[An Evening of Music by Hale Smith, "As an artist, I belong to no faction or group. My music represents no ideology or style, and is only an expression of who I am." The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Monday 17 May 2010]
By Laura Rivera
“Throughout his decades-long career in music, Hale Smith composed an oeuvre rich in scope, ranging freely from classical to jazz and other idioms. Works by the Freeport musician were performed during his lifetime by such prominent orchestras as the New York Philharmonic and jazz standouts like Dizzy Gillespie. Tonight, in a posthumous tribute, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Manhattan will present music composed by Smith, who died in November at 84.
“Smith's wife, Juanita, 82, selected music for the program and invited Smith's former students and colleagues to perform. Violinist Sanford Allen, 71, a friend and collaborator of Smith's since the 1950s and the first African-American member of the New York Philharmonic, said that while Smith was outspoken about his theories on music and life, 'he was a man who was open to other points of view.' Smith even acknowledged preferring Allen's approach to one of Smith's own compositions, 'Epicedial Variations.'”
“Besides composing, Smith was a performer, arranger and educator, teaching at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University and the University of Connecticut in Storrs before retiring from there in 1984. Kenneth Adams, 64, chairman of the performing arts department at CUNY York College in Queens, called Smith a mentor and 'a complete musician' who defied being pigeonholed. 'He didn't want to be judged as a black composer, but rather as an American composer,' Adams said.”
An Evening of Music by Hale Smith
FORMAL MUSIC
Epicedial Variations
Sanford Allen, Violin
Joseph Joubert, Piano
The Epicedial Variations were written in memory of Ward Lewis and the theme is based on an anagram of his name (not as part of a tone row, however, as the composition is not serial). The variations maintain a somber quality throughout, rising to occasional dramatic outbursts; after a chorale with canon (Var. IV) follows a declamatory piano solo, dissolving into a violin cadenza leading to the Finale, which is reminiscent of the first variation.
Variations For Six Players
Evelyn Golz, Piano
David Wechsler, Flute
Megan Weiss-Marole, Oboe
Liz Player, Clarinet
Deryck Clarke, French Horn
Amy Fraser, Bassoon
Variations À Due
Jimmy Cozier, Saxophone
Lawrence Zoernig, Cello
INFORMAL MUSIC
Special Guest Artist Marilyn Harris Performing “Ain't Got Nothin' On You”
T.K. Blue And Ensemble
Carlton Holmes, Piano
Corcoran Holt, Bass
Alvin Atkinson, Drums
Benny Powell, Trombone
T.K. Blue, Saxophone And Flute
Performing
“I Love Music”
“Milagros”
“Feather”
“Alison”
“Frozen Mist”
“Mountain Oysters”
Bonus Attraction: Randy Weston
The last page of the program reproduces a 4-paragraph typewritten letter, with the salutation “Dear Hale.” It is dated September 3, 1958 and is on letterhead of "Langston Hughes, 20 East 127th Street, New York 35, N.Y." It opens with: “Stanley tells me you're the best jazz pianist in Cleveland, and work with some good groups. Let's do a Poetry-to-Jazz program together in November, just after I speak at Antioch on November 18th.” The closing is: “Best ever, and come back to visit Harlem soon, Sincerely, Langston” [Hale Smith is profiled at AfriClassical.com, which features a complete Works List compiled by Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma of Lawrence University Conservatory, Appleton, Wisconsin.]
An Evening Of Music By Hale Smith17 May 2010
Schomburg Center
Epicedial Variations
Variations À Due
Variations for Six Players
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