Discover how pianist Clipper Erickson revives R. Nathaniel Dett’s masterful piano works, blending African heritage with classical tradition.
Honoring an Overlooked Master
In a special episode of The Cunningham Piano Show, host Hugh Sung welcomes pianist Clipper Erickson for an inspiring conversation about his life’s mission: championing underrepresented composers whose works deserve a place on the concert stage. At the center of this discussion is Robert Nathaniel Dett (1882–1943), a pioneering composer of African descent, born in Ontario, Canada, who blended spirituals, folk idioms, and European classical traditions into a profoundly personal musical language.
Erickson’s monumental recording project, My Cup Runneth Over: The Complete Piano Works of R. Nathaniel Dett, marks its tenth anniversary this year. The two-disc set, recorded in Germany, showcases Dett’s six piano suites in their full expressive and technical range. The album is available for streaming on
🎧 Spotify and Apple Music.
From Michigan to Juilliard: A Pianist’s Journey
Erickson’s musical journey began at age seven when he first touched the piano keys in Michigan. His early fascination turned into obsession by his teenage years, leading to eight-hour practice sessions and eventual acceptance to The Juilliard School at 17. Later studies with great mentors like John Ogdon at Indiana University shaped his curiosity for unusual repertoire—works outside the mainstream “warhorses” of the piano canon.
That curiosity led him to Dett’s music. Introduced by Philadelphia choir director Donald Dumpson, Erickson delved into Dett’s collected piano works and discovered not just beauty and melody, but an astonishing mastery of piano sonority equal to that of Chopin, Schumann, and Rachmaninoff
The Life and Legacy of R. Nathaniel Dett
R. Nathaniel Dett
Dett’s life embodied perseverance and intellectual hunger. Born in Niagara Falls, Ontario—one of the main crossing points on the Underground Railroad—he was likely descended from escaped slaves. He became the first person of African descent to earn a music degree from Oberlin College in 1908, then went on to teach and lead choirs at historically Black colleges, including Hampton Institute (now Hampton University).
He never stopped studying: later earning a master’s degree from Eastman and taking lessons in Paris with Nadia Boulanger, one of the most influential composition teachers of the 20th century. Dett’s career as a pianist, poet, and choral conductor exemplified his belief that African American spirituals could stand alongside the great art music traditions of Europe.
Folk Heritage and Classical Form
Dett’s genius lay in fusing the idioms of African American spirituals with the harmonic and formal sophistication of late Romantic piano music. His works anticipated a broader trend of composers infusing classical forms with national and ethnic character—much like Dvořák, George Enescu, and Gershwin. As Erickson notes, Dett’s piano language has orchestral scope and emotional depth, capable of evoking both sorrow and exultation.
Among Dett’s piano masterpieces are:
“Juba” from In the Bottoms (1913): A jubilant, rhythmically charged dance rooted in African traditions. Pianist Percy Grainger famously adopted it as a concert encore.
“Barcarolle” from the same suite, notable as the first piano roll recorded by a Black pianist in 1919.
“A Desert Interlude” from Eight Bible Vignettes (1941–43): A portrayal of Hagar’s spiritual journey, filled with blues-tinged harmonies and introspective depth.
“Dance of Desire” from Enchantment (1923): Written for Grainger, this virtuosic showpiece reveals Dett’s fascination with Egyptian imagery and the Rosicrucian mystical tradition.
“The Dream” from Cinnamon Grove (1928): A tender and poetic miniature that closes Erickson’s recorded set, reminiscent of Chopin’s lyricism and pianistic color
Keeping the Legacy Alive
In addition to performing and recording Dett’s works, Erickson continues to present masterclasses and lectures at universities, music teacher associations, and piano competitions, where he encourages students to perform Dett’s music. He dreams of publishing a critical edition of the composer’s piano works to make them more accessible to new generations.
Erickson’s ongoing “ Music for the Soul ” concert series, born at Cunningham Piano’s King of Prussia showroom during the early days of the pandemic, continues to feature composers of color and women whose music has been unjustly overlooked.
Upcoming Performances
Fans can hear Erickson perform an all-Dett program on November 23 at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Trenton, alongside local choirs performing Dett’s powerful choral works. He will also appear on January 11 at Klavierhaus in New York City, performing Dett’s and Florence Price’s piano sonatas on Gina Bachauer’s Steinway.
