Ht burleigh biography

Harry Thacker Burleigh, better known as H.T.

Burleigh, was the first and most influential Black composer to rise to large success post- Civil War. He was widely known for his perservation and arrangemtn of traditional Black spirituals and plantation songs. Without his work, most likely most of the songs that come to mind when we think of “spirituals” would be lost in the past.

A singer and composer as well as an arranger, Burleigh composed more than 300 works.¹ His work was hugely influential and brought Black music to the Western classical music stage for the first time.

Born on December 2, 1866 in Erie, Pennsylvania, Burleigh showed an early passion and talent for music.

He grew up learning these spirituals and folk songs from his maternal grandmother and singing in the church choir. However, he was unable to afford forma