Tania León A Co-leader of 'Composers Now' Panel; Works of George Walker & Nkeiru Okoye Heard

[Tania León]

Tania León is co-leader of a panel discussion on the opening day of “Composers Now” and George Walker and Nkeiru Okoye are among the composers whose works will be heard in a concert from noon to 6 PM:
SymphonySpace.org
Composers Now: The Music of Now
Symphony Space Music
Mon, Feb 22 at 10 am
Leonard Nimoy Thalia
"Meet the music makers of our time
Music pervades our world, yet who are the men and women creating the sounds we hear? Composers Now is a weeklong festival presented collaboratively by organizations citywide offering concerts, performances, lectures, conversations and other activities highlighting the contribution that composers make to the cultural fabric of our lives. The events put a public face on the vitality, diversity, and innovations that composers bring to the world.

"The inaugural day of Composers Now takes place at Symphony Space on the stage of the Leonard Nimoy Thalia, beginning at 10 am with a panel discussion led by Laura Kaminsky and Tania León, and press conference. Then from noon to 6 pm, there will be a marathon concert featuring works by emerging and established composers working in a myriad of styles and sensibilities such as John Duffy, Du Yun, George Walker, Fernando Otero, Nkeiru Okoye, Suzanne Farrin, Gabriel Alegria, Tamar Diesendruck, Victor Adan, Mario Diaz de Leon, and more. Performers include Son Sonora and Talea Ensembles; iO and Cassatt Quartets; and guest narrator Isaiah Sheffer, among others. (Full Post) (Tania Justina León, b. 1943, and George Walker, b. 1922, are profiled at AfriClassical.com)
Tania León
George Walker
Nkeiru Okoye
Symphony Space
Composers Now
Music of Now

Comment by email

Hi Bill, Thank you so much for posting this. I'm delighted to have been included in the "Composers Now" opening concert, and really honored to be on a program with George Walker. My offering will be a voice/piano performance of my SONGS OF HARRIET TUBMAN. The singer is Diana Solomon Glover. A week before this concert, Diana and I will be in St. Louis, performing a narrated version of the "Tubman Songs" on February 14th. Ironically, the first of the Tubman Songs was workshopped at the John Duffy Composer Institute in Norfolk, VA, and John's music will be on the program, too. It is a wonderful start for the 2010. Happy New Years to all. Nkeiru Okoye

Roy F. Eaton Plays Works of Joplin & Chopin at Hollis Presbyterian Church, Jan. 10

[Roy Eaton]

AfriClassical has received news from pianist Roy F. Eaton, of a concert Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010 at 4 PM at Hollis Presbyterian Church, Hollis, New York. The event is a benefit for the Bernice Eaton Memorial Scholarship Program. A goodwill donation may be made at the door.

Pianist Roy F. Eaton is well known for performing and recording the works of the African American ragtime and classical composer Scott Joplin, and for interpreting the piano works of other composers, including Frédéric Chopin. (The Ragtime and Classical Composer Scott Joplin is profiled at AfriClassical.com)

YouTube Video of Magali Léger, Soprano in Ensemble du Monde Concert, New York, Jan. 10

[Magali Léger in Comic Opera, from BurdenClothing.com]

AfriClassical has posted news of the 2009-2010 season of Ensemble du Monde, led by Marlon Daniel, conductor. We have discussed the second concert, in which music of Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges will be sung by soprano Magali Léger on Jan. 10, 2010. Today we present a post which includes a link to a YouTube video of the singer in a French comic opera:

BurdenClothing.com
NYC: Ensemble du Monde features Magali Léger
January 1st, 2010
by Omar
“If you’re in the area, and you’re in the mood to get a bit more 'cultured' than usual, check out the upcoming performance by Ensemble du Monde featuring Guadeloupean star Magali Léger at The Kaufman Center later this month. Check out the info below…

“In Ensemble du Monde’s second concert, ‘Classical Innovators’, the works of Beethoven, Grétry, Mozart and Boulogne (Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges), will never sound so fresh as when they are performed by French Caribbean super star soprano Magali Léger, making her New York début.

Ensemble du Monde
Marlon Daniel, Music Director & Conductor
BOULOGNE L’amant anonyme: Overture and Two Arias
Magali Léger, soprano
GRÉTRY Aria de Lenore from L’amant jaloux
Magali Léger, soprano
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major Op. 55 'Eroica'”

“For a taste of what you can expect..check out the video of Ms. Léger in action...” (Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges is the subject of an extensive biographical essay, as well as discussions of his fencing and recordings, at AfriClassical.com)

Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra Presents 'Made in Louisiana' with Music of Edmond Dede Feb. 3

[Edmond Dede; Hot Springs Music Festival; Richard Rosenberg, Conductor; Naxos 8.559038 (2000)]

HNOC.org
Made in Louisiana
Concert featuring the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra with principal guest conductor Klauspeter Seibel
The Historic New Orleans Collection and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra present Made in Louisiana Wednesday, February 3, 2010, 7:30 p.m., St. Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square. Free and open to the public.

The Historic New Orleans Collection and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra continue their annual program exploring Louisiana’s musical heritage by exploring the impact of Louisiana on both the national and international concert stage. The LPO will perform works by Rossini (introduced to the United States via Louisiana), and the music of native sons and daughter, Edmond Dédé, Ernest Guiraud, Louis Moreau Gottschalk and Genevieve Pitot. [Edmond Dede is profiled at AfriClassical.com]

Edmond Dédé
Edmond Dede
Historic New Orleans
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
St. Louis Cathedral
February 3

Comment by email

Guiraud wrote recitatives to replace the dialog in Carmen so that the work could be performed at the Opéra. Dominique-René de Lerma

Teacher Uses AfriClassical.com Audio of Black Composers & Musicians

[String Quartets Opus 14; Third Book of Quartets; Apollon Quartet; Avenira 276011 (2005)]

The Audio page at AfriClassical.com offers more than 100 brief samples of classical music. It features 12 samples of music by Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799), for example. Most samples are about a minute long, but an excerpt of a harpsichord sonata, played by Anne Robert, is nearly 4 minutes long. A clip from a string quartet by the Coleridge String Quartet is just over 5 minutes in length. A teacher in Houston tells us she uses the Audio samples to introduce Composers and Musicians of African Descent to students:

“Hello from Houston, Texas! My name is Jayne (I'm a 2nd grade teacher) and my sons are budding classical musicians. My 14-year-old plays trombone and viola and my 11-year-old plays violin and most recently cello. For Black History, we've located the website featuring M. Chevalier de Saint-Georges and others: AfriClassical.com.

“As a teacher, I am thrilled to introduce African American composers and musicians to children who have expressed musical capabilities. I am sure it will serve to establish firmly within their minds and hearts the contributions of their ancestors to this art that they love so much. My sons have already listened to several selections and I look forward to introducing the other children to these classical pieces with the intention that they will select one or two of the African American composers to perform in quartet or quintet.”
Audio Samples
Black History Music Samples
Teacher Resources
Black History & Classical Music
Music Students
Composers of African Descent

EbonyJet.com: 'Sergio Mims Interviews Classical Pianist Jade Simmons'

[TOP: Revolutionary Rhythm; Jade Simmons, Piano; Russell Pinkston, Samuel Barber, John Corigliano, & Daniel Bernard Roumain, Composers; E1 Entertainment KIC CD 7760 (2009) BOTTOM: Photo of Jade Simmons from EbonyJet.com]

Jade Simmons has been the subject of several previous AfriClassical posts about her CD and concerts. Her website is http://www.jademedia.org Our friend Sergio Mims is a classical music host at the radio station WHPK-FM in Chicago. He recently interviewed her:

EbonyJet.com
Arts and Culture
Classically Modern
Sergio Mims Interviews Classical Pianist Jade Simmons
31 décembre 2009
by Sergio Mims
“Among the new generation of classical music artists, few are making the huge impact and receiving the kind of acclaim that pianist Jade Simmons has been of late. The Charleston, South Carolina native/Northwestern University Graduate/Rice University Shephard School of Music graduate/former Miss Illinois and First Runner Up at the 2000 Miss America Pageant has been gaining well-deserved notices and standing ovations from audiences for her extraordinary talent and her eclectic mix of music genres all of which are on full display in her new Koch International CD release 'Revolutionary Rhythms.' The album is a reflection of her varied influences from classical modern composers such as Samuel Barber and John Corigliano to pieces such as 'Hip-Hop Etudes' by composer DBR.

''Recently Ebonyjet.com had an opportunity to talk to Ms Simmons (who was also featured in 2007 as one of Ebony Magazine’s 'Young Leaders Under 30') when she was recently Artist-in-Residence at the University of Chicago for a concert performance and a series of lectures.

“EBONY: Let’s begin with a question involving me if you don’t mind. My editor was trying to get me to write this piece about being a classical music lover in the age of hip-hop, but I refused because it sounded to me, probably wrongly I’m sure, like saying: 'Write something about how it feels to be a freak.' So how would you answer that question?
SIMMONS: I’ve never felt like a freak. It was never this big delineation between, say classical and hip hop. It was just another form that I love. Hip-hop I dance to. Classical, some of it I do dance to (laughs). Even a piece like Rachmaninov’s 'Rhapsody on a Theme' by Paganini, some parts when I play it I have to back off a bit because I’m grooving way too long on it (laughs).”

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]

Meki Nzewi: 'I...register my appreciation of the committed service you are rendering'

[Prof. Meki Nzewi]

On Aug. 24, 2009 AfriClassical posted: “'The Dictionary of African Composers' Profiles Meki Nzewi and Many Others.” The Dictionary of African Composers is maintained by Alexander Johnson. We posted an excerpt from its entry on Meki Nzewi:

“Professor Meki Nzewi lectures in African Music at the University of Pretoria. As a cultural scientist, he has undertaken an interactive study of the creative theory and performance practice underlying African traditional musical arts for over 36 years. He has written copiously on all musico-philosophical aspects of African music, and has published four books and 34 articles and philosophical essays on African music, dance and drama.

“He has written, composed and produced 5 music-theatre works, 7 musicals, 3 operas and 3 poetic-dance theatre works. His other compositions include works for orchestra, choir, solo voice, drums and other ensembles. In 2001, the English Chamber Orchestra gave the world premiere of his newest orchestral work during a tour of South Africa. Prof. Nzewi has also published literary works, including three plays, a novel and poems, and has written and produced works for TV and radio.

“As master drummer, he has performed and given workshops throughout Europe and Africa. He is the founder and co-director of the Ama Dialog Foundation for African traditional arts in Nigeria. His creative philosophy and practice aim at continuing the traditional multi-disciplinary approach to creativity, performance and presentation.” [A list of books and articles published by Prof. Meki Nzewi follows the above entry in The Dictionary of African Composers.]

Today we received an email from Prof. Meki Nzewi:
“Bill, I wish you the best of 2010, and hereby register my appreciation of the committed service you are rendering through promoting the advancement of the classical merits of African music through representing its literacy composers and performers globally. Highly appreciated. Prof. Meki Nzewi Professor of African Music - Theory and Practice Dept. of Music, University of Pretoria. Centre/Programme Director, Centre for Indigenous Instrumental Music and Dance Practices in SADC (CIIMDA)
http://www.ciimda.org”
Prof. Meki Nzewi
Nigerian Composer
Dictionary of African Composers
Alexander Johnson
Ama Dialog Foundation
Committed Service You Are Rendering

Comments by email

Eileen Southern was always very careful about any endorsements, so I was enormously imporessed when she expressed to me her respect and devotion for Meki Nzewi. Accordingly, I am most appreciative that you, Bill, have once again established contact with someone I must write. In this case, my data on Meki are too scattered to pull together in a short time but I will certainly communicate with him as soon as I can submit this information for his review. Dominique-René de Lerma

**************************

I know very little about this talented man and am really glad to see this initiative. I am sure that getting data together (and circulated) will help to achieve deserved recognition. Regards, Mike S. Wright

***************

Happy New Year, Friends! I find it interesting that the Africlassical post on Meki Nzewi and David Locke's recommendation of his book to someone seeking theoretical works for an ethnomusicology curriculum on SEM-L, the Society for Ethnomusicology list, appeared in my in-box at the same time. I am very glad that Meki Nzewi is receiving due recognition among his colleagues at last. Suzanne Flandreau, Head Librarian and Archivist, Center for Black Music Research, Columbia College Chicago.
From Society for Ethnomusicology List:
Dear List,
Among the many challenges in "doing theory" is to negotiate issues of ethnocentrism. For Africa, the writing of Meki Nzewi, especially his short (84 pages) yet dense book African Music: Theoretical Content and Creative Continuum, is a bracing contribution to the discourse on how to conceptualize the music, the act of making music, the process of representing it within an intercultural setting. Of course, Sound and Sentiment (Feld) and Soul of Mbira (Berliner) are classic texts that complicate the easy acceptance of musical theoretic categories drawn from European music-culture. Bravo to all who venture into this domain of the curriculum.Thanks, David Locke, Music Department, Tufts University, 20 Talbot Ave., Medford, MA 02155, david.locke@tufts.edu

MyBrownEyedView.com: 'Check out AfriClassical and get yourself a different source of knowledge and pride.'

AfriClassical is happy to excerpt a post found on “From My Brown Eyed View”:

http://www.mybrowneyedview.com/
Friday, January 1, 2010
“In All Of Your Getting Of Knowledge – Get Yourself Some AfriClassical”
“AfriClassical is a blog that I've been following for about a month. I discovered while doing some research on African Americans in the field of Classical Music. It is definitely all that, in my opinion. It is a treat to read and believe me, you will learn some historical facts that are worth knowing.

“It is well written and informative. I think that it is definitely a blog worth visiting. Even if you don't like classical music, that does not mean that you should not become familiar with the subject matter. I think that you'll be pleasantly surprised at what you'll discover on this site.Check out AfriClassical and get yourself a different source of knowledge and pride.”

AfriClassical.com: 'Black History is part of the common record of humanity.'

[Anna Julia Cooper; Black Heritage USA 2009; U.S. Postal Service]

Black History & Classical Music is a top-level page at AfriClassical.com, so it can be accessed from the navigation bar at the left of every page at the website. The page explains that Black History Month was founded in 1926 by the American historian Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson (1875-1950), who also founded the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), http://www.asalh.org/ Canada, Jamaica and the United States observe Black History Month in February.

The 2010 National Black History Theme is "The History of Black Economic Empowerment." The ASALH website explains the newest Black Heritage stamp: "During the 93rd annual ASALH convention in Birmingham, AL, a special unveiling was held to honor Anna Julia Cooper, an educator, scholar, feminist, and activist who gave voice to the African American community during the 19th and 20th centuries, from the end of slavery to the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement.

Black History is part of the common record of humanity. It proves that people of African heritage have made enduring contributions to society throughout history. Classical music has been enriched by such contributions as long as it has existed. The Black History & Classical Music page includes a link to a Black History Quiz comprised of 52 questions about Composers and Musicians of African Descent. The Composers page leads to 41 individual biographies of composers. The Musicians page leads to 11 profiles on conductors and instrumentalists. Over 100 sound samples can be heard on the Audio page and at the pages of individual artists.

Black History is Part of the Common Record of Humanity
Black History and Classical Music
AfriClassical.com Black History Quiz
Audio Samples
Carter Godwin Woodson
Anna Julia Cooper

Comment by email

This is an excellent way to begin the year. I hope that all teachers and community leaders with responsibilities for Black History Month, February, receive this information, now, in order to aid their preparation. Thank you, always. Gwendoline Y. Fortune