Victory Stride: The Symphonic Music of
James P. Johnson
The Concordia Orchestra
Marin Alsop, Conductor
Music Masters 67140 (1994)
[James Price Johnson (1894-1955), African American pianist and composer, is featured at AfriClassical.com]
After considerable inquiry and research Maestro Guido Lamell and the
Santa Monica Symphony opened their annual MLK concert with the William Tell
Overture. Maestro Lamell felt the triumphant overture is symbolic of Dr.
King's life.
The second selection was the West coast premiere
of the four movement HARLEM SYMPHONY by James Price Johnson (1894-1955).
Inspired by the spirit of the Harlem Renaissance, the HARLEM
SYMPHONY portrays a bustling, diverse neighborhood full of local color
and distinctive voices in a portrait of 1932 Uptown Harlem.
The audience responded with vigorous appreciation as we stood in lengthy applause.
Several
of Johson's symphonic works premiered at Carnegie Hall in the '40s but
for many years the music was lost. The Baltimore Symphony's Marvin Alsop
was intriguted by Johnson, tracked down some surviving relatives, and
found the music to HARLEM SYMPHONY stashed in an attic.
Due to a
cold and the very low temperature in the SGI-USA Auditorium, I was
unable to remain for the second half but left with a memorable
experience connecting opera and jazz orchestra for symphonic by an
African American composer.
Please see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKQk4ymJQuE
John Malveaux
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