“I am interested in getting the printed vocal music of Leslie Adams in particular 'Creole Girl'"

[Love Rejoices: Songs of H. Leslie Adams; Darryl Taylor, countertenor; Robin Guy, piano; Albany Records Troy 428 (2000) (74:55)]

A visitor to AfriClassical.com has made this request for information about a composer who is featured at the website, H. Leslie Adams:

“I am interested in getting the printed vocal music of Leslie Adams in particular 'Creole Girl'"

We have replied:

“The website of Dr. Darryl Taylor, who recorded Creole Girl on Love Rejoices, identifies the source for the sheet music as follows:

Henry Carl Music. 7588 Middle Ridge Road. Madison, Ohio 44057. Phone: 216-231-7385.

The website of the composer also lists Henry Carl Music as the seller of the sheet music.”

Darryl Taylor, Countertenor, has a website at http://www.darryltaylor.com/ Dr. Taylor is also founder of The African American Art Song Alliance http://www.darryltaylor.com/alliance/

The composer's website is: http://www.hleslieadams.com/. [H. Leslie Adams (b. 1932) is profiled at AfriClassical.com, which features a comprehensive Works List by Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma of Lawrence University Conservatory]

Inquiry on Sheet Music for Piano Works of African Composers

[ASA: Piano Music by Composers of African Descent; William Chapman Nyaho, piano;
MSR Classics MS1242 (2008)]

A visitor to AfriClassical.com thanked us for the attractive website and asked how to obtain piano repertoire of the Nigerian composer Akin Euba and other African composers in sheet music form. This is a question which is likely to be of interest to others as well, so our reply is reprinted here:

Many thanks for your compliment about AfriClassical.com and your inquiry about piano repertoire by African composers. I am happy to recommend a unique resource compiled and edited by Dr. William Chapman Nyaho, a pianist born in the U.S. but raised in Ghana, the home county of his parents. He is profiled at AfriClassical.com and at http://www.Nyaho.com:

Piano Music of Africa and the African Diaspora

http://www.oup.com/us/corporate/publishingprograms/music/sheet_music/new_and_featured/pianoafrica/

For the contents of each volume, you may consult this page:

http://www.us.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/Music/SheetMusic/KeyboardPiano/?view=usa&sf=toc&ci=9780193870154

As you will see, piano works of Akin Euba are found in Volumes 2 and 3, along with works by many other composers of Africa and the African Diaspora. Oxford University Press offers the series in 5 separate volumes or a single volume.

The Akin Euba page at AfriClassical.com features a Works List by Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma of Lawrence University Conservatory in Wisconsin. Dr. Fred Onovwerosuoke is an American composer who was born in Nigeria. He heads African Musical Arts, Inc., http://AfricArts.org, an organization whose activities include publishing both sheet music and recordings.

His works for piano include Twenty-Four Studies in African Rhythms. Six of he Studies open the program of Dr. Nyaho's latest CD, ASA: Piano Music by Composers of African Descent; MSR Classics MS 1242 (2008). Bob Briggs of MusicWeb International has written:

"This is strong music with a very individual voice. Each piece imitates a dance or musical pattern and they make a very attractive suite, with lots of variety and plenty of fun. These six come from a set of 24 and I yearn to hear the others. This taster is really too good to miss..."

William Chapman Nyaho's earlier recording is Senku: Piano Music by Composers of African Descent; MSR Classics MS 1091. I hope this information will assist you in finding the sheet music you are seeking.

Dr. Maya Angelou: "Dr. Chapman Nyaho has done a Herculean job..."

[Vol. 2, Piano Music of Africa and the African Diaspora; Oxford University Press]

Oxford University Press Website:

"These important publications will bring immeasurable pleasure to musicians and music lovers and limitless credit to Dr. Chapman Nyaho.

Dr. Chapman Nyaho has done a Herculean job finding, identifying and collecting this rich music. Without his skill and fervor, this precious trove of music may have been lost.

Thank you Dr. Chapman Nyaho for your own musicianship and your devotion."

Joy!

-Dr. Maya Angelou

[The website of Oxford University Press currently offers these discount prices: Vol. 1, $13.46; Vol. 2, $17.96]

Celso Machado: Afro-Brazilian Classical Guitarist & Composer

Celso Machado is an Afro-Brazilian composer, guitarist, lyricist and singer. He has a new CD, Jogo da Vida. The works Machado writes and performs are played by guitarists in both classical and world music genres. He was born in Ribeiro Preto, Brazil on January 27, 1953. At age seven he began performing in street bands. Machado first performed in Canada in 1986; he moved there in 1989. His many CDs consist of music composed by himself and others. His recordings, compositions and awards are listed at his Web site: www.CelsoMachado.com

Machado has composed sound tracks for several documentary films. His score for the film In the Company of Fear won a Leo Award in 2000 in Canada. Publication of Machado's sheet music has resulted in many performances by other guitarists. The French firm Éditions Henry Lemoine has published a volume of his music, Musiques populaires brésilliennes pour flûte et guitare.

Machado has adopted rhythms and musical instruments from many cultures. He teaches master classes for guitar. Three of his CDs have been nominated for Canadian Juno Awards: Varal, Surucua Art Productions 002 (1997); Jongo Lê, Daqui (1999); and Capivara, Surucua Art Productions (2005).

Classical guitarist Adam Khan includes five works of Celso Machado in his current performance repertoire. The long list of classical guitarists who have recorded Machado's works includes the Canadian Guitar Trio, Gerald Garcia, Zsofia Boros, Walter Stoiber, Winfried Stegmann, David Nutall, Timothy Kain, Neil Anderson, William Buonocore and Pasquale Bianculli.

The online music shop of CBC Records, http://www.cbcshop.ca/, says Machado's newest CD, Jogo da Vida, CBC 3021, represents a substantial departure from his previous recording projects. The CD was released in Canada on July 3, 2007; its U.S. release date is August 28, 2007, according to Naxos, its U.S. Distributor.

Performers on Jogo da Vida are Celso Machado, acoustic guitar, vocal and percussion; Carlinhos Machado, electric guitar; Cyro Baptista, percussion; David Virelles, piano; Rich Brown, electric bass; Guiomar Campbell, vocals and percussion; and Eliana Cuevas, vocals.