Melding of Traditions: African American Cultural and Learned Style Topics in the Music of Roger Dickerson

Roger Dickerson, born in 1934, is an African American composer, educator, and pianist from New Orleans. His compositions include multiple works for band, orchestra, voice, choir, chamber ensembles, and solo instruments. Dickerson, a two-time Pulitzer Prize nominated composer, published only one work for wind band, Essay for Band in 1958. Unfortunately, this work was rarely performed in its first sixty years, and it is not known by many band directors. In recent years, there has been a movement to program music by composers from historically marginalized and underrepresented communities. Essay for Band has benefited from this movement which also seeks to elevate the past contributions African American composers have made to the wind band repertoire. Although Dickerson is an award-winning composer, his compositions have not received much scholarly attention. To better contextualize Roger Dickerson’s compositional output, this study will explore the musical styles of Roger Dickerson by examining Essay for Band and two of his orchestral works using topic theory. Roger Dickerson’s life experience and perspective as an African American composer is worthy of examination. This document will present an oral history of Roger Dickerson’s experience living in segregated New Orleans, the individuals who contributed to his development as a musician, his philosophy on music, and his work as a music educator to inspire and cultivate emerging composers.