DailyEvergreen.com on Composer Tania León: 'Cuban artist celebrates her heritage in song'

[Tania León]

The Daily Evergreen

Washington State University

Artist Tania León discussed the importance of making music and other arts priorities in life.

Julie Eckardt

Published: 02/07/2011
“This weekend marked the 22nd annual Festival of Contemporary Art Music. This year’s special guest was the Cuban-born Tania León, who had her compositions featured at the big event Saturday night and visited classrooms to speak about her music.”

“Saturday night was the big event, all pieces by the guest composer León. Each piece showed a little part of her: her heritage, family and background. 'I try to honor all the different members of my family. They are very diverse and they had a sense of culture … I’m a little bit of everything, so therefore for me to do that it’s very easy. I don’t even think about it," León said.

“Her first piece, 'De Memorias,' is dedicated to her teacher Alfredo Diez Nieto. In the second, 'Elegia a Paul Robeson,' featured a violin, cello and piano and had a gentler, celestial feel. Featuring the Concert Choir, conducted by School of Music associate professor Lori Wiest, the third piece, 'Drume Negrita,' went back to León’s Cuban roots and had everyone swaying back and forth to the music. After a brief intermission, the performers dove right into “Alma,” a piece inspired by Puerto Rican poet Carmen A. Vega Schimmenti.”

“The show ended with a lively piece, 'Cumba Cumbakin,' based off the sounds of drums. The wind ensemble took this one on, combining all elements to make a good end to a great weekend of festivities. 'You hear that? That is how I grew up,' León said.” [The website of Tania Justina León is http://www.tanialeon.com/; she is also profiled at AfriClassical.com]

Washington State U.: '22nd Festival of Contemporary Art Music, featuring guest composer Tania León' Feb. 3-5

[Tania León]

Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011

“PULLMAN, Wash. — The 22nd annual Festival of Contemporary Art Music, featuring guest composer Tania León, will be presented by Washington State University’s School of Music Feb. 3-5 in Pullman. WSU music faculty and students will perform original works by León at the festival’s capstone concert at 8 p.m. Feb. 5 in Bryan Hall Theatre. All festival concerts are free and open to the public.

“Cuban-born León has emerged as a vital personality on today's music scene. She is highly regarded as a composer, pianist and conductor and recognized for her accomplishments as an educator and advisor to arts organizations. León's music is as diverse as her French, Spanish, African and Chinese lineage. Her technical compositions, characterized by rhythmic and colorful sound and movement between tempo, musical line, timbre and texture, are laced with elements of gospel, jazz and traditional Latin American and African rhythms. New York Times music reviewer Anthony Tommasini wrote, 'Naturally, these distinctive styles clash in her music, though in a dynamic sense, as in a good fight, a feisty confrontation.' León's honors include a 2010 Latin Grammy Award nomination in the category of best classical contemporary composition for 'To and Fro (4 MOODS)' performed by Nodus Ensemble, a 2007 Guggenheim Fellowship, the New York Governor's Lifetime Achievement Award, and honorary doctoral degrees from Colgate University, Oberlin College and Purchase College.

“In 2010 León was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters for her compositions. León cofounded the Dance Theatre of Harlem and is a distinguished professor of music composition at Brooklyn College, New York. She received her formal musical training at Carlos Alfredo Peyrellade Conservatory in Havana, New York University, the Juilliard School and the Berkshire Music Center at Tanglewood. The festival begins at 11 a.m. Feb. 3 in Kimbrough Concert Hall with a recital of new works by WSU student composers. A concert featuring new works by faculty composers Ryan M. Hare, David Jarvis, Aleksander Sternfeld-Dunn and Gregory Yasinitsky follows at 8 p.m. Feb. 3 in Bryan Hall Theatre. An all-electroacoustic concert will be performed at 3 p.m. Feb. 4 in Kimbrough Concert Hall.” [The website of Tania León is http://www.tanialeon.com/; she is also profiled at AfriClassical.com]

Comment by email:
Thank you Bill, We will add you to our distribution list. Our festival Website is http://libarts.wsu.edu/artmusic and I have attached a pdf the 2011 festival flyer. All best, Gail Siegel