Gregory Walker will compose 'Song of the Untouchable,' to debut in Denver in April 2011

Professor Gregory T.S. Walker of the University of Colorado Denver is currently bringing us up to date on his classical music activities. This post, the third in a series, discusses a film project in which Dr. Walker is involved. To hear him give a compelling explanation of the goals of the project, visit the ChuckFryberger.com page:

SongOfTheUntouchable.blogspot.com

Oct. 5, 2009

“Song of the Untouchable is an adventure film profiling the journey of Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra Concertmaster Gregory Walker. Greg is preparing to embark on a musical journey through Kerala in southern India, where he will collaborate with local musicians, and absorb the sights, sounds, and culture of one of the most fascinating regions in the world.

“There is no doubt Greg will undergo personal transformations and experience a way of life altogether different from what he has known. With the end goal of incorporating this new-found knowledge into his musical repertoire, Greg will return for the creation of a new composition, Song of the Untouchable, that will debut in Denver in April 2011. Full, worldwide release of the film is scheduled for summer 2011.”

ChuckFryberger.com/cinema.php

Cinema. Focusing on the story.

Song of the Untouchable

“What happens when a classically-trained violinist takes on the challenging tunings and rhythms of Southern India? Join Greg Walker as he explores the sights and sounds of the traditional Carnatic style of music, indigenous to the fascinating region of Kerala. Scheduled for production in January 2011, this film will be released in Summer/Fall of 2011 at festivals and special events around the US.”

Jim Cotter Interviews Composer George Walker and Violinist Gregory Walker

[TOP: George Walker (Courtesy of the artist); BOTTOM: Gregory Walker; (Courtesy of the artist)]

The world premiere of the Violin Concerto of George Walker was performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra on Dec. 10, 2009. On the following day, AfriClassical posted: "NPR: Hear the last three minutes of the world premiere of George Walker's Violin Concerto.”

The composer has alerted us to an interview with himself and his son, violinist Gregory Walker, which is available online:
"You can find an interview that I had with Jim Cotter about the premiere of my Violin Concerto."

PublicBroadcasting.net/wrti/
"Creatively Speaking"
12 December 2009
"Walker Plays Walker With The Philadelphia Orchestra"
"Jim Cotter speaks with the celebrated American composer George Walker. The Philadelphia Orchestra premieres his violin concerto this week with Gregory Walker, the composer's son, as soloist." "The composer's almost 100 works have been performed by many major orchestras in the United States and throughout the world." [George Walker is profiled at AfriClassical.com]

Denver Post: “Composer George Walker's son is ready to shine with 'Violin Concerto'"

[TOP: George Walker; BOTTOM: Gregory Walker (Photos from The Denver Post)]

arts and entertainment
“Composer George Walker's son is ready to shine with "Violin Concerto"
By Sabine Kortals
Special to The Denver Post
Posted: 12/08/2009 01:00:00 AM MST
George Walker composed 'Violin Concerto' for son Gregory, who will premiere the work with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Violinist Gregory Walker didn't know his famous composer father was writing a piece of music just for him until after it was finished. 'Dad's not really a collaborative temperament,' said Walker, longtime concertmaster of the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra. 'The concerto just showed up on my doorstep one day without any input from me.'

“But George Walker's 'Violin Concerto' was just right for his son Gregory. And the piece was compelling enough to get noticed by the Philadelphia Orchestra, which will premiere it Thursday night in that city's Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. With some 80 published works — mostly commissions — to his name, George Walker, 87, is widely recognized for blazing the trail for African-Americans in classical music. In 1996, he became the first black composer to receive a Pulitzer Prize, for his 'Lilacs for Voice and Orchestra,' based on poet Walt Whitman's reflection on the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

“The 'Violin Concerto,' he said, was meant to be a surprise. 'I kept the concerto a secret for a couple of reasons: I wanted to make certain that I would be satisfied with the work, and I wanted to make sure that the timing was right for Gregory to be able to perform it.'" [George Walker is profiled at AfriClassical.com]

Comment by email

It's amusing to me to know that you are getting information before I do. Thanks. George