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The Documentary: Black Music in Europe: Black Music in Europe: 1910-1920

Clarke Peters

30/05/2020 GMT

Black Music in Europe: 1910-1920

Black Music in Europe

BBC World Service - The Documentary, Black Music in Europe, Black Music in Europe: 1910-1920

Clarke Peters uncovers the stories of black musicians in Europe during World War One

Clarke Peters uncovers the stories of black musicians in Europe during World War One.

Clarke Peters explores the music of black Europe at the time of World War One. The sounds of what would become jazz start to emerge, including African-American banjo bands who entertained London high society, and the military music of Harlem bandleader James Reese Europe which enthralled France. The programme also includes music by captured African prisoners of war, recorded in camps across Germany.
Much of the music in this series is drawn from Black Europe, a vast box set issued by Bear Family Records and documenting the sounds of the era.With readings by Paterson Joseph.

Presenter: Clarke Peters
Producer: Tom Woolfenden
Executive producer: Maria Williams

(Photo: Clarke Peters. Credit: Alexandra Quinn)

The Documentary: Black Music in Europe

Clarke Peters uncovers the stories of black musicians in Europe up to the Jazz Age.

Clarke Peters draws on a rare collection of archive recordings to explore a forgotten musical history.
 
Received wisdom has it that black popular music arrived in Europe with the Empire Windrush in 1948, but Clarke brings us black sounds recorded in Europe from as far back as 1900.
 
Focusing on early commercial discs made in the recording studios of London, Paris and Berlin, we hear from dozens of different performers, including African American travelling entertainers, traditional African musicians, black British classical composers and more.

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