Description: This playlists focuses on the artist Alton Adams Sr., his influences, and those with similar style and or style to him. Alton Adams Sr. was a composer and musician from St. Thomas. He was the first black man to become a band leader for the Navy. His music was deeply influenced by both classical European traditions and the rhythms of the Caribbean. Adams is remembered not only for his musical talent but also for breaking racial barriers and contributing to the cultural heritage of the Caribbean and the United States.
Playlist
The first track on our playlist is The Virgin Islands March a renowned composition by Adams. This particular piece is officially recognized as the anthem of the United States Virgin Islands and is considered Adams' signature work. Composed in the early 1920s, the march seamlessly integrates elements of European classical music, American patriotic melodies, and Caribbean influences, all of which are characteristic of Adams' distinctive style. It follows a traditional military march structure, with strong brass and percussion elements, while also incorporating melodies and rhythms that reflect Caribbean musical traditions.
Our next song is another rendition of "The Virgin Islands March" performed by The V.I National Guard 73rd Army Band. This version includes patriotic lyrics and incorporates more Caribbean influences through the use of the steel pan. The rendition was performed during Covid-19, which explains why the musicians are all in separate spaces. Each musician is wearing their army uniform as they put their all into this performance. This performance also feels more modern due to the use of electric guitars. This performance was made to show solidarity between the islands during such a trying time.
The next song was composed by John Philip Sousa, who was a significant influence on Adams. The piece is titled "Stars And Stripes Forever" and is a military march made in 1896 for the U.S. Military. It is a patriotic piece known for its striking opening fanfare.The composition uses a steady march rhythm along with dynamic contrasts, concluding with an energetic finale. The similarities between Sousa's and Adams' works can be heard in this piece.
The upcoming piece we'll be discussing is "Chimes of Liberty" by Edwin Franko Goldman. After many musicians from Sousa's band joined The Goldman Band, Goldman was considered to be Sousa's successor. Additionally, Goldman's band performed numerous compositions by Adams during their time. "Chimes of Liberty" is another march, distinguished by its emphasis on the piccolo and, of course, the chimes, setting it apart from the other marches mentioned.
The fourth piece is "Hiawatha's Wedding Feast," composed by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor in 1898. Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was a mixed-race British classical composer and conductor. In 1910, Adams wrote an article for The Dominant titled "Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, One of the Greatest Living Composers," indicating Adams' admiration for Taylor and his work. This particular composition brought Taylor widespread acclaim. The performance features the City Choir Dunedin under the direction of David Burchell, with tenor Matthew Wilson taking the lead.
Moving away from Adams' inspirations, we now go on to "Guavaberry" by Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights. This song is a traditional quelbe Christmas song. Quelbe is the name of the folk music found in the USVI, similar to the Rake-Scrape found in the Bahamas and Fungi found in the BVI. I included this song not only because it is the traditional music from Adam's home country, but also because Stanley and The Sleepless Knights' main focus is to keep quelbe and traditional Caribbean music alive, which I think Adam would have appreciated. The song includes a catchy melody, call-and-response vocals, woodwind instruments, and the iconic scraping sound.
The final piece in our playlist is "Afro-American Symphony (Symphony No. 1)" composed by William Grant Still in 1930. Still's musical style combines classical music with African-American sounds. I chose this piece because I believe that Still and Adams' musical styles are very similar. They both take classic European music and incorporate their cultures and heritage to create unique music. When you listen to the composition, you can hear the influences of blues and jazz. The work features rich orchestration, with a prominent use of strings, woodwinds, and brass. Out of the entire playlist, this may be my favorite piece. It is performed by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Neeme Jarvi.
Bibliography
Alexander, O. (2021, June 11). Alton Augustus Adams, sr. (1889-1987) •. •. https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/people-african-american-history/alton-augustus-adams-sr-1889-1987/
LeGrand, C.G. C. (2019). Tour de Force: A Musical Journey of the Caribbean. Sound Caribbean. https://online.vitalsource.com/books/9789769624900
Sims, V. (2024, January 11). Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, one of the greatest living composers by Alton A. Adams ~ 1910. 🌺 Virgin Islands History. https://valeriesims.com/Samuel-coleridge-taylor-greatest-living-composer-alton-a-adams-1910/
Wikimedia Foundation. (2024a, March 12). Edwin Franko Goldman. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Franko_Goldman
Wikimedia Foundation. (2024b, April 24). Alton Adams. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alton_Adams
Wikimedia Foundation. (2024c, August 8). William Grant still. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Grant_Still
Wikimedia Foundation. (2024d, September 21). Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Coleridge-Taylor
