Press release from Antony Barlow
A FURTHER CELEBRATION
OF AFRICAN ART MUSIC
Curated by award-winning pianist REBECA OMORDIA
Following the success of the first programmes of African Art Music at the October Gallery, earlier this year, curated by Artistic Director Rebeca Omordia, a further seven have been scheduled up to December 2019.
Omordia’s aim was to establish a platform for African Art Music, the richly diverse genre of music that originated in Ghana and Nigeria, which forms a bridge between Western classical music and traditional African music.
The October Gallery is in Old Gloucester St, Bloomsbury, London WC1, and concerts begin at 7.30pm and last until 9.00pm. Tickets cost £10 and can be purchased via Eventbrite or on the door.
The programmes take place every month on June 20, July 17, September 19, October 6, November 1 and 29 and December 5 and feature composers from Nigeria, Uganda, Morocco and Guadeloupe including Godwin Sadoh often referred to as the father of modern Nigerian Art music, Justinian Tamusuza blending traditional Ugandan styles with Western classical, the celebrated Ayo Bankole and Joseph Boulogne, the first African-American composer to be performed by a major orchestra.
Artists participating are the award-winning pianist Adam Heron (June 20); the celebrated Chineke! Ensemble (July 17); the highly acclaimed Decus Ensemble (August 27); Unchenna Ngwe and Rowland Sutherland – Music for Woodwind (September 19); Nadine Benjamin, Nigel Foster and Michael Harper – Songs by Women composers of African Descent (October 6); Marouan Benabdallah – Piano music from the Arab World (November 1); Glen Inanga – Nigerian Odyssey; Chineke! Chamber Ensemble – ‘Nonet’ by Samuel Coleridge Taylor with Rebeca Omordia at the piano (December 5).
Rebeca Omordia was born in Romania to a Romanian mother and a Nigerian father. She is prize-winning classical pianist and is a great advocate of Nigerian classical music, which featured on her recent acclaimed CD ‘EKELE’ (HTGCD 188) including Ayo Bankole and Fred Onovwerosuoke.
Further details of each programme:
AFRICAN CONCERT SERIES 2019
A CELEBRATION OF AFRICAN ART COMPOSERS
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR – REBECA OMORDIA
June 20th - Adam Heron
The award-winning pianist, who reached the final of the BBC Young Musician of 2018, will perform a programme of music by Kwabene Nketia, Akin Euba as well as by Albeniz and Bartok.
July 17th - Chineke Chamber Ensemble
The Ensemble comprises principal players of the celebrated Chineke! Orchestra, founded in 2015 by Chi-chi Nwanoku OBE. They will perform the String Quartet No 3 in G minor by Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint George. Today the Chevalier de Saint-Georges is best remembered as the first classical composer of African ancestry. The programme also includes the String Quartet in G Minor by Florence B Price, the first African-American to be recognized as a symphonic composer, and the first to have a composition played by a major orchestra.
August 27th – Decus Ensemble
They will be playing The Egba Musical Totem for String Quartet by the Nigerian composer Godwin Sadoh, who is often referred to as the father of modern Nigerian Art Music, and blends Yoruba and Igbo aesthetics into his work. This will be followed by Mu Kkubo Ery ‘Omusalaab (On the Way of the Cross) by Ugandan, Justinian Tamusuza. His music blends western classical and Ugandan traditional styles, and he is now recognized as one of the leading contemporary African composers.
September 19th – Unchenna Ngwe (Oboe, Cor Anglais), Rowland Sutherland (Flute) and Yshani Perinpanayagam (Piano)
This programme features music for woodwind including The Republic Suite for flute and piano by J H K Nketia from Ghana; Visions for flue and piano by Bongana Ndodana Breen from South Africa and finally Six sketches for Oboe and Piano by Fred Onovwerosuoke from Nigeria.
October 6th – Nadine Benjamin (soprano), Nigel Foster (piano) Michael Harper (speaker)
This is a special programme for Black History Month and will include songs by women of African descent.
November 1st – Marouan Benabdallah (piano)
‘Arabesque’ – Piano music from the Arab World performed by the internationally famous Moroccan pianist playing music by Salim Dada from Algeria and Nabil Benabdeljalil
November 29th – Glen Inanga (piano) Nigerian Odyssey
This programme will include Egun Variations and the world premiere of Fugal Dance by the eminent Nigerian composer Ayo Bankole.
December 5th – Chineke! Chamber Ensemble and Rebeca Omordia
Bringing the 2019 series to a thrilling close Rebeca Omordia will join with Chineke! Ensemble to perform Samuel Taylor Coleridge-Taylor’s ‘Nonet’ in F Minor.
The concerts are at 7.30pm and tickets @ £10.0 can be obtained from Eventbrite or go to www.theafricanconcertseries.wordpress.com
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