Accessibility links
William Levi Dawson's Negro Folk Symphony Spirituals in the 19th century were a symbol of sadness. William Levi Dawson understood that sadness when he wrote his Negro Folk Symphony of 1934. Robert Spano conducts the Atlanta Symphony in this concert performance.

Performance Today

NPR's Performance Today welcomes both longtime classical music lovers and newcomers.

William Levi Dawson's Negro Folk Symphony

William Levi Dawson's Negro Folk Symphony

Audio will be available later today.

Spirituals in the 19th century were a symbol of sadness. William Levi Dawson understood that sadness when he wrote his Negro Folk Symphony of 1934. Robert Spano conducts the Atlanta Symphony in this concert performance.

Hear Dawson's Negro Folk Symphony of 1934

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5230828/5232061" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">