top of page
Undine Smith Moore
Undine Smith Moore (1904–1989) Hailed as the "Dean of Black Women Composers," Undine Smith Moore self-described as "a teacher who composes, not simply a composer who teaches." Born in Virginia and educated at Fisk University and Columbia, she wrote more than 100 pieces across spirituals, ragtime, blues, and gospel, but is best known for her choral work rooted in the spirituals of her childhood. Her 16-part choral cantata Scenes from the Life of a Martyr, based on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., premiered at Carnegie Hall in 1981 and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Her choral piece Daniel, Daniel, Servant of the Lord remains a staple of the repertory.
Learn more at:
bottom of page