[Conductor
Nolan Williams, Jr. congratulate the musicians for a job well done. Credits: Patrick D. McCoy]
Examiner.com
January
9, 2012
“Towards the end of the magnificent tribute concert in tribute
to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the evening’s conductor Nolan
williams, Jr. exclaimed from the stage, 'This is your National
Symphony Orchestra.' The audience erupted in rousing applause and
shouts of admiration for the orchestra filled the packed performance
space at THEARC in Southeast D.C. Perhaps for the first time, there
were listeners who realized that the music of a symphony orchestra is
not only for the advantaged, but to all that seeks its beauty. Under
the direction of Nolan Williams, the program’s theme: A Mighty
Stream eloquently embodied the diversity and equality that Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. fought long and hard for. Williams expressed
his gratitude for the opportunity.”
“Who would have thought we would see the day that a symphony
orchestra, let alone, the National Symphony Orchestra welcome a
concert that featured a harmonicist, soulful gospel soloists and
choir: joined together seamlessly by words of a congresswoman? Mayor
Vincent Gray was welcomed to the stage for a statement of occasion.
“Grouped in two parts, the program opened with the Moderato
assai from the Afro-American Symphony by William Grant Still.
Conductor Nolan Williams led the venerable orchestra with a dedicated
fervor. Harmonicist Frédéric Yonnet joined the orchestra for a
moving rendering of the spiritual “O Freedom,” accompanied by a
stirring reading by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton. Norton was
featured in selected readings throughout the evening, which
seamlessly tied the elements of the program together.”
For the second half of the program, The National Symphony
Orchestra shined in Pulitzer Prize winning composer George Walker's
'Lyric for Strings.' Elegant phrasing and lyrical playing by the
orchestra marked the performance of this lovely work. Spoken word
artist Messiah Ramkissoon rendered an original piece called 'A Mighty
Stream.' Blending traditional sentiments with modern dialect,
Ramkissoon captivated the sold out audience with this original
style.”
[George Walker (b. 1922) and WilliamGrant Still (1895-1978) are profiled at AfriClassical.com, which
features comprehensive Works Lists by Prof. Dominique-René de
Lerma, http://www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com]
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