The words were added afterwards, and the song eventually became an important song in the civil rights movement: He wanted to write a simple, beautiful piece with a early-blues feeling. Peterson was inspired by the hymns and spirituals from his childhood in Montreal. Hymn to Freedom was Oscar PetersonвЂ™s first major composition.

He became an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1984, and won many awards, including a Governor GeneralвЂ™s Performing Arts award in 1992, the Glenn Gould Prize in 1993, a special Grammy award for lifetime achievement in 1997, and the UNESCO Music Prize in 2000. Peterson performed all over the world, and composed some famous music, including the Canadiana Suite, and the song Hymn to Freedom, which became an anthem in the civil rights movement. He and his manager once had to face down an armed policeman who tried to stop him getting into a вЂњwhites onlyвЂќ taxi cab. Downbeat magazine named him вЂњPianist of the YearвЂќ every year between 1950-1962, but Peterson faced a lot of discrimination and racism in his life. He soon had his own radio show on MontrealвЂ™s CKAC called Fifteen Minutes Piano Rambling.Д«y the age of 25, Peterson was respected all over the world for his incredible skill as a pianist. When he was fourteen years old he won a national music competition organized by the CBC, and began working professionally as a pianist. Born in Montreal, he began studying classical piano as a child. Oscar Peterson is considered one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time. ' I studied classical music, of course, but I liked the idea of creating something new each time I sat down at the keyboard. We're pleased to highlight those composers on our website and social media, and next up is Oscar Peterson - Pianist and Composer. To celebrateВ #BlackHistoryMonth, our students will be learning and playing music by some prominent black composers as well asВ discussing their achievements.

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