Portia Maultsby, Mellonee Burnim Among Scholars at “Honor”

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana University Professor Portia Maultsby was closely involved with the development of “Honor! A Celebration of the African American Cultural Legacy,” a groundbreaking, two-week festival at Carnegie Hall celebrating African American culture.

The festival, which began March 4 and runs through March 23, was conceptualized and curated by renowned soprano Jessye Norman.

Maultsby, an IU professor of ethnomusicology in the Department of Folklore and Ethnomuscology (College of Arts and Sciences), became involved with the project last June, working with Norman as a general consultant, artistic advisor and editorial assistant throughout the project’s development. The festival celebrates current African American music and honors the pioneering artists who forged a path for subsequent generations.

“It’s been an incredible experience working with Jessye Norman,” said Maultsby. “I was inspired by her vision to create a festival that was all-encompassing of the musical legacy of African Americans, from Negro spirituals to jazz, from classical music and blues all the way to hip-hop.”

Others involved in the festival from IU include Mellonee Burnim, a professor of ethnomusicology, who wrote the program notes for the upcoming performances of “Emancipation’s Jubilations: Spirituals and Songs That Led A Nation” March 21 and “A Celebration of the Spiritual and Gospel Music” March 22; doctoral students in ethnomusicology Tyron Cooper and Fredara Hadley; and program alumna Linda Williams.

Cooper assisted in the archival research for the list of African Americans who performed at Carnegie Hall since 1892, Hadley wrote the text on “Holy Hip Hop” and Linda Williams co-authored with Maultsby the text on jazz for the interactive Web site on African American music.

Read more at “Honor.”