William Grant Still
Dominique-René de Lerma:
I am extraordinarily glad that, through the critically important web site of William Zick (chevalierdesaintgeorges.homestead.com/), a targeted and international audience was aware of this performance of William Grant Still's Afro-American symphony. I was involved in the LP recording of the work we did with the London Symphony Orchestra (the other LSO) for Columbia Records forty years ago and I am very familiar with all of the subsequent CD recordings. There has not been any performance that has equaled that of Lawrence's orchestra, conducted with such profound understanding by Dr. Moss -- not in terms of sentiment, balance, or insight. I knew Dr. Still, and I know he would have been astonished that any undergraduate school orchestra would have scheduled or given so stellar a performance. I alerted in advance Judith Anne Still, the composer's daughter and my dear friend, to this performance. She certainly listened on her computer, along with our many friends and colleagues in Europe and Africa. This performance is being added to the entry on Still in my forthcoming encyclopedia. The first time anyone at Lawrence ever heard this work (or perhaps Still's name) would have been in my classes on Black music (1994-2002). The students were then irritated they had not thus far encountered such a milestone in Black music history. Now, by more than those just in the Con, this work has been heard. And all of those elsewhere were introduced to the high standards of our students. I am so deeply proud that my final of 52 years of teaching, were dedicated to Lawrence!
Dominique-René
de Lerma, retired professor of music, Lawrence University
Comment by email:
It was indeed a
wonderful performance, and an important moment for Lawrence to let this
great work resound though the Chapel and across the globe via our
webcast. Thank you all for your support getting the word
out about this concert.
Still glowing from the glorious music-making.
Dean Brian Pertl
No comments:
Post a Comment