Dr. Rochelle Sennet: "Bach to Black: Suites for Piano" 3-disc recording released on Albany Records TROY 1869-71

 

Bach To Black

Suites For Piano

Rochelle Sennet

piano

Dr. Rochelle Sennet is Associate Professor of Piano at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  She writes:

Dear Bill,

I write to let you know that my 3-disc set of “Bach to Black: Suites for Piano” was released on Albany Records (#TROY 1869-71) on June 1^st.  The recording includes the complete English Suites by J.S. Bach, as well as six additional suites by five Black composers: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, R. Nathaniel Dett, H. Leslie Adams, Jeffrey Mumford, and Frederick Tillis.  The recording is also available through all major digital music streaming platforms, such as Amazon Digital. 

Also, a short “sneak peek” YouTube video from one of the recording sessions is available here.

Excerpt from the liner notes:  “The title of this recording is intended to encourage conversation regarding the often-misunderstood topics of inclusion and equity in Classical music. Bach to Black represents my strong interest in performing repertoire by Black composers in combination with works of Johann Sebastian Bach. The suites included on this recording represent beauty, excellence, contrast, celebration of dance style, and dialogue. The targeted audience: those who enjoy music by a variety of Black com- posers, those who enjoy the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, those have not yet been exposed to music of Black composers or J.S. Bach, and those who fall into more than one category. I welcome the opportunity to spread the message that everyone deserves to be included in the Classical music space regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, or cultural background.”

Thank you again, and I hope all is well!

Sincerely,

Rochelle Sennet