Saturday, January 31, 2015

John Malveaux: Pasadena Community Orchestra Performs Afro-American Symphony of William Grant Still Jan. 30; Note from Judith Anne Still in program

William Grant Still (1895-1978) is profiled at AfriClassical.com, which features a comprehensive Works List by Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma, http://www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com.

John Malveaux of 
writes:

The printed program of the Pasadena Community Orchestra January 30, 2015 included a quote from Judith Anne Still "We are so glad that the music of William Grant Still is receiving your loving attention. There is so much to be done to really end the Civil War and to understand the need for brotherhood and mutual respect, that every presentation of the William Grant Still works makes a step forward. Many thanks."
 
Conductor Bethany Pflueger thoroughly prepared the orchestra for an artistic and compassionate performances of Don Giovanni Overture-Mozart, Concerto for Harp-Handel featuring Maria Casale, Overture di Ballo-Arthur Sullivan and closing with Symphony No. 1-William Grant Still.
 
I sat next to a gentleman who, like me, had not previously attended a PCO performance. His motivation for driving from a nearby city was to hear William Grant Still's music after hearing an announcement on KUSC Classical Radio. The Los Angeles Metro market has many community orchestras but few community orchestras invest in a four concert announcement/awareness campaign on KUSC Classical Radio where the best and biggest thrive.
 
Before the concert, the gentleman sitting nex to me adamantly offered his criticism with California schools that eliminate music education programs. He even called elimination of music programs criminal. Very early Saturday morning a friend called to tell me about a terrific old movie seen around 4:00am on the Turner Network titled THEY SHALL HAVE MUSIC (1939). Jascha Heifetz played a featured role in the movie. He played himself, stepping in to save a music school for poor children from foreclosure.

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