African-American women composers remain largely unknown despite their important musical contributions. Active in the United States since the late-19th century, several gained national and international recognition during their lifetimes, only to have their work neglected after their deaths. From Spirituals to Symphonies is a unique, extensively researched examination of the history and scope of musical composition by African-American women, focusing on the implications of race, gender, and class for their musical creativity, and demonstrating how this important, underappreciated category of American art was shaped by the unique individual personalities of its participants. Their particular times, communities, families, racial heritages, economic circumstances, education, and musical training were all brought to bear on their music, and author Helen Walker-Hill challenges the assumption that black women's only important musical contributions have been in folk, jazz, and pop. With unprecedented detail, she charts the lives and the output of a group of artists whose work has gone unnoticed for too many years. Piano scholar Walker-Hill (Piano Music by Black Women Composers) presents an accessible, thoughtful, and humanist study of African American women composers who, for the most part, have been ignored by historians. Readers are introduced to Undine Smith Moore (1904-89), Julia Perry (1924-79), Margaret Bonds (1913-72), Irene Britton Smith (1907-99), Dorothy Rudd Moore (1940-), Valerie Capers (1935-), Mary Watkins (1939-), and Regina Harris (1956-), as well as the 20th-century social milieu in which they worked. Frankly examining race and gender issues and individual challenges, such as blindness or being adopted, the author, who conducted interviews with many of the composers and their families, also discusses the music of each woman at length in appreciative, nontechnical language. Detailed works lists and an appendix enumerating other black women composers add reference value; opening and concluding overview chapters supply historical context and big-picture views. Besides Mildred Denby Green's groundbreaking Black Women Composers: A Genesis (1983), which focuses more on the music than on the women themselves and includes musical analyses and examples, there aren't other books on this subject. Public and academic libraries, then, would do well to acquire this study. Bonnie Jo Dopp, Univ. of Maryland Libs., College Park Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. .,."a must-read. Whether you are interested in providing students with some background information on a famous composer, nurturing interactive reading or creating a music appreciation lesson, this book stands above many other children's books about music because of its readability, historically accurate information and distinctive illustrations."-American Music Teacher .,."an exemplary reference work...thoroughly absorbing to read..."-Journal of the IAWM .,."presents an accesible, thoughtful, and humanist study of African American women composers...Public and academic libraries would do well to acquire this study."-Library Journal ?...a must-read. Whether you are interested in providing students with some background information on a famous composer, nurturing interactive reading or creating a music appreciation lesson, this book stands above many other children's books about music because of its readability, historically accurate information and distinctive illustrations.?-American Music Teacher ?...an exemplary reference work...thoroughly absorbing to read...?-Journal of the IAWM ?...presents an accesible, thoughtful, and humanist study of African American women composers...Public and academic libraries would do well to acquire this study.?-Library Journal ?Helen Walker Hill's new book is the result of half a lifetime's work...Evidence of the integrity and thoroughness of her effort leaps from virtually every page of this monumental, yet practical, volume. From Spirituals to Symphonies deserves a place in many collections, from public libraries and school shelves to research universities...that will make this a standard work for years to come.?-Journal of the Music Library Association ?In this unique historical music reference tool the author explores an area where little, if any, investigation has been done...This reference tool is priceless in that it serves a dual role. It provides recognition to a group of unsung heroines for their musical gifts, skills, and talent, and it serves as a valuable, user-friendly resource and reference in a highly specialized area of American music composition. The author should be commended for her diligence in bringing recognition to such and important group of artists.?-Multicultural Review ?Piano scholar Walker-Hill....[p]resents am accessible, thoughtful, and humanist study of African American women composers who, for the most part, have been ignored by historians....Besides Mildred Denby Gree