Do you know about the star Amanda Aldridge, a performance singer and teacher who composed songs, suites, and sambas. In this article, we will provide a complete introduction and complete life history of her.
Who is Amanda Aldridge?
Amanda Aldridge, also known as Amanda Ira Aldridge. She was born on March 10, 1866, in Upper Norwood, London. She was a performance singer and teacher who composed songs, suites, and sambas.
Family Background
Her mother, Swede Amanda Brandt, and her two sisters, Rachael and Luranah Aldridge, made history as the first performers of African tradition to star at Bayreuth Opera House before illness required her to cancel. She also had brothers, Ira Daniel Aldridge and Ira Frederick, who died, unfortunately, young, like their sister Luranah.
Journey Of Her Life
The Start Of Her Career
Aldridge went on to study voice with Jenny Lind at the University College of Music, London, under the supervision of Jenny Lind’s vocal teachers, Jenny Lind and George Henschel, as well as agreement and counterpoint under the direction of Frederick Bridge’s musicians, Francis Edward Gladstone.
After completing her study, she played as a concert singer, piano player, and voice teacher. A throat condition finished her concert presence, and she turned to teaching and published about 30 songs between 1907 and 1925 in a romantic parlor style and instrumental music in other styles.
The Struggle for Her Successful Career
She had a lot of talent for music and composition. But many theaters refused her because of her race; her father was a black man. She mostly had to be in Blackface to be on stage.
After a long time and hard struggle, she became the first Black performer on the stage in 1893.
Amanda’s Achievements
First Female Composer in Google Doodle
June 17, 1911, was when a talented composer Amanda Aldridge presented an extraordinary piano concert at London’s most important concert location before the First World War began. Therefore she is a composer in Google Doodle. And she also honored Google Doodle on June 17, 2022.
Most Inspiring Work
Amanda made her career creating and composing art songs that contained poetry by African American poets. Her most inspiring work was Three African Dances for piano, inspired by West African Drumming.
Remarkable Show
Her remarkable show was where Roland Hayes, Lawrence Benjamin Brown, Marian Anderson, and Paul Robeson plates in the theater. In 1930, when Robeson played Othello in the West End, she also participated and gave Robeson the gold studs that her father, Ira Aldridge, had worn as Othello.
Stage Name
She used music to discover her mixed cultural tradition, combining numerous regular impacts and genres with poetry by Black American authors. She used the stage name to separate her composing career from her singing and teaching.
Amanda’s Scores and Audio
She worked with full performance scores and audio. Some are the following:
The Bride
- Composer: Amanda Aldridge
- Librettist: P. J. O’Reilly
- Year of Composition: 1910
- Premiere Performance: Unknown
- Duration: 2 min. (approx.)
- Voices: Solo Voice
- Instrumentation: Piano
Little Rose in My Hair
- Composer: Amanda Aldridge
- Librettist: Eileen Price-Evens
- Year of Composition: 1917
- Premiere Performance: Unknown
- Duration: 1 1/2 min. (approx.)
- Voices: Solo Voice
- Instrumentation: Piano
Blue Day of June
- Composer: Amanda Aldridge
- Librettist: Fred E. Weatherly
- Year of Composition: 1915
- Premiere Performance: Unknown
- Duration: 2 min. (approx.)
- Voices: Solo Voice
- Instrumentation: Piano
Supplication
- Composer: Amanda Aldridge
- Librettist: P. J. O’Reilly
- Year of Composition: 1914
- Premiere Performance: Unknown
- Duration: 2 1/2 min. (approx.)
- Voices: Solo Voice
- Instrumentation: Piano
Why Was She Famous For the Name Montague Ring?
Her stage name was Montague Ring; Amanda wrote many songs in a classical and unique style. This style has perhaps dropped out of fashion as it is possible to fall, but parlor music songs were very popular at the turn of the century, and Amanda (Montague) was a successful fan of the style. As the name implies, the songs were designed for use and enjoyment in living rooms with performances by unprofessional musicians in mind.
First-Time Television Appearance
At the age of 88, she appeared for the first time on a television music show named “Music For You.” In this show, a singer sang Montague Ring’s “Little Southern Love Song.”
End Of Her Career
She ended her singing career to compose and teach music when she damaged her throat. She mostly composed Romantic parlor music, a type of popular music performed mostly in parlors of middle-class homes, commonly sung by unprofessional singers and pianists.
Under this stage name, she expanded her respect for her many voice and piano pieces. She collected love songs, suites, sambas, and light instrumental pieces, working in a popular style with multiple genres.
Cause Of Death
A day on her 90th birthday, she died on March 9, 1956, after the shortest illness. She was 89 years old when she died, and her graveyard is in London.
Conclusion
Amanda was a true pioneer in the music industry. She broke all hurdles she faced for her color and race and became the first Black performer on the stage. Her determination, talent, and hard work inspired the audience, and she had many hats off during her performance.
