Rudolph Dunbar

Rudolph Dunbar (1907 – June 10, 1988) was a Guyanese conductor, clarinetist, and composer.

Dunbar was born in Nabaclis, British Guyana. He studied at the Institute of Musical Art (now Juilliard). While in New York he was also involved with the Harlem jazz scene. In 1925 Dunbar moved to Paris where he studied conducting with Philippe Gaubert, composition with Paul Vidal, and the clarinet with Louis Cahuzac. He published "Treatise on the Clarinet" in 1939 which became a standard text about the instrument.

Dunbar became the first black man to conduct the London Philharmonic in 1942 at a concert in the Royal Albert Hall, London. In September 1945 he conducted the Berlin Philharmonic at the invitation of music director Leo Borchard, performing William Grant Still's "Afro-American Symphony" before Allied servicemen. [cite book
pages=120
url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Yx6UUD6M1LEC&pg=PA120&vq=dunbar&dq=%22Settling+Scores:+German+Music,+Denazification,+%26+the+Americans%22&sig=zrTCI6oi0jRATyKeNKmbd31ONAg
first=David
last=Monod
title=Settling Scores: German Music, Denazification, & the Americans, 1945-1953
publisher=University of North Carolina Press
isbn=0807829447
date=2005] He also conducted orchestras in Russia and Poland. He championed the music of other black composers, particularly Still. Dunbar had played alongside Still in the Harlem Orchestra around 1924,cite book |last=Dabrishus |first=Michael J. |coauthors=Carolyn L. Quin, Judith Anne Still |title=William Grant Still: a bio-bibliography |year=1996 |publisher=Greenwood Press |isbn=0313252556 |pages=36 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=w6ApDn5oJLkC&pg=PA36&vq=%22rudolph+dunbar%22&dq=%22rudolph+dunbar%22&sig=PygmmQTYjv99CrnXmpVs9M_kKLo.] and the autograph of Still's "Festive Overture" of 1944 is dedicated "To my dear friend, Rudolph Dunbar".He lived most of his later life in London, which is where he died.

References

Writings

* cite book
first=Rudolph
last=Dunbar
title=Treatise on the clarinet (Boehm system)
publisher=J. E. Dallas
location=London
oclc=2322942
date=1939

External links

* [http://theovergrownpath.blogspot.com/2007/04/berlin-philharmonics-first-black.html A Short Biography on Rudolph Dunbar] on the blog "On An Overgrown Path"