[But
Not Forgotten: Music by African-American Composers for Clarinet &
Piano;
Marcus Eley, clarinet; Lucerne DeSa, piano; Sono Luminus DSL-92156]
Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma writes:
I waited in vain for
one of our devoted flock to comment on this, but none did. I am a solid and
dedicated follower of Exploring music, an NPR program heard weekday
evenings. It is hosted by an experienced conductor (of Ben Holt's performance
of Anthony Davis' X; The life and times of Malcolm X, for example) who
lacks the pretentiousness of most baton addicts and, although coming from the
ranks of the trombonists, is oxymoronically further alert to the world of the
piano and string quartet. When I have lauded this oasis, amidst the endless
elevation of the trivial and the trivialization of the elevated, DJs who shamelessly
air movements, opera without singers, and every available fantasia on Carmen
themes along with no end of Vivaldi concertos, I get a complaint that Exploring
music does not consider Black musical culture. Within a few days after
that first email arrived, William Grant Still was heard (not yet, however, by his
masterful Afro-American symphony or the Songs of separation).
This week's theme was new releases, and I fell in love all over again with the
Emerson Quartet (especially the cellist). But what followed them? Marcus
Eley, with music by Clarence Cameron White and Sam Akpabot! Was I the sole
auditor from our club?
Bill McGlauglin has
indicated to me that he actually reads all of his mail, and not one show takes
place without an invitation to communicate with him.
Even were he never
to give attention to our priorities, this program should have the enthusiastic
support of all of us, us especially, as long as it is on the air, before the
Ice Tea Party (cold, without any sweetener) terminates anything close to the
humanities.
Dominique-René
de Lerma
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