'Music For Cello And Piano by African-American Composers'

[Music For Cello And Piano by African-American Composers; Anthony Elliott, cello; Toni-Marie Montgomery, piano (2003)]

Cellist Anthony D. Elliott is Professor of Music at the University of Michigan School of Music. AfriClassical posted a biographical profile on November 18, 2007: “Anthony Elliott, African American Cellist and Conductor.” The liner notes for Music For Cello And Piano by African-American Composers read: "Anthony Elliott is in great demand as a soloist, chamber music performer, conductor, and teacher.” Dr. Toni-Marie Montgomery is Dean of the School of Music, and Professor of Piano, at Northwestern University. The liner notes tell us: “In April of 1984, Toni-Marie Montgomery became the second recipient of the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano chamber music and accompanying from the University of Michigan.”

CDBaby.com says of the recording: “A wide variety of music written by black composers, much of it recorded here for the first time.” It opens with: “Spirituals, Five Negro Folk Songs,” arranged by Lawrence Brown. The liner notes give this information on Lawrence Brown (1893-1972): “Pianist Lawrence Brown was perhaps best known in his capacity as accompanist to legendary performers Roland Hayes and Paul Robeson.” The spirituals are: “Nobody knows de trouble I've seen”, “Ev'ry time I feel de spirit”, “Sometimes I feel like a motherless child”, “I know de Lord's laid his hands on me”, “Swing low, sweet chariot”.

Chad E. Hughes (b. 1977) is a native of Detroit who has studied both composition and conducting. His work on the CD is “1st Suite for Solo Violoncello”, consisting of “Minuet”, “Courante”, “Gigue”. It is followed by “Three Ways (for Cello and Piano)” by Augustus O. Hill, a composer and conductor who earned a Ph.D. in composition and music theory at the University of Michigan, according to VanguardVoices.org. Next is the “Lento” movement of “Dirge” from “Suite for Violoncello and Piano” by Howard Swanson (1907-1978). The liner notes say of Noel Da Costa, “Noel Da Costa was born in Lagos, Nigeria, lived in Kingston, Jamaica and in the West Indies.” “Five Verses With Vamps” is dedicated to Evalyn Steinbock, who premiered the work with pianist David Garvey in 1970.” The program concludes with “Sonata for Cello and Piano” by David Baker, whose website reads: “Hello and welcome to the Official Website of Dr. David N. Baker, world-renowned composer, multi-instrumentalist, educator, writer, clinician, pedagogue, and Chair of the Jazz Studies Department at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music.” The three movements are marked “Fast”, “Slow”, “Fast”. The CD is one of seven listed at Anthony Elliott's personal website.