Born to Play - (Contributions to the Study of Music and Dance) by Jean Cazort & Constance Hobson (Hardcover)

About the Book

The life of a great musician is always interesting, but the story of Hazel Harrison is exceptional. Her achievement was particularly impressive because she had been schooled entirely at home and was the first black pianist, male or female, to perform with a major European orchestra. Harrison's extraordinarily long and impressive performing career spanned more than half a century, from the days when Brahms was still alive and Stravinsky had not yet composed The Rite of Spring to the time of the civil rights struggle in the deep South.

Book Synopsis

The life of a great musician is always interesting, but the story of Hazel Harrison is exceptional. Her achievement was particularly impressive because she had been schooled entirely at home and was the first black pianist, male or female, to perform with a major European orchestra. Harrison's extraordinarily long and impressive performing career spanned more than half a century, from the days when Brahms was still alive and Stravinsky had not yet composed The Rite of Spring to the time of the civil rights struggle in the deep South.

Review Quotes

"Born to Play ... succeeds in presenting us a warm, affectionate portrait of [Hazel Harrison] and insight into the times in which she lived. Cazort and Hobson have researched personal papers, newspapers, and periodical reports, and have conducted interviews with friends and students of Harrison. The result is a well documented and engagingly written account vitalized by anecdote and personal reminiscence. ... Born to Play is a welcome addition to the small number of biographies of black classical artists."-The Black Perspective on Music

?Born to Play ... succeeds in presenting us a warm, affectionate portrait of [Hazel Harrison] and insight into the times in which she lived. Cazort and Hobson have researched personal papers, newspapers, and periodical reports, and have conducted interviews with friends and students of Harrison. The result is a well documented and engagingly written account vitalized by anecdote and personal reminiscence. ... Born to Play is a welcome addition to the small number of biographies of black classical artists.?-The Black Perspective on Music

About the Author

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