Adolphus Hailstork is Commissioned to Compose Musical Tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr.

[Adolphus Cunningham Hailstork (b. 1941)]

The Birmingham News, AL.com

Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and the Alys Stephens Center to commission musical tribute to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

MICHAEL HUEBNER, News staff writer

“New symphonic music by a prominent composer will honor the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in a joint project by three Birmingham cultural organizations. Adolphus Hailstork, whose music has been performed by the Chicago and Baltimore Symphonies and New York Philharmonic, will compose music for the Alabama Symphony Orchestra's 'Reflect and Rejoice' concert, a musical tribute to King sp onsored each January by ASO, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and the Alys Stephens Center. The premiere will take place at the 2011 event. The three organizations are co-sponsoring the commission, which they hope will become an annual project.”

“Hailstork, whose symphonic music has been conducted by luminaries such as Daniel Barenboim, Kurt Masur and Lorin Maazel, has also composed music for opera, chorus, chamber ensembles, and solo keyboard. Much of his music is descriptive. 'Rise to Freedom,' a 2007 opera about the Underground Railroad, was premiered by the Cincinnati Opera. 'Set Me on a Rock,' for chorus and orchestra, was commissioned this year by the Houston Choral Society. ASO has performed several works by Hailstork, including 'Celebration Overture,' 'Epitaph,' 'I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes' and 'Motherless Child.' Although the 67-year-old composer has yet to determine the focus of the ASO piece, he plans to visit Birmingham in January to discuss the musical and narrative possibilities.  [Full Post]  [Adolphus Cunningham Hailstork (b. 1941) is profiled at AfriClassical.com]

Alys Stephens Center
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
Alabama Symphony Orchestra
Adolphus Hailstork
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Symphonic Tribute