Press-Telegram: 'Black artists showcase music diversity' at Cal State Long Beach

[Darryl Taylor]

On Dec. 20, 2009 AfriClassical posted: “'Out of the Margins' With Darryl Taylor Feb. 15 California State Long Beach.” We posted the complete program, and linked to the AfriClassical.com pages on H. Leslie Adams and George Walker, whose works are included. We received the program from John Malveaux, who has alerted us to this article as well. Visit http://www.DarrylTaylor.com for details on the Feb. 23, 2010 performance "Daryl Taylor & Friends: A Fresh EnCounter."

By Greg Mellen, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/13/2010
“Singer Darryl Taylor performs Monday.
LONG BEACH -- This week, in conjunction with several African-American Heritage Month events, two very different styles of music will be performed. On Monday, countertenor Darryl Taylor will present a show featuring selected pieces from under-represented African-American composers at Cal State Long Beach. And on Thursday at Long Beach City College, a couple of "roots" performers, poet Sufia Giza and reggae veteran Claudius Linton, will play an outdoor concert. The idea of presenting two divergent forms of African-American music was intentional, according to John Malveaux, who helped broker the events.

“Taylor's performance, at 6:30 p.m. at the Gerald Daniel Recital Hall at Cal State Long Beach, will feature a wide range of music from arrangements of Negro spirituals, such as 'Guide My Feet,' as well as work by trailblazer George Walker, the first African-American composer to win the Pulitzer Prize for music in 1996. According to Taylor, black composers are producing world-class music that 'gets neglected or relegated to one or two scant performances that are not done well.' Similarly, Taylor's countertenor voice is often relegated to baroque music, none of which is in his show.

"'Black composers don't want to be identified by race but by the excellence of their work,' Taylor says. And his show is meant to not only display that excellence, but a variety of styles that go beyond race. 'Ultimately, the idea the that humanity is diverse - deliciously diverse,' he says. Taylor brings a wide repertoire of experience and styles, including classical, opera, jazz and gospel. He is also an academic and lectures on music and is on the faculty at UC Irvine.”

Comment by email:
Thank you for the excellent review of Darryl Taylor's performance at Long Beach U. Delighted to know my art songs were so well received. H. Leslie Adams

AfriClassical Comments on Press-Telegram Article 'An overlooked sound in classical music'

[Amber Mercomes, soprano]

Yesterday was the day of the Music Without Borders concert in Long Beach, California,
and AfriClassical posted “Press-Telegram: 'An overlooked sound in classical music',
Carlos Chavez & William Grant Still”.  Among the comments made at the newspaper's
website on June 29, 2008 was this one: “Dear Mr. Mellen, The title 'An overlooked
sound in classical music' gives rare recognition to the music of Hispanic composers and
composers of African descent. I have enjoyed the music of Carlos Chavez for many
years, and have a series of Mexican Classical Music CDs with several of his compositions. 
For 30 years I knew only of White composers.  Two Chandos CDs of William Grant Still,
William Levi Dawson and Duke Ellington, recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in
1993, accidentally came to my attention two years later.  Since then I have widened my
classical music horizons, and have created a website, AfriClassical.com  It honors
52 Black composers and musicians, from John Blanke, the Black trumpeter for King Henry
VIII to Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799), and to William Grant Still (1895-1978)
and Adolphus Hailstork, among others.  Your article provides the perspective which your
readers need on Black and Hispanic composers. Sincerely, Bill Zick”  John Malveaux, the
producer of the concert, has sent us this comment by E-mail: “Wow, you are quick with
your fingers and mind.  Thanks for the comments in the Press Telegram.  I like the way
you work!!!  Thanks, John Malveaux”