I write the songs
William Levi Dawson (April 26, 1899, Anniston, Alabama – May 2, 1990, Montg… Read Full Bio ↴William Levi Dawson (April 26, 1899, Anniston, Alabama – May 2, 1990, Montgomery, Alabama) was an African-American composer, choir director and professor.
A graduate of the Horner Institute of Fine Arts with a Bachelor of Music, William Dawson later studied at the Chicago Musical College with professor Felix Borowski, and then at the American Conservatory of Music where he received his masters degree. Early in his career he served as a trombonist both with the Redpath Chautauqua and the Chicago Civic Symphony Orchestra. His teaching career began in the Kansas City public school system, which was later followed by a tenure with the Tuskegee Institute from 1931–1956. During this period, it was he who appointed a large number of faculty members that later became well known for their work in the field. Additionally, Dawson also developed the Tuskegee Institute Choir into an internationally renowned ensemble; they were invited to sing at New York City's Radio City Music Hall in 1932 for a week of six daily performances.
As a composer, Dawson began at a young age, and it was early on in his compositional career that his Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano was performed by the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra. Besides chamber music, he is also known for his contributions to both orchestral and choral literature. His best known works are arrangements and variations on spirituals; his Negro Folk Symphony of 1934 garnered a great deal of attention at its world premiere, under the direction of Leopold Stokowski with the Philadelphia Orchestra. The symphony was later revised in 1952 with greater African rhythms inspired by the composer's trip to West Africa. The composition was — the composer conveyed — an attempt to convey the missing elements that were lost when Africans came into bondage outside their homeland. In creating this work, Dawson was influenced by the nationalistic views of Dvořák. Widely performed, his most popular spirituals include "Ezekiel Saw the Wheel", "Jesus Walked the Lonesome Valley", "Talk about a Child That Do Love Jesus" and "King Jesus Is a-Listening". Dawson was elected to and initiated into the national honorary Alpha Alpha Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity in 1977.
Dawson's arrangements of traditional African-American spirituals are widely published in the United States and are regularly performed by school, college and community choral ensembles.
A graduate of the Horner Institute of Fine Arts with a Bachelor of Music, William Dawson later studied at the Chicago Musical College with professor Felix Borowski, and then at the American Conservatory of Music where he received his masters degree. Early in his career he served as a trombonist both with the Redpath Chautauqua and the Chicago Civic Symphony Orchestra. His teaching career began in the Kansas City public school system, which was later followed by a tenure with the Tuskegee Institute from 1931–1956. During this period, it was he who appointed a large number of faculty members that later became well known for their work in the field. Additionally, Dawson also developed the Tuskegee Institute Choir into an internationally renowned ensemble; they were invited to sing at New York City's Radio City Music Hall in 1932 for a week of six daily performances.
As a composer, Dawson began at a young age, and it was early on in his compositional career that his Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano was performed by the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra. Besides chamber music, he is also known for his contributions to both orchestral and choral literature. His best known works are arrangements and variations on spirituals; his Negro Folk Symphony of 1934 garnered a great deal of attention at its world premiere, under the direction of Leopold Stokowski with the Philadelphia Orchestra. The symphony was later revised in 1952 with greater African rhythms inspired by the composer's trip to West Africa. The composition was — the composer conveyed — an attempt to convey the missing elements that were lost when Africans came into bondage outside their homeland. In creating this work, Dawson was influenced by the nationalistic views of Dvořák. Widely performed, his most popular spirituals include "Ezekiel Saw the Wheel", "Jesus Walked the Lonesome Valley", "Talk about a Child That Do Love Jesus" and "King Jesus Is a-Listening". Dawson was elected to and initiated into the national honorary Alpha Alpha Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity in 1977.
Dawson's arrangements of traditional African-American spirituals are widely published in the United States and are regularly performed by school, college and community choral ensembles.
I write the songs
William Levi Dawson Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'I write the songs' by these artists:
B. Johnson If you fell in love or threw it away You're looking…
Barry Manilow I've been alive forever And I wrote the very first song I…
Barry Manilow (Karaoke) I've been alive forever And I wrote the very first song I…
Barry Manilow and Stephen Colbert I've been alive forever And I wrote the very first song I…
Big Daddy I've been alive forever, and I wrote the very first…
Bruce Johnston I've been alive forever And I wrote the very first song I…
C. L. DelMastro (C.W. McCall, Bill Fries, Chip Davis) Write me a song about…
captain tennille I've been alive forever And I wrote the very first song I…
Captain & Tennille I've been alive forever, And I wrote the very first song. …
Cook I wrote a song today With you on my mind I wrote…
Countdown Singers Well I love her And I love to fish I spend all…
David Cassidy I've been alive forever, and I wrote the very first…
Frank Sinatra I've been alive forever, and I sang the very first…
Graham BLVD Well, I know it's kind of late I hope I didn't…
Hit Co. Big Band If they ask me, I could write a book About the…
jim nabors I've been alive forever, and I wrote the very first…
Johnny Mathis I've been alive forever And I wrote the very first song I…
Johnston If they ask me, I could write a book About the…
Kavin Hoo & C. L. DelMastro (C.W. McCall, Bill Fries, Chip Davis) Write me a song about…
Manilow Barry I've been alive forever And I wrote the very first song I…
Mantovani I let a song go out of my heart It was…
Me First I've been alive forever And I wrote the very first song I…
Paul Smith If they ask me, I could write a book About the…
Ray Conniff and The Singers But the waters overwhelmed their enemies, there was not one…
Richard Hayman And His Symphony Orchestra I'll be seeing you in all the old familiar places That…
Starsound Orchestra I let a song go out of my heart It was…
Stephen and the Colberts I am not the enemy Neither are you We're all a…
Stephen Colbert and Barry Manilow I've been alive forever And I wrote the very first song I…
The Ex-Idols Worth don't come from a wallet I'm poor as a prophet Depress…
Various Artists - Barry Manilow Tribute We're Your children Yes Your children Don't forsake us We a…
White Plains I don't know how to make lots of money I got…
林子祥 I've been alive forever, and I wrote the very first song. I…
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Kimberly Knighton
This is an amazing piece. It could be a film score. Glad to hear his music.
robt007
I agree. This is an amazing symphony. One of America's best.
Issaac C Jones
I wholeheartedly agree. It is important for the upcoming generations to learn of these styles of music which have been created, partly for historical and cultural awareness but more so for them to use these in films, television and theatrical productions.
John Oldland
Symphonies are not written to accompany films or TV !
Paul Heffron
This and the music of Florence Price are neglected. I'm listening to their music while reading "Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Harriet Beecher Stowe and it's sort of like a film score as you suggest.
Paul Harmon
@Paul Heffron Thankfully discovered Florence Price right here on YouTube. Was moved to tears by her 3rd Symphony. But also for the tragedy of the neglect her works have suffered.
jslasher1
Love this symphony. Very underrated.
Thebes50
I have not heard this in years. A true masterpiece! Thank you for posting.
Sapere Aude
Why is it that Dawson and Still seem lost to the concert stage? Almost all of their music offers a wealth of melody and place.
windstorm1000
Agreed! Enough if Mozart. I want to hear these composers