Jason Heath’s Double Bass Blog

William J. Zick wrote an interesting post on his AfriClassical blog earlier this week, stating:

The rumor that Beethoven is Black just won’t go away, in spite of the lack of any real evidence. What most people are unaware of is Beethoven’s real relationship with the Black violinist George Augustus Polgreen Bridgetower (1780-1860).

Today I have posted the meticulously documented essay on his life by my principal adviser, Dr. Dominique-René de Lerma of Lawrence University, who has specialized in Black composers and musicians for four decades.

Beethoven wrote his Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 9 in A Minor, Op. 47 to display the virtuoso talent of Bridgetower.

Beethoven rescinded his dedication to Bridgetower because of a personal disagreement prior to publication. It was also George Bridgetower who was accompanied on piano by Beethoven at the work’s debut performance in 1803 at Vienna’s Auergarten Theater.

Check out the complete post here.

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