The Music of Ignatius Sancho

The Music of Ignatius Sancho

****UPDATE**** To the new, improved version of this site, click here

Ignatius Sancho was born aboard a slave ship in about 1729 and brought to England when he was two. Under the patronage of members of the Montagu Family, he was able to receive an education not enjoyed by his fellow slaves and later became a respected man of letters and a composer of some worth.

Through his contacts he met with many of the key figures of his day, including Laurence Sterne (with whom he corresponded at length), David Garrick and Catherine Hyde, the Duchess of Queensbury. A more detailed biography can be found at: http://www.brycchancarey.com/sancho/index.htm

Sancho was the first known black person to vote in a Parliamentry Election and the first African to have an obituary in England

He died in 1780

On Memorial Plaque,

Elmina Castle, Cape Coast Castle, Ghana

IN EVERLASTING MEMORY

OF THE ANGUISH OF OUR ANCESTORS

MAY THOSE WHO DIED REST IN PEACE

MAY THOSE WHO RETURN FIND THEIR ROOTS

MAY HUMANITY NEVER AGAIN PERPETRATE

SUCH INJUSTICE AGAINST HUMANITY

WE, THE LIVING, VOW TO UPHOLD THIS

Click on the titles to the right to hear mp3's of Sancho's music.

Thanks to the Museum of Richmond and especially to Valerie Boyes for her encouragement in including Sancho's music as part of their Trading in Human Lives; The Richmond Connection held from March 21st - July 29th 2007. Visit the museum's website at: http://www.museumofrichmond.com

Some of these performances also form part of Westminster Council's events to mark the Bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade. Visit them at: http://www3.westminster.gov.uk/abolition

The BBC have also produced an excellent website: http://bbc.co.uk/abolition

Links to other sites created by Paul Freeman

My original compositions (not up to date - pending!)

http://profmusic.tripod.com

Phi and Pi set to music

http://profmusic.tripod.com/phiandpipiandphi

Vexations by Eric Satie - Complete performance; almost 28 hours!

http://vexationsatie.tripod.com

A short essay on the importance of numerology in Stravinsky's

In Memoriam Dylan Thomas

http://www.geocities.com/profesoteric/stravinsky_numerology.html

Walton Summit: A poem inspired by the beauty of Clent Hills

in Worcestershire

http://www.geocities.com/profesoteric/walton_summit.html

If you would like information regarding anything on this site, please fill in the Comments Form below. Please contact me if you would like to use any of these recordings.

**NEW** Chorium: The High I.Q. Society for Musicians

Portrait of Ignatius Sancho by Thomas Gainsborough

Sweetest Bard

Bushy Park

The Carravan

The Duchess of Devonshire's Reel

Friendship Source of Joy

Lady Mary Montagu's Reel