Sunday, January 19, 2014

John Malveaux: Santa Monica Symphony Performs 'Harlem Symphony' of James P. Johnson in Observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday


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]


John Malveaux of www.MusicUNTOLD.com writes:

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.
 
 
John Malveaux

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