Monday, March 24, 2014

John Malveaux: Ulysses Kay's 'Markings; Symphonic essay to Dag Hammarskjöld' is one of the greatest symphonies by an American composer'


Ulysses Kay

(G.D. Hackett/Pictorial Parade)

On March 23, 2014 AfriClassical posted:

Washington Post: Performance of Ulysses Kay's 'Five Portraits' 'was proof that this neglected piece of American chamber music should be heard more often.'


John Malveaux of www.MusicUNTOLD.com writes:

Kay was a member of the first cultural exchange with the Soviet Union. Not only is Kay's chamber music neglected but his opera, orchestral and other works are also  neglected. Markings; Symphonic essay to Dag Hammarskjöld is one of the greatest symphonies by an American composer but sinfully neglected each year by major American orchestras. Programming discrection by orchestra administrators is a long standing and highly effective practice of politics and/or racism in classical music.

John

Comment by email: 
"Programming discretion by orchestra administrators is a long standing and highly effective practice of politics and/or racism in classical music" refers to administrators of major orchestras. However, the same is true for many community orchestras with African American administrators who lack education and information about the accomplishments and achievements of composers of color who imitate their major orchestra counterparts to their long term self demise.  Thanks, John Malveaux

1 comment:

  1. Without a doubt, Ulysses Kay's symphonic essay Markings should have been a staple of many conductors and orchestras around the world. I echo John Malveaux's commentary without reservation.

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