Wednesday, November 30, 2011

BaltimoreSun.com: “Movements from William Grant Still's 'Christmas in the Western World'” at Susquehanna S.O. Dec. 3


[TOP: William Grant Still (Photo is the sole property of William Grant Still Music, and is used with permission BOTTOM: The Toledo Clarinets; Cambria CD1190 (2009)]

William Grant Still (1895-1978) is profiled at AfriClassical.com, which features a comprehensive Works List by Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma, http://www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com. The Still work Christmas In The Western World (Las Pascuas) was recorded on the CD The Toledo Clarinets, Cambria CD1190 (2009).

BaltimoreSun.com
November 30, 2011
The Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra presents its popular holiday concert Saturday, Dec. 3. This year, it's 'Holiday Melodies and Peanuts' — the Charles Schulz kind. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at Bel Air High School, 100 Heighe St. in Bel Air. Tickets, $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and $10 for students, are available at Preston's and Music Land in Bel Air or at the door. Or visit http://www.ssorchestra.org and click on Ticket Leap.

“According to SSO founder and director Sheldon Bair, the concert will contain many surprises. 'The concert will start with local composer Theldon Myers' “Music for a Special Season,” filled with holiday tunes such as Coventry Carol, My Dancing Day and Wassail,' he said. 'The special guest soloist for this concert will be Harford Community College piano faculty member Joseph Satava. He will play movements from William Grant Still's “Christmas in the Western World” in its instrumentation for strings and piano. It uses Christmas melodies from both North and South America and is sure to delight the audience with both well-known carols and carols that should be better known.'

“Satava, who holds a bachelor's degree and doctorate from the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University as well as a master's degree from the Julliard School, has been involved with music festivals in the U.S., Canada, France and Spain. He won second price in the 2008 Bradshaw and Buono International Piano Competition and was awarded a 2011 Maryland State Arts Council individual artist award in classical music and solo performance.

“He is featured in 'Peanuts Gallery' for piano and orchestra by American composer Ellen Taaffe Zwilich. 'Zwilich became friends with Peanuts creator Charles Schulz in the 1990s and decided to write a piece based on his famous Peanuts characters,' said Bair. 'Each character has his or her own movement. It is a fun-filled work that the audience is sure to enjoy.' Included are Schroeder's Beethoven Fantasy, Lullaby for Linus, Snoopy Does the Samba, Charlie Brown's Lament, Lucy Freaks Out, and Peppermint Patty & Marcie Lead the Parade.

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