Abolition Songs and its Legacies (ASaiL)

‘Abolition song’ – a term created for this project – denotes the roughly 65 high-style airs promoting Abolitionism, composed from 1788 to 1830 for private and public concerts in Britain, with some songs soon reaching the United States. As the protest song of its day, Abolition song argued for recognising enslaved peoples’ inalienable human rights. It emerged in parallel with Black virtuosi performing in Britain, and against the backdrop of Black communities making music here since the 16th century. 

Abolition Song and its Legacies will research, publish, perform, and record Abolition song, and Black heritage music and writings relating to this song repertory. The project’s Artistic Director Joseph McHardy guides concert planning and delivery, while Tim Parker-Langston delivers the musicians’ rehearsal-workshops. Academic Leads in literature, visual arts, music and history – Professor Joan Anim-Addo, Dr Sarah Thomas, Dr Janet Topp Fargion, and Professor Matthew Smith respectively – will co-chair seminars in conjunction with each performance. The project is overseen by Dr. Berta Joncus. 

Abolition Song and its Legacies provides a crucial opportunity to interrogate newly discovered 18th-century Abolitionist vocal music, and explore its place in the histories of the British trade in enslaved peoples, the abolitionist movement, Black writers in Britain, and the musical legacies of Black communities here. In engaging project musicians to perform selected songs and keyboard music across six concerts, along with readings from 18th-century Black authors in Britain, we can lift these important artistic contributions off the page. Some of this work is challenging, and the musicians, joined by the project's twelve-person team of scholars, will discuss their own reactions, insights, and aspirations with audiences after each concert.

The first concert took place in the intimate space of Handel Hendrix House in January 2025. 

Contact

Have a question or want to learn more? Get in touch with the project via ASaiL@gsmd.ac.uk.  

Our Partners

• The British Library
• Handel Hendrix House

Outputs

Find the research outputs from this project on its PURE page.