Abolition Song and its Legacies

From mid-October 2024, over 24 months, Abolition Song and its Legacies will probe the previously unknown repertories of British Abolition song (1788-1830s) and music associated with Britain's Black communities until 1830. Partner institutions Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the British Library, and the Handel Hendrix House will collaborate to digitise this forgotten music, facilitate research into it, and bring it to public performance and recording. Abolition song consists of c70 high-style airs promoting Abolitionism. Though composed for private and public concerts, the reach of these airs was international. As the protest song of its day, Abolition song argued for Africans’ needs and rights as these were then understood. It followed on from Black artists’ performances in British concerts from the 1780s onwards, and Black communities’ musical presence generally in Britain since the 16th century, within which this project contextualizes Abolition song.

Through its interlocked work packages, ASaiL will research, publish, perform, and record Abolition song and the Black heritage music and writings relating to this song repertory. The first work package will produce BL-digitised scores; the second will consist of six seminar days (one per term) where a transdisciplinary 12-member team of scholars, three each from music, literature, history, and the visual arts meet to prepare an open-access essay collection. A third package will enlist early career artists to curate and deliver six recorded performances of Abolitionist song and of readings from works by Black Abolitionists.

Audiences are warmly welcome to join the ASaiL evening events 6pm-7.30pm to be held in the immersive, beautiful Handel & Hendrix House. In year one, these took place on Thursday 9 January 2025, Monday 19 May 2025, Monday 8 September 2025. In year two, the first concert will take place on Thursday 7 May 2026.

ASaiL partners/directors:
Berta Joncus, PI
Rupert Ridgewell, CI
Olwen Foulkes, HHH representative
Joseph McHardy, Artistic Director

Academic Leads:
Joan Anim-Addo, Academic Lead (literature)
Sarah Thomas, Academic Lead (visual arts)
Janet Topp Fargion, Academic Lead (music)
Matthew Smith, Academic Lead (history)

Practice workshop leads:
Tim Parker-Langston, Workshop Lead

Advisory Board:
Simon McVeigh, Advisory Board Member
Francis Gilbert, Advisory Board Member
Fiona Plant, Advisory Board Member
Mohammed Ilyas, Advisory Board Member
Jacqueline Springer, Advisory Board Member