Sunday, December 7, 2014

Bill Doggett: Radiant Beauty in 'Songs of Solitude,' New Art Song Cycle by Composer Richard Thompson

 Louise Toppin and Marquita Lister from September 2014 New Generation Project Concerts at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill 
(Photo from Bill Doggett) 


Bill Doggett writes of the pianist and composer Richard Thompson:

Richard Thompson, a composer of Art Songs of great beauty offers  a new Song Cycle, Songs of Solitude which are radiant in their poignant beauty.

Thompson's Songs of Solitude, a Cycle of 5 Songs was commissioned by Dr. Louise Toppin. Professor of Music at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as part of a collaborative project with renown opera soprano, Marquita Lister titled "African American Art Song and Arranged Negro Spiritual For A New Generation Project"

Premiered by Marquita Lister accompanied by pianist, Alastair Edmonstone on September 6th, 2014 at The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in a concert featuring new Art Songs and Arranged Spirituals by many composers, the text which speaks of love and loss was written by Rudi Cleare.

Four of the songs as recorded from the concert can be heard on the website on Bill Doggett, a strategic marketing/agent who has been representing Mr. Thompson since 2012.   http://www.billdoggettproductions.com/Composer-Richard-Thompson.html 
 * Note, the web page has immediate audio that begins with the song, This Time.

The score for Songs of Solitude and other Richard Thompson Song Cycles and Piano music will be available beginning December 20th on Mr. Doggett's website

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