Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Moving Image and Recorded Sound Division

Description

1. 4 audio discs (analog)

Summary

1. The collection contains four 78 rpm shellac records of music relating to Europe's career as a musician, dating from circa 1919-1920.

Subject

1. Sound recordings
2. African Americans > Songs and music
3. Popular music > United States > 1911-1920
4. African American soldiers
5. World War, 1914-1918 > Participation, African American
6. African American musicians > New York (State) > Societies, etc
7. African American entertainers
8. African American conductors (Music)
9. Europe, James Reese, 1881-1919

Genre/Form

1. Sound recordings.

Call number

1. Sc MIRS Europe 1997-25

Note

1. James Reese Europe was an accomplished musician, composer, conductor, organizer, and recording artist. In 1902, at the age of twenty-one, he relocated to New York City and shortly thereafter organized the Clef Club, a union of black musicians and booking agency, as well as a fraternal-like group. In 1912, the Clef Club Orchestra, under the direction of Europe, held a concert in Carnegie Hall that gained the recognition and respect of a primarily white elite audience. From 1914 to 1916, Europe's Society Orchestra toured throughout the United States and overseas with Vernon and Irene Castle, a husband and wife dance team. During World War I, Europe enlisted in the armed services as a private, passed an officer's exam, and became a lieutenant. As an officer he was assigned to the New York 15th Infantry in Harlem and was told to form a band. On New Year's day 1918, Europe and the band traveled to France and were assigned combat duty under French command. Europe thus became the first African-American officer to lead combat troops into battle. The New York 15th Infantry was later renamed the 369th Infantry, also known as the Harlem Hellfighters. The French also credited Europe with introducing a form of music that later became known as jazz. After World War I ended, Europe returned to the U.S. where he died in 1919, after a backstage altercation with Herbert Wright, (a drummer in his band) who stabbed him in the neck and severed an artery.

Source (note)

1. James Reese Europe, Jr.

Linking entry (note)

1. See the Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division for the James Reese Europe collection, 1847-1996. (Sc MG 616). Photographs can be found in the Photographs and Prints Division (Sc Photo James Reese Europe Collection)

Author

1. Europe, James Reese, 1881-1919, creator.

Title

1. James Reese Europe audio collection.

Publisher

1. [1997]

Linking entry

1. See the Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division for the James Reese Europe collection, 1847-1996. (Sc MG 616). Photographs can be found in the Photographs and Prints Division (Sc Photo James Reese Europe Collection)

Connect to:

1. Finding Aid for the collection
2. Request Access to Schomburg Moving Images and Recorded Sound

Added author

1. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Moving Image and Recorded Sound Division.

Research call number

1. Sc MIRS Europe 1997-25