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Today we’d like to share the extraordinary story of a former student who deserves better recognition.
This is Amanda Aldridge (1866–1956), a British singer who became a composer & influential teacher.
Are you sitting comfortably..?
#BlackHistoryMonth
#BlackHistoryMonthUK 
This is Amanda Aldridge (1866–1956), a British singer who became a composer & influential teacher.
Are you sitting comfortably..?
#BlackHistoryMonth
#BlackHistoryMonthUK
Amanda was the daughter of African-American actor #IraAldridge. An international celebrity, he was famous for his Shakespearian roles – particularly Othello.
Her mother was Ira’s second wife, a Swedish lady called Amanda Brandt. Sadly Ira died when his daughter was still a baby.
Her mother was Ira’s second wife, a Swedish lady called Amanda Brandt. Sadly Ira died when his daughter was still a baby.
The talented Amanda later won a competitive scholarship to study singing at the brand new Royal College of Music. In fact, she was the second student ever to enrol!
At the RCM she studied under two famous singers.
At the RCM she studied under two famous singers.
Her primary teacher was #JennyLind. An international opera star, Lind was the first Professor of Singing at the RCM.
She had a good relationship with Amanda, perhaps in part because she knew her parents.
On Amanda’s report Lind wrote ‘Talented… has made excellent progress.’
She had a good relationship with Amanda, perhaps in part because she knew her parents.
On Amanda’s report Lind wrote ‘Talented… has made excellent progress.’
Amanda’s second singing teacher was Sir #GeorgeHenschel.
Another very famous singer, Henschel was a baritone who moved in important cultural circles. He was also renowned as a conductor & composer.
Another very famous singer, Henschel was a baritone who moved in important cultural circles. He was also renowned as a conductor & composer.
After graduating from the RCM, Amanda worked as a concert singer until a condition that affected her throat forced her to stop performing.
Undeterred, she turned to composition instead. It is said that she published over 30 popular songs between 1907 and 1925.
Undeterred, she turned to composition instead. It is said that she published over 30 popular songs between 1907 and 1925.
Several of these songs were settings of poems by African-American writers like #HenryFrancisDowning & #PaulLaurenceDunbar (pictured here).
Amanda’s mother had worked hard to instil a love of African-American heritage in her children after Ira Aldridge’s premature death.
Amanda’s mother had worked hard to instil a love of African-American heritage in her children after Ira Aldridge’s premature death.
Incidentally, both Downing & Dunbar had important connections with another black British musician who studied at the RCM – the composer #SamuelColeridgeTaylor.
You can find out more about this in our acclaimed digital exhibition: https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/JwLitwiLW6SGIw
You can find out more about this in our acclaimed digital exhibition: https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/JwLitwiLW6SGIw
... back to Amanda!
Her compositions have been described as romantic parlour music & love songs, but many of their titles suggest she was interested in African/American themes: ‘Three African Dances’ & ‘When the Coloured Lady Saunters Down the Street’, for example.
Her compositions have been described as romantic parlour music & love songs, but many of their titles suggest she was interested in African/American themes: ‘Three African Dances’ & ‘When the Coloured Lady Saunters Down the Street’, for example.
All of Amanda’s songs were published under the pseudonym Montague Ring.
While some suggest this name was used to hide her gender from publishers, Amanda herself said she wanted to keep her identity as a composer separate from her identity as a singer.
While some suggest this name was used to hide her gender from publishers, Amanda herself said she wanted to keep her identity as a composer separate from her identity as a singer.
Perhaps Amanda’s most important role, though, was that of teacher. Her students included three influential African-American artists.
The first was tenor #RolandHayes, who sought Amanda out as a composer who worked on African-American themes.
The first was tenor #RolandHayes, who sought Amanda out as a composer who worked on African-American themes.
Hayes has been called ‘the first African-American male concert artist to receive wide international acclaim.’ One of the highest paid singers of his time, he studied with Amanda in London.
You can hear him singing 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' here:
You can hear him singing 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' here:
Another famous student was none other than #PaulRobeson.
He also performed African-American spirituals Amanda had written & called her ‘the most charming, interesting & loveable woman.’
You can experience Robeson's gorgeous voice with this playlist:
He also performed African-American spirituals Amanda had written & called her ‘the most charming, interesting & loveable woman.’
You can experience Robeson's gorgeous voice with this playlist:
Touchingly, Amanda gifted Robeson the earrings her father had worn in the role of Othello.
Robeson wore these earrings later when he became the first black American since Ira Aldridge to play Othello on stage.
Naturally his friend Amanda was in the audience for this occasion!
Robeson wore these earrings later when he became the first black American since Ira Aldridge to play Othello on stage.
Naturally his friend Amanda was in the audience for this occasion!
In this interview with the BBC, Robeson discusses the role of Othello:
Amanda also taught the celebrated contralto #MarianAnderson, who famously became a the first African-American to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
Here is a video of her performing at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939:
Here is a video of her performing at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939:
This performance was a defiant one. Anderson had been denied a stage at Constitution Hall due to her race.
Instead, she performed at the Lincoln Memorial - read more about her courage here: https://www.npr.org/2014/04/09/298760473/denied-a-stage-she-sang-for-a-nation?t=1603883990698
Instead, she performed at the Lincoln Memorial - read more about her courage here: https://www.npr.org/2014/04/09/298760473/denied-a-stage-she-sang-for-a-nation?t=1603883990698
... and here: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/when-marian-anderson-defied-the-nazis
Anderson was also involved in the civil rights movement of the 1960s.
Anderson was also involved in the civil rights movement of the 1960s.
So... you can see Amanda was an influential teacher who taught some of the most culturally & politically significant black musicians of the early twentieth century.
But she was not the only Aldridge with musical talent...
But she was not the only Aldridge with musical talent...
Her sister Luranah was a very successful opera singer who performed at the Royal Opera House & the Bayreuth Festival.
Luranah's friends & admirers included George Sand & Charles Gounod, the latter of whom said she had ‘one of the most beautiful voices that exists’.
Luranah's friends & admirers included George Sand & Charles Gounod, the latter of whom said she had ‘one of the most beautiful voices that exists’.
Luranah sadly suffered from rheumatoid arthritis. The severe pain & depression she experienced cut her career short.
Amanda cared devotedly for her sister until Luranah tragically took her own life with a drug overdose in 1932.
Amanda cared devotedly for her sister until Luranah tragically took her own life with a drug overdose in 1932.
Amanda’s brother Frederick was a gifted concert pianist, but his career was also cut short when he leaped from a window to his death while suffering from a fever.
He was just 25 years old.
He was just 25 years old.
Amanda never married, devoting herself to her family & her music.
However she once told her father's biographer: ‘don’t you get the impression, young man, that Cupid stayed away from my door!’
However she once told her father's biographer: ‘don’t you get the impression, young man, that Cupid stayed away from my door!’
Amanda was active well into later life & even made her television debut in the 1950s at the age of 88!
She accompanied Muriel Smith, who performed one of her compositions on a programme called Music For You.
Amanda died on 9th March 1956, one day before her 90th birthday.
She accompanied Muriel Smith, who performed one of her compositions on a programme called Music For You.
Amanda died on 9th March 1956, one day before her 90th birthday.
We plan to delve into our archives & see what else we can discover about the incredible #AmandaAldridge.
In the meantime, we recommend this excellent article by Professor Joyce Andrews which we used as a source for this thread:
https://www.nats.org/cgi/page.cgi/_article.html/Journal_of_Singing/Amanda_Aldridge_Teacher_and_Composer_A_Life_in_Music_2010_Jan_Feb
#BlackHistoryMonth
In the meantime, we recommend this excellent article by Professor Joyce Andrews which we used as a source for this thread:
https://www.nats.org/cgi/page.cgi/_article.html/Journal_of_Singing/Amanda_Aldridge_Teacher_and_Composer_A_Life_in_Music_2010_Jan_Feb
#BlackHistoryMonth
