Kelly Hall-Tompkins on Violinist Alfred Mur, at Yom Hashoah Service Friday, April 9, 7:30 PM

[TOP: In my own voice; Kelly Hall-Tompkins, violin; MSR Classics MS 1278; BOTTOM: The Last Quartet: A Violinist's Memoir of the Holocaust; Alfred Mur; E-Book, 170 pp.]

The April 7, 2010 issue of the Newsletter of the African American violinist Kelly Hall-Tompkins gives the details of her public speaking engagement at 7:30 pm Friday, April 9, 2010 within the context of the Sabbath Service: “Invited speaker at the Hebrew Tabernacle on Ft. Washington Avenue in Manhattan on the occasion of Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance. The focus of the talk will be about publishing the memoir of survivor, violinist Alfred Mur entitled 'The Last Quartet: A Violinist's Memoir of the Holocaust.'”

http://www.kellyhall-tompkins.com/e-book.html

“In the immediate aftermath of World War II, violinist and Holocaust survivor Alfred Mur could not help but tell people of his terrifying experiences. ‘You should write this down,’ they all encouraged him. So The Last Quartet was written between 1951 and 1952 but it has not been available to the public until now, July 2009. 'My boss looks at me as if I were my own ghost… He didn’t even dream that I escaped from the concentration camp…They are surprised to see us. No one has come from outside for many months; they say it over and over again…'

“Read the incredible story of how Alfred Mur and his brother Fredi, now 98 and 94, not only escaped the Nazis in Poland, but kept their hope alive throughout their ordeal through the power of music. 'Here in the Krakow ghetto, in this place of death and agony; I hear music in my mind. It is music broken into short fragments; a melody from a quartet, a passage from a concerto, a motif from a symphony. Nothing is complete. Music comes dancing in my mind, but it dances right out again. I feel a great need to make music – to play another quartet… if it is to be my last quartet, let it be my last quartet; but music I must have.'

Introduction

by Kelly Hall-Tompkins, violinist

“From the very first page, his life story during the war unfolds with poignant and gripping scenes about his many escapes from death at the hands of the Nazis, while watching his own family being executed or taken on the death trains to Auschwitz. This memoir, entitled “The Last Quartet”, is deeply moving and insightful, a paradoxical story of death, cold hatred and terror juxtaposed with the sublime music played by his quartet, and the love shared between two brothers who actually managed to escape together after hiding for years apart from one another. Alfred is originally from Krakow where he was forced into the ghetto there. He worked as a furrier in order to remain useful to the Nazi war effort and thus alive. However, as music was his passion, he assembled a quartet of friends to read chamber music regularly for as long as it was still possible in the ghetto. This was much to the chagrin of some and a beacon of inspiration to others. Following the war, Alfred Mur joined the Prague Philharmonic. Mr. Mur prefers to think of this as a ‘violinist's memoir’, not a 'holocaust' document. Understandably, that term does not conjure any pleasant memories for him.”

Kelly Hall-Tompkins
African American Violinist
In my own voice
Alfred Mur
The Last Quartet
A Violinist's Memoir of the Holocaust

Video Previews N. J. State Opera's 'Porgy and Bess'; Richard Alston To Play 'Jasbo Brown' May 21 & 23

[Richard C. Alston as “Jasbo Brown”]

On March 9, 2010 AfriClassical posted: “Richard C. Alston is 'Jasbro Brown' in New Jersey State Opera's 'Porgy and Bess' May 21 & 23.” We explained that Richard, a classical pianist, had performed the same role in the Metropolitan Opera production of “Porgy and Bess.” Today we received this update from him, announcing a 1-minute YouTube promotional video:

“Here is the first commercial for 'Porgy and Bess' produced by the New Jersey State Opera. You will hear the opening bars of my solo 'Jasbo Brown Blues' (I will perform this at the very beginning of the opera) at the end of the commercial.

Performances:

Opening Night Friday, May 21 8:00

Sunday, May 23 2:00

“Tickets are now on sale at Ticketmaster or call 800-745-3000.

Harmoniously,

Richard"

Richard Alston
African American Pianist
Jasbo Brown
Porgy and Bess
New Jersey State Opera
YouTube Video

Houston Choral Society Sings 'Shout for Joy' of Adolphus Hailstork April 17, 2010

[Adolphus C. Hailstork (b. 1941)]

UltimateCYFair.com

Houston Choral Society ends season at FUMC

April 5, 2010

Michael Golden

"The Houston Choral Society, an 80-member professional quality community chorus, will conclude its 2009-2010 season with a special combined performance with the Prairie View A&M University choirs at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 17, at Foundry United Methodist Church, 8350 Jones Rd. in Houston.

"The full Houston Choral Society portion of the concert will include Deep River, My God Is A Rock, Ye Shall Have A Song and Shout for Joy by Adolphus Hailstork. Hailstork, a respected composer and professor of music at Old Dominion University in Virginia, wrote Set Me On A Rock (Songs of Sanctuary From the Great Flood) which the Choral Society commissioned and performed at the Wortham Center in May of 2008." [Adolphus C. Hailstork (b. 1941) is a prolific composer who has dozens of recordings in print. He is profiled at AfriClassical.com]

Houston Choral Society
Season Ends
April 17, 2010
Shout for Joy
Adolphus Hailstork
African American Composer

Rue du Chevalier Saint-George Signs & 2011 Festival in Guadeloupe

[Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799); Photo: International Saint-Georges Festival, Guadeloupe, 2011]

L'Association des Amis de Joseph Bologne [Association of the Friends of Joseph Bologne] is based in Guadeloupe. Its President is Jean-Claude Halley, who informs us by email that he is very happy about the success of biographer Gabriel Banat in persuading the City of Paris to revise the street signs which carry the name of Saint-Georges. Jean-Claude Halley adds that he also hopes for corrections to the memorial plaque for the bust of Saint-Georges at Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe.

Catherine Pizon is another dedicated friend of Saint-Georges who has commented on the Rue du Chevalier Saint-George: “Hello Bill, Thank you so much for this news! We had been waiting for this decision for such a long time! M. Banat deserves our gratitude! Would the City Hall of Paris begin to open its eyes? They needed Mr. Banat's reputation to convince them. Anyway it is a good start.”

“As you probably know, we had to postpone the Saint-Georges Festival in Guadeloupe until April 2011; finding funds is a big job! Anyway we believe in this first great manifestation which must rightfully take place in Guadeloupe, where the Chevalier was born. We have started to create a website: http://www.festivalinternationalsaintgeorges.org.” “Thank you again! Catherine” [The life, fencing and music of Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799) are presented at AfriClassical.com]

Rue du Chevalier de Saint-George
Gabriel Banat
Jean-Claude Halley
Catherine Pizon
International Saint-Georges Festival
Guadeloupe 2011

ClarionLedger.com on Jade Simmons: 'Concert pianist, classical beauty: A moving combination'

[Revolutionary Rhythm; Jade Simmons, Piano; Russell Pinkston, Samuel Barber, John Corigliano, & Daniel Bernard Roumain, Composers; E1 Entertainment KIC CD 7760 (2009)]

ClarionLedger.com

Sherry Lucas

April 4, 2010

“Concert pianist Jade Simmons' residency in Jackson next week takes her all over the city as well as all over the keyboard. Events bounce from the University Club to Tougaloo College with the Mississippi Museum of Art and a pair of public elementary schools in-between. Simmons wishes all her appearances were so jam-packed, making the best use of her time and her passions - youth, art and fashion as well as music. 'It's definitely a fun engagement for me,' she said by phone from Houston, Texas.

“Appearances are normally more tame - a word that doesn't quite fit the trajectory of this rising young star and entrepreneur. She was named one of Ebony Magazine's 'Young Leaders Under 30' in 2007 and was the Web-host for the 2009 Van Cliburn Piano Competition through the event's 17 days. As the online face for the competition, Simmons impressed anew Jackson mezzo soprano Lester Senter Wilson, a Mississippi Symphony Orchestra board member. Wilson first encountered Simmons years before at her own Wideman Piano Competition. Struck by Simmons' stylish presence, savvy skills, music knowledge and interest in kids - 'I thought, this is what we need in Jackson,' said Wilson, a co-producer with Tim Coker of the artist's residency, which is sponsored by Isaac Byrd. 'It's a remarkable opportunity for Jackson and specifically for students,' Byrd said.

“A former Miss Illinois, Simmons was first runner-up at the 2000 Miss America Pageant. Her platform of youth suicide prevention became a hot-button issue with the Columbine massacre. At 22, she traveled the nation speaking on that platform and today at 32, serves on the boards of organizations that deal with the issue. Working on behalf of youth remains a key part of her life.”

Composer H. Leslie Adams on Viola Workshop Led By Violist Eliesha Nelson

BOTTOM: H. Leslie Adams TOP: Quincy Porter: Complete Viola Works; Eliesha Nelson, viola; John McLaughlin Williams, piano, harpsichord, violin, conductor; Douglas Rioth, harp; Northwest Sinfonia; Dorian Recordings DSL 90911 (2009)

AfriClassical has received a “Note to Viola Workshop Leaders re 4/2/10 Presentation at Seifullah Gallery,” from H. Leslie Adams. The topic of the Viola Workshop & Master Class, led by violist Eliesha Nelson, was a recent composition of his, “Ecstasy of Love for Viola and Piano.” The Subject of the Note, which is dated April 3, 2010, is “Success and Celebration.” It reads:

“Dear Eliesha, Dianna, Ranelle and Alice,

What a fine workshop-master class we had yesterday. The first such event I know of combining the contents of both media. All present were enriched. The session covered analysis, preparation and technique in both general and specific applications. Violists, pianists and auditors at variouslevels profited from a broad yet inclusive presentation.

“All this content wrapped in a context of enjoyment made for a very special event. The work itself, 'Ecstasy of Love,' has gotten off to a great start toward entering the concert and teaching repertoire. With great appreciation and congratulations, Leslie” HOMEPAGE: http://www.hleslieadams.com and http://www.hleslieadams.net

[H. Leslie Adams (b. 1932) is an African American composer, pianist and professor who is profiled at AfriClassical.com, which features a Works List and Bibliography by Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma of Lawrence University Conservatory]

New York Times: 'Harlem Arts School Shuts Over Financial Problems'

[In 1985, Jane Henry led Shukrani Brown, Hussain Walker and Malik Lewis in a violin class at the Harlem School of the Arts. (New York Times)]

David Burnett has made this announcement to readers of The Collective: “Hello Fellow Collective Members: I'd like to wish everyone a wonderful Happy Easter. I'd also like to share the following article, which is in today's New York Times. The article is about the unfortunate possible closure of Harlem School of the Arts, where I have taught for the past 20 years.” HarlemSchooloftheArts.org says of David Burnett: "He is head of the string department, conducts the string orchestra and has 52 private students. He also teaches at the Langston Hughes Middle School and P.S. 6 in Brooklyn, through Artsconnection."

NYTimes.com

By Trymaine Lee

Published: April 2, 2010

“For nearly 50 years, the Harlem School of the Arts has given generations of mostly black and Latino children entree into worlds often otherwise out of their reach. It put violins and other orchestral instruments in their hands, ballet slippers on their feet and Shakespeare on their tongues. But on Friday, the school’s building was quiet, closed by the board of directors, which told parents in an e-mail message on Thursday that the school was being shuttered because of a lack of financing. 'We are virtually out of money, with no clear sources ahead of us,' John W. Corwin, the school’s interim executive director, wrote in the message.

“Financing for the nonprofit school, which has operated mostly during after-school hours and on weekends, has been generated through tuition, private donors as well as city and state arts grants. Mr. Corwin, who could not be reached for comment on Friday, wrote that the school would be closed until April 10, by which time the board will have determined if the school will be ended for good. He wrote that the board will 'continue to tirelessly look for funds, in a much more public appeal than we have in the past.'

“The school was founded in 1964 by the concert singer Dorothy Maynor, who began teaching a handful of youngsters from a piano in the basement of the St. James Church, next door to the school’s current location at 645 St. Nicholas Avenue. Ms. Maynor died in 1996. The school serves 3,000 students a year, teaching them four core artistic disciplines: dance, music, theater and visual arts. Alumni have gone on to some of the best performance high schools in the city and to top-tier colleges and universities like Juilliard.”

David Burnett
Harlem School of the Arts
New York Times
Dorothy Maynor
Dance, Music, Theater, Visual Arts
Finances Force Closure

Paris Street Signs Correct Dates of Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799), Legion Name

[ABOVE: Original “Rue du Chevalier de Saint-George” BELOW: Revised “Rue du Chevalier Saint-George”]

The Convention had abolished slavery in French colonies on February 4, 1794. The ideal of equality for which Saint-Georges and his volunteers of color had fought so bravely soon fell into disfavor. Napoleon Bonaparte sent troops to Guadeloupe and Saint-Domingue in 1802 with orders to reinstitute slavery. People of color on Guadeloupe fought valiantly under Louis Delgrès, but on May 28, 1802 their defenses fell to General Antoine Richepance. Rather than live as slaves again, hundreds of people blew themselves up in a gunpowder warehouse. Emancipation would not return until 1848. The assault on Saint-Domingue killed people of color by the thousands and still France could not regain control. The former colony declared its independence in 1804, becoming the first Black republic in the world.

For many years Paris had a street named for General Richepance. In December, 2001 the Paris City Council voted to change the street's name from Rue Richepance to Rue du Chevalier de Saint-George. The name change had been requested by French citizens from the West Indies. A commemorative plaque for the street described Saint-George as a "Colonel de la Garde Nationale" ["Colonel of the National Guard"]. Historian Luc Nemeth calls this "non-information", because there was nothing unusual about being in the National Guard, for anyone who had taken part in the French Revolution. He adds: "One could not better lie by omission, more than two centuries after the decree of December, 1792 stripped the unit of its identity as the 'Black Legion'." The original sign for the Rue du Chevalier de Saint-George listed the dates of Saint-Georges as 1739-1799, even though historians and most leading biographers have documented the date of birth as 1745.

Gabriel Banat is author of the most authoritative English language biography of Saint-Georges, The Chevalier de Saint-Georges: Virtuoso of the Sword and the Bow (2006). He has provided us with a letter dated 25 March 2010 from Philippe Lamy, Counselor, Office of the Mayor, City of Paris. It is addressed to Monsieur Gabriel Banat of Dobbs Ferry, New York. Former Professor Daniel G. Marciano has translated it from the original French as follows:

“Dear Sir,
You drew my attention to the street signs of the Rue du Chevalier Saint-George, asking for the text to be modified. Please find herewith the photo of the new street signs which will soon be installed. Best regards, Philippe Lamy”

[FRENCH]
Rue du Chevalier Saint-George
(Ancienne rue Richepance)
1745-1799
Compositeur et Chef d’Orchestre
Capitaine de la Garde National de Lillé
Colonel de la légion des Américains et du Midi

[ENGLISH]
Rue du Chevalier Saint-George
(Previously rue Richepance)
1745-1799
Composer and Conductor
Captain of the National Guard in Lille
Colonel of the Legion of the Americans and of the South

"Colonel de la légion des Américains et du Midi” was the official name of the Legion of mainly Black volunteers authorized by the Convention and placed under the command of Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges. Thus the new signs adopted in response to the request of Gabriel Banat correct both the date of birth of Saint-Georges and the name of the Legion he commanded.

Gabriel Banat General Antoine Richepance Rue du Chevalier Saint-George Born 1745 Colonel de la légion des Américains et du Midi Luc Nemeth

American Composers Orchestra 'Playing it UNsafe: Call for Scores'

[Graphic from American Composers Orchestra's "Playing it UNsafe"]

Richard Greene suggests that an announcement be shared with readers of AfriClassical:

AmericanComposers.org

American Composers Orchestra's laboratory for new and innovative orchestral music

Deadline: 5PM April 30, 2010

ACO announces Playing it UNsafe, a research and development laboratory for the creation, reading, and performance of experimental new works by American composers. The goal of the program is to encourage composers to experiment and stretch their own musical sensibilities by developing new works (or works-in-progress) that expand the range of possibilities for—and challenge convention notions about—orchestral music. Playing it UNsafe was conceived to address the pressures and limitations often encountered by composers writing new works for orchestra, a situation that tends to inhibit risk-taking composition and encourages a “play it safe” approach. The program will include an extended series of rehearsal and public workshop/readings with ACO’s Orchestra Underground during the 2010-11 season, culminating in performance in Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall on March 4, 2011.

Kelly Hall-Tompkins on ABC News Video: 'American Heart: the Music Kitchen Performs for the Homeless'

[Kelly Hall-Tompkins]

New York Musicians Put on Free Concerts in Homeless Shelters [Video]

ABC World News With Diane Sawyer

By Catherine Cole

April 1, 2010

“The melodies from the world's great classics play all over New York City, echoing from the great halls like Lincoln Center down to the deep tunnels of the city's subways. People pay to see performers at the top of their field, or they toss spare change at street performers.

“But one night last week on New York's Upper West Side, five soloists from the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church choir gave a very different performance. They sang music from the Renaissance to the Baroque, from Orlande de Lassus to Johann Michael Bach. They ended the night with an American spiritual called 'Give Me Jesus.' Their audience? A group of homeless men. Some of the audience showed up in the church basement, expecting to be served sloppy joes, not treated to a concert. One man said, 'I expected to come in here and eat, sleep and then get tossed.'

“Instead, they got to listen to the Music Kitchen. Its mission is to bring what founder Kelly Hall-Tompkins calls 'the inspirational, therapeutic, and uplifting power of music' to New York City's homeless population. Hall-Tompkins, a professional freelance violinist who has performed in the New York Philharmonic and is a member of the New Jersey Symphony, wears many hats for the Music Kitchen. She does everything that has to be done as the organization's founder, director, public relations manager, violinist, and chief fundraiser, to name a few of her responsibilities. 'Music Kitchen, I've presented, in five years, 42 concerts, engaged almost 70 of New York's greatest artists on a shoestring budget,' she said.”