the United States. He led the first American musical ensemble to present concerts abroad, and he introduced the promenade concert style to America.”
Victoria!
I don’t know this guy at all! More info from here:
“Johnson’s band toured here and abroad, and, in 1837, played before Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace. The young queen was so impressed that she gave Johnson a silver bugle as a memento.
“Besides entertaining white audiences abroad, Johnson performed at African American churches in Philadelphia, Boston, and New York. In 1841, he organized a performance of Haydn’s Creation at the First African Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia.
“Francis Johnson died in 1844 in Philadelphia at 52. During his funeral march, hundreds of mourners, including his brass band, followed his casket, on which his silver bugle was placed.”
Six-minute video by Krystal Thomas
U Penn bio
The innovations of a forgotten genius who laid the groundwork for the nation’s signature music (Smithsonian)
Some music:
A Soundtrack to Antebellum Black Philadelphia
A Collection Of New Cotillions (1818) – Donald Lee III, piano
Honour To The Brave: General Lafayette’s Grand March
Dirge – the last three:
Maybe I can intrigue one of my blogger buddies, who knows way more about classical music than I, to find out more about Francis Johnson.