What Instrument did Langston Hughes Play?
Langston Hughes was one of the original Harlem Renaissance writers, and an active member of the Jazz and Blues scene of the era. Hughes explored music and the written word, and was an accomplished musician in his own right. His ability to combine them made him a standout among all his peers and created something unique. But, to start off this article, what instrument did Hughes play?
Although Hughes wrote and recited verse, set to his own accompaniment, his primary instrument was the saxophone. He studied saxophone with the likes of Buster Bailey, and could also play the trombone, clarinet, and trumpet.
In his memoirs, Hughes himself details his relationship and history with the saxophone. With quotations like “I wanted to play that steel-dark spiral of sound”, and “Now, playing the blues was like praying twice” it is clear just how much music meant to him.
He traveled the United States, even taking a trip to Europe in 1924, often performing in jazz clubs, theaters, and concert venues. During his trip to Europe, he taught himself to play the guitar from a manual in a matter of weeks. Hughes was known for his operatic baritone, and his blues and jazz vocals.
On one of his trips across America, Hughes gathered the musical inspiration for his first poetry collection, “The Weary Blues”. This collection combined the two passions of his life, music and poetry in a way that still captivates readers to this day.
The Jazz Movement and Hughes
The 1920s were an important period in the world of music. The Harlem Renaissance was at its height, and with it the jazz movement. Hughes embraced the improvisation of jazz with its many techniques like scatting and syncopation, and managed to bring popular music into the American lexicon.
From a young age, Hughes had loved jazz and blues. He was a frequent customer of the famous nightclub scene in Harlem and he turned this into the inspiration for his most well known pieces. His earliest performed works were poems set to jazz music, like “The Weary Blues” and “De Organ Grinder Blues”.
One of Hughes’ greatest works, “The Dream Variations”, is a poem that was written, like many of his other pieces, specifically for a musical accompaniment. His use of alliteration and metaphor to explore themes of racial pride proved to be popular and this literary marriage between poetry and music quickly gained attention.
Famous Collaborations with Hughes
Hughes’ most famous collaborator was arguably Duke Ellington. The two met in 1930 in Harlem, and soon after wrote and produced high quality works together. These works included pieces like “Troubled Island” and “Mood Indigo”.
The two were also members of the Negro Art Theater, an organization established by Hughes in 1924. The organization was created to promote African American literature, theater, and music. Hughes and Ellington worked together to create works for publication and for the stage.
The collaboration between the two had an immense impact on the popular culture of the day. Ellington’s fame as a composer made sure that Hughes’ works got the attention they deserved, and many argue that this was a large contribution to the success of the Harlem Renaissance.
With his experience as a musician, Hughes was able to bring the music of the Harlem Renaissance to the spotlight. He successfully met the challenge of bringing together poetry and music. His unique approach to his art, coupled with his intelligence, charisma and creativity made him a standout among his vocal peers.
Impact of Hughes’ Musical Legacy
The musical legacy of Langston Hughes extended far beyond the Harlem Renaissance era. His collaborations with other iconic musicians, such as Zora Neale Hurston and Ellington, influenced the development of early Jazz and Blues music. Hughes often set his poetry to music, and it is these collaborations that have given his work new meaning and that make it so memorable for readers and listeners alike.
Hughes’ work has been used by modern-day Jazz and Blues musicians, such as John Coltrane and Alice Coltrane. His poetry and musical expression have been cited as influences by the likes of Alicia Keys and Mariah Carey, proving how his influence has withstood the test of time. Even today, contemporary musicians draw influence from the works of Langston Hughes.
In his lifetime, Langston Hughes was able to create something unique and timeless that had a lasting impact on the world of Jazz and Blues. He was an accomplished musician and experienced performer, and his collaboration with Ellington was proof of his talent.
Hughes’ Appreciation for Other Instruments
Though Hughes primarily played the saxophone, he was no stranger to other musical instruments. Despite his experience with the trumpet, trombone and clarinet, Hughes was not a master of any of them. He primarily used these instruments for specific occasions, such as during his travels to Europe in 1924.
That being said, Hughes still demonstrated a deep appreciation for instruments outside of the saxophone. In her autobiography, poet Alice Dunbar Nelson recalls accompanying Hughes on many occasions. She would play the piano while he would take to the saxophone, displaying a passion for all forms of music.
At musical revivals, he was often joined by his partner, Florence Mills, who could play several instruments. On the bass, Mills would help create the perfect groove and add to the atmosphere. Apart from her own talents, the two were also part of a larger orchestra that regularly performed across the country.
His Place in the Black Arts Movement
Hughes’ contributions to the Jazz and Blues movement of the 1920s and ‘30s gives him a special place in the formation of the Black Arts Movement. His work transcended racial barriers and, along with his fellow artists of the Harlem Renaissance, celebrated and embraced black culture and art.
This was a time in which black art was being taken seriously by the mainstream. Hughes’ contributions to jazz and blues music gave the movement the validation and support it needed to thrive. His passion for all forms of music, and his ability to combine them with his own writings, gave him a unique place in the world of music.
This passion and talent allowed Langston Hughes to be one of the few artists to introduce the world to the music of the Harlem Renaissance. His work gave performers an opportunity to bring their music and stories to the wider public, and to make a respectable living out of it.
Conclusion of the Musical Career of Hughes
Langston Hughes was an established artist and musician before his death in 1967. His music and poetry had a big impact on the culture of the Harlem Renaissance, and still inspires musicians and writers today. From his deep knowledge of jazz, blues and soul music, Hughes found a way to capture people’s imaginations.
His collaborations with Ellington and Hurston led to successful works such as “The Weary Blues”, and pieces like “Mood Indigo” made him an icon of the jazz and blues era. Through his music, writing and humbleness, Langston Hughes became a beloved figure of the Harlem Renaissance.
