Changing The Scores: The Best Black and LGBTQIA+ Composers

In celebration of both LGBTQIA+ Month and Black History Month, we are looking into some of the least represented but most hardworking artists who have created some of the greatest Film and TV scores.

Terence Blanchard

Terence Blanchard, known for his unreal jazz trumpet performances has written over 80 film and television scores. Some of his most notable scores have been during his alliance with Oscar-award-winning director Spike Lee. Particularly using his talent to carry along stories that captivate audiences with the harsh reality of black issues and the celebration of culture. For example, the suspense in ‘BlacKkKlansman’ and the poignancy of ‘Malcolm X’. In addition to the duo’s work, he shared his abilities in Disney’s ‘The Princess and the Frog’. As well as Steve Carr’s ‘Friday’ sequel, ‘Next Friday’.

Jon Batiste

Jon Batiste is an all-round talent, with his musical abilities ranging from singer-songwriter to bandleader and musical director. Batiste is widely recognised for his beautiful film scores, leading him to a myriad of awards. Additionally including a BAFTA for his co-composing on Disney’s ‘Soul’ alongside Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. However, his talent doesn’t stop there, he has recently taken on the challenge to recreate the manic rush of that first night on air in Jason Reitman’s ‘Saturday Night’. Equally joining the ensemble whilst playing the incomparable Billy Preston as well as being the film’s composer.

Wendy Carlos

Wendy Carlos has worked on some of the most iconic film scores to date. Firstly, she got her start after studying music composition at Columbia University, she helped popularise the Moog synthesiser with her 1968 album ‘Switched-on Bach’. Meanwhile, dealing with this newfound fame, she also discovered that her dysphoric feelings had meaning when she first learnt about Trans issues during her time studying at Columbia.

Whilst undergoing Gender Reassignment Surgery, she felt too ashamed to be seen in public as her true self so would wear false beards and sideburns. This even happened when she first met legendary director Stanley Kubrick before working with him to score his 1971 hit ‘A Clockwork Orange’. However, after an interview in Playboy where she discussed her transition, all of her ongoing work was issued under the name Wendy Carlos. In addition, her legacy lives on with other scores such as Kubrick’s ‘The Shining’ and Steven Lisberger’s original ‘Tron’.

Julius Eastman

Although a composer that may not have had the chance to break through into the film and TV world, it would be wrong to not mention the legacy Eastman left behind. He became a pioneer in his short life. Firstly he began his career while studying at The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, during his time composing he mastered the art of minimalist music and experimented in ways that no one else had dared to do. Alongside this new approach to classical music, he also paved his way in terms of his provocative daringness to be himself and nothing but.

Alongside his own journey, he released scores that looked dead in the eyes of the slurs and racial abuse he had experienced. Alternatively, he turned the music inside of the offensively named tracks into something powerful and transgressive. One of his greatest pieces ‘Femenine’ encompasses that minimalistic style with the essence of all the boldness he spoke of. Whilst Eastman’s life was tragically cut short as he became homeless and alone towards the end of his life, his music has created such powerful messages of being true to your race, background, sexuality, and the fluidity of gender that so many others can see themselves within. He now, is not alone.

Angela Morley

Angela Morley grew up in Leeds and was a familiar name on the BBC Radio. Also known for her television scores, she has worked with some of the greats. Namely working on British radio shows, ‘The Goon Show’ and ‘Hancock’s Half Hour’, she also composed two television specials that starred the wonderful Julie Andrews. Incredibly, Morley became the first openly Trans person to be nominated for an Academy Award with her work on ‘The Little Prince’ and ‘The Slipper and the Rose’.

Although her transition came later in life at the age of 46, she had struggled with her gender identity, it was when she met her wife Christine Parker that she felt supported enough to make that leap and become the true version of herself. Undoubtedly, Angela’s work is all around us, her compositions live throughout her work. Demonstrated in Martin Rosen and John Hubley’s wounding ‘Watership Down’ but also in her trailblazing boldness to just be. Following her death in 2009, there is a rainbow memorial plaque at the BBC building in Leeds honouring her life’s work and the path she paved.

Without a doubt, these are just a handful of incredible composers who have made waves in the music industry. Where there is an underrepresentation of the art of film and television scores, there continues to be that same issue within minorities. Although there has been a huge leap forward, there is always further to go. So next time you watch an Oscar-nominated film, look into the magician behind the music.

You can read more Black History Month and LGBTQIA+ History Month pieces like this one.

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