Sunday, June 23, 2013
Pianist Benjamin Bradham In Free Concert At Steinway Piano Gallery, Paramus, New Jersey, July 12, 2013 at 7 PM
Benjamin Bradham writes:
Subject: New Jersey Concert
Dear Friends,
If
you live near, or will be near STEINWAY PIANO GALLERY in Paramus, New
Jersey on July 12 you are invited to a concert that I will be playing at
7pm on that date. See the attached flyer for details. I'd love to see
you there.
All the best,
Benjamin
Dr. Eric Conway on Day 9 in Australia: 'This will be our last remaining complete day in Australia!'
This will be our last remaining complete day in Australia! Our morning
is somewhat free to do as we please, with the last group lunch at
12:30PM.
Many of us were once again, trying to get
those last minute souvenirs of Australia. Melbourne has a relatively
small center city area. Given that our hotel was in the center of town,
one could walk to most sites of intrigue. If one did not choose to
walk, one could take a taxi at prices less than Sydney, or a free public
transportation system that circled the entire shopping downtown retail
district. We found this city to be incredibly tourist friendly.
Several of us decided to take the bus to the market, however, this was
an adventure trying to determine which bus to take and/or when to get
off.
Melbourne had a similar market to Sydney
run by the Chinese population. As large as the market appeared in
Sydney, the Melbourne Queen Victoria Market was twice as large with much
more variety. Many were so taken with this market, we barely made it
back to the hotel to walk to our lunch site.
As
this was our last day, a group meal on a river boat was planned. This
turned-out to be a perfect way to spend the last day, i.e. riding on a
river boat seeing all the downtown sites on a slow almost-barge.
Melbourne reminded us in so many ways of European cities like Prague,
Paris, St. Petersburg Russia. These are all cities that sit on rivers
that are critical to the industry of the country. We all commented on
how little debris was in the water, despite being a major metropolitan
center. Our only comment was that the water seemed very brown in color.
We were told that this was because of the sediment in the mountains,
not because of dirt. The captain of the boat agreed that this was the
cleanest river he had aver travelled on of any major city. By the way,
this was the Yarra River.
We had another
excellent meal. We were given several choices of beef, chicken, pork or
vegetarian. Our tour guide Udo Jungmann had been exceptional to our
group, always responding to our wishes as much as possible in the
context of a scripted itinerary. We all took up a collection for his
extraordinary service. I made the presentation on behalf of the group.
Upon
our return to the dock, which was only a 3 minute walk from the hotel,
we had a few hours to relax and to begin to pack, as we would leave the
following day early in the morning.
Our final
concert this evening was at St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral. I found out
from Andrew Wailes, that there was much excitement in the community for
our concert this evening. The concert was to begin at 8:30, which is
late by most standards, much due to a church service finishing up at
6PM. We could not begin any sooner due to needing time to build and set
up the risers, platforms, and lights for the concert. We all met at
6:30 PM to have a last minute rehearsal. Again, this was a joint concert
with the Melbourne Choral Arts Society and the Morgan State Univeristy
Choir.
This concert site was remarkable. We
had a chorus of over 150 voices. Melbourne, is the cultural city of
Australia, despite the Sydney Opera House. This city boast over 17
orchestra and over 50 professional and amateur choruses. Our concert
this evening was virtually sold-out, Although cathedrals are notorious
for their very reverberant acoustics, the St. Paul's choral sound was
surprisingly good. Although Melbourne's St. Patrick's cathedral is
larger and taller, this cathedral boasts the longest nave in Australia,
long and then, which may be why the sound was more focused.
The
concert opened up with remarks by the director of the host choir,
Andrew Wailes. His comments were followed by Melbourne's Consul General
of the United States, Mary Burce Warlick who extended every courtesy to
our president and university. The first half of the program was all
Morgan. We give a 35 minute first half. We finished our first half
with our signature - Battle Hymn, led by recently graduated Thomas
Allen. The entire cathedral of over 1000+ individuals were on their
feet giving our choir their plaudits.
After a
brief intermission, both choirs gathered to present the second half of
the concert. The first three selections were conducted by me. The
three American pieces that I sent ahead for them to learn for our joint
presentation were: Steal Away, Precious Lord and With My Whole Heart.
What an experience to see people of another culture embrace our music.
Many have never sung music that was so spirited or moving. When I was
conducing, many had their eyes closed in total absorption of the music.
At the end of the evening, many Australian choristers said that they
loved having me conduct them. They felt so encouraged to sing their
hearts. The smiles were extraordinary.
Andrew
Wailes, conducted the final piece Morden Laruidsen's Lux Aeternam. The
Luridsen is a significant piece in the classical contemporary choral
literature. He conducting it well. The sound was amazing with over 150
voices, black and white, singing in a beautiful European styled
cathedral. This venue was made for the Lauridsen. At the conclusion,
we jointly bowed for the concert and publicly presenting gifts
symbolizing our love and admiration for each other. At the conclusion,
we were asked to sing two encores. Moses Hogan's The Battle of Jericho
and a choice that on the surface may not have seemed most appropriate -
God Bless America! In the context that Australia and America have been
allies since the beginning of Australian's political existence, and
since this event was in part hosted by the American Consulate, it seemed
to make sense. At the conclusion, everyone, who stilled stayed in the
hall, after Anitra McKinney's stirring lead performance, were clapping
with vigor showing their support of the America and the choir!
After
the concert, the Melbourne Univeristy choir treated the entire group
out to drinks in a local pub (that is what Australian's do - go to pubs
to socialize). The place for the exchange was a very upscale pub, with a
beautiful view. Although we were very tired, and we had to be the bus
by 7AM the next morning to leave for the states, virtually everyone at
least in the choir stayed to the lounge until at least 2AM. One reason
why the post-concert exchange was so entertaining was the fact that
there was a piano and open-mic in the room. The Morgan State University
Choir has never turned down an open mic!!! Choir member after choir
member with Chester Burke at the piano proceeded to share American music
with the crowd. At least 75 Melbourne choir members were in attendance
and embraced every musical offering that was shared, and stayed until
the very end. I almost felt like it was an episode of "America's Got
Talent". If you are interested, I am sure that many persons posted the
evening on YouTube - try Melbourne - Morgan State University Choir.
Hard to imagine we must leave tomorrow.
More to come. . . one more day!
Dr. Eric Conway
Shadow and Act: 'Watch Inspiring Short Video About South African Opera Singer Pumeza Matshikiza'
Pumeza Matshikiza (Shadow and Act)
Shadow and Act (Click link for video)
Sergio Mims
June 22, 2013
So continuing with my weekend series of inspiring
video shorts about black musicians who are breaking boundaries and “thinking outside the box”, here’s
number two of three.
Today we focus on opera singer Pumeza Matshikiza who has just signed a recording contact with the major
classical music label Decca Classics, who, in turn, has produced a short video in which Ms. Matshikiza goes back to the
townships of Cape Town, South Africa
where she was born and raised to talk about her very humble beginnings.
In
a recent interview, she talked about the journey of her
life, participating in anti-apartheid demonstrations when she was a very
young child, even being attacked by the police with tear gas. She even
witnessed people
being “necklaced” (tires filled with gasoline placed around a person’s
neck and
being set on fire) right in front of her.
She started singing in church choirs along with her mother,
but when she heard her first opera on the radio as a teenager, that’s when her
life changed. As she said: "I
didn't know anything about opera, but when I found that channel, I started to
listen to it because it was so beautiful. After that I listened to that station
almost every evening."
But her teachers and peers convinced her that there was
no future in classical music and she actually was planning to become a surveyor
at first, but stuck to her dreams and studied voice at the University of Cape Town.
She got a job performing in a puppet show and the
producer of the show was so impressed with her voice that he convinced her to apply
to the Royal College of Music in London which she did and was immediately
accepted.
The rest is history.
She is currently under contract
to the Stuttgart Opera and performs
in other opera houses and recitals all over the world, attracting the attention
of Decca Classics who quickly signed her
up.
The Harlem Bach Project: Free Outdoor Concert at West Harlem Piers Park Friday, June 28, 2013 at Noon
Carl Jackson, Clarinet
The Harlem Bach Project: Music for the Soul and the Spirit
The Harlem Bach Project is an ongoing
work in progress dedicated to bringing Bach's most inspirational and
soul-stirring works uptown to the Harlem community. The Harlem Chamber
Players’ “Bach Unit” is an offshoot group solely dedicated to the music
of J.S. Bach. We plan to bring Bach’s greatest works to various venues
(indoors and out) throughout the Harlem community and beyond.
Featuring
Carl Jackson, Clarinet
Liz Player, Clarinet
Anthony Morris, Double Bass
Friday, June 28, 2013 at 12 Noon
Summer on the Hudson Lunchtime Listen Series
West Harlem Piers Park at 130th Street and the Hudson
Enter at 125th and Marginal
Roy Eaton in 'The Real Mad Men and Women of Madison Avenue' on Sunday, June 30, 2013 at 7 p.m. on WLIW21 and at 8 p.m. on THIRTEEN' in NYC
Roy Eaton
Pianist Roy Eaton has recorded several CDs and has been a familiar performer in New York City and elsewhere for decades. He also had a pioneering career in the world of advertising and is in the Advertising Hall of Fame. He writes:
I'm happy to report to you that the documentary entitled The Real Mad
Men and Women of Madison Avenue will be airing Sunday, June 30, 2013 at 7
p.m. on WLIW21 and at 8 p.m. on THIRTEEN here in New York. As the first Black
"Mad Man" I'm in it.
Comment by email:
Comment by email:
Thanks Bill. Here's a link you can use to post a preview..
http://www.thirteen.org/programs/real-mad-men/ [Roy F. Eaton]
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Fela Sowande's Complete 'African Suite for Strings' is Available on Used CD or as Digital Download
Fela Sowande (1905-1987)
is featured at AfriClassical.com
is featured at AfriClassical.com
Fela Sowande: African Suite (24:52); CBC Records SMCD 5135 (1994)
Decca LM 4547 (1952)
Naxos mp3
[Photos show African Suite for Strings
of Fela Sowande in three versions. TOP: CD by CBC
Vancouver Orchestra; Mario Bernardi, Conductor; CBC Records SMCD 5135
(1994) MIDDLE: LP record by The New Symphony Strings; Trevor Harvey,
conductor; Decca LM 4547 (1952) BOTTOM: Naxos mp3 version of Decca LP]
A reader in Florida writes an email with the Subject: "African Suite for Strings":
"Dear Mr. Zick, Could you tell me where I
could purchase a CD of this recording? My NPR station plays it
occasionally and I would love to have a copy to play anytime I want.
I've searched the internet to no avail. I hope you can help me."
On July 26, 2011 AfriClassical posted a reply to another reader's question: 'African Suite' of Fela Sowande is Available as Download from Naxos.com To our knowledge, the only CD of the complete work is CBC Records SMCD 5135, which is out of print. However, used copies are still available at some websites which sell used CDs, including Amazon.com, which recently listed used copies for sale for $19.99 and up. Some music collectors regularly purchase used copies of recordings which are no longer in print.
The version of African Suite for Strings on the Decca LP is now available in mp3 format at Naxos.com.
Norfolk Test Screening of "Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and His Music in America" June 19 a Success
[The Music Room in the Battell-Stoeckel Mansion at the Norfolk Festival has been
restored to its early twentieth-century state since we filmed there in June 2012.
Here, in June 1910, Maud Powell and Carl and Ellen Stoeckel asked Coleridge-
Taylor if he might be interested in composing a violin concerto. Photo:
Kaufmann]
Charles
Kaufmann of The Longfellow Chorus of Portland, Maine writes:
The
test screening of "Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and His Music in
America" on
June 19 was the first event of the 2013 season of
the Norfolk Chamber Music
Festival, Norfolk, Connecticut. It was
attended by a sizable, attentive and
responsive audience -- a savvy
group comprised of people who would feel at
home attending a film or
concert at Lincoln Center or the Met.
Screening
a two hour film tests whether or not the filmmaker has put together
an
engaging series of scenes. From my observation point at the back
of the room,
the viewers' attention never lagged. The humorous scene,
in which forest ranger
Jody Bronson takes me on a wild ride through
Norfolk's Great Mountain Forest in
search of mountain laurel
accompanied by Angela Brown's version of the soprano
aria "Spring
Had Come," from "Hiawatha's Departure," was met with
hearty
laughter. Jody, who was there, commented: "You did a
fabulous job with the
documentary, it was a tremendous amount of
work."
After
the applause when the credits had rolled -- and the unusual final
outtake --
I answered several questions from the audience. Judging
from these, the film
made people want to find out more about Samuel
Coleridge-Taylor.
Slipped Disc: 'South African township singer wins classical label deal'; Pumeza Matshikiza to record for Decca
Pumeza Matshikiza
Sergio A. Mims forwards this link:
Norman Lebrecht
June 21, 2013
It’s not Pretty Yende, whom every label is running after with open mouths and chequebooks. Not yet, anyway.
This is Pumeza Matshikiza, a girl from the townships who is a soloist
at the Stuttgart Opera and one of the fastest rising stars on the
German circuit. She has signed for Decca.
Eric Conway: Morgan Choir Explores Melbourne and Has Rehearsal on Day 8 of Australian Tour
Today,
was a day to explore beautiful Melbourne, Australia and rehearse music
to be sung jointly by the Melbourne University Choral Society and
Morgan. The concert will be at St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral.
The
conductor of the Choral Society, Andrew Wailes met us at our hotel
early this morning. He was quite excited to lead the tour of his dear
Melbourne. Andrew is a very vibrant individual who gave colorful
commentary on every site seen today. We already new that there was a
rivalry between the two principal cites of Sydney and Melbourne. He
very enthusiastically shared with our group how he believed Sydney was
inferior to the great city of Melbourne. It was entertaining to hear
his perspective on stories of Australia already learned. We had a great
conversation questioning his views, but at the end of the day, he still
respective his sister city of Sydney. The Morgan contingent must agree
with Andrew, for our limited time spent in Melbourne, this is a greater
city in many respects than Sydney. One reason in our estimation was
simply the ingenuity of much of the architecture in Melbourne.
Our
first stop was to Australia's first site for Parliament, the Royal
Exhibition Building. Melbourne was once the capital of Australia. This
building was quite formidable with beautiful gardens and fountains
around the building. It is currently used for university examinations,
as this is one of the few places in Melbourne that can accommodate
finals for the large universities.
Our next stop was to
Melbourne's St. Patrick's Cathedral which has the distinction of the
tallest and overall largest cathedral in all of Australia. Many of the
older buildings in Melbourne were quite opulent due to wealth garnered
from Australia's Gold Rush which somewhat mirrored ours in the United
States. The architectural design of this church was quite different
than most cathedrals. Rather than having stained glass around the
church, most of the glass was golden, which gave a very unique look to
the cathedral.
From there we drove to the Shrine of Remembrance,
the Melbourne War Memorial. Since we just visited the National War
Memorial in the capital city of Canberra, we had a point of reference to
compare. The Melbourne memorial was originally built for World War I
only, as it was built prior to World War II. It was designed after the
pyramids in Egypt. Much like the Egyptians, they built this structure
to use Sunlight to mark time. Once a year on the 11th hour, of the 11th
day, of the 11th month, the structure is constructed to gleam sunlight
for 11 minutes on the tomb of the unknown soldier from this war.
November 11, is the most reverent holiday in Australia - Day of
Remembrance. The holiday commemorates soldiers from both Australian and
New Zealand fallen soldiers. It is this war that robbed 2 out of every
4 qualified men in Australia to fight in World War I. The Australians
refer to this occurrence as a "lost generation", as so many died in this
war, relative to Australia's size as a country. You will notice that
the tombstone of the unknown soldier simply reads: "Greater Man Hath No
Man" - a statement taken from Christian doctrine. The structure is
designed so that once a year, on November 11 - Day of Remembrance -
that the sun's light will shine on the tomb and stop on the word
"love". At first thought, this is a remarkable feat of engineering,
however, if the Egyptians did similar feats with the sun over 2000 years
ago, I guess that we should be able to perform this in 21st century.
Andrew
Wailes was so very excited for our choir to be in Melbourne, that he
purchased tickets for us to go to the top of Eureka Towers. Eureka
Towers was the tallest residential apartment building in the world when
it was built in 2006, however it was soon eclipsed by the HHHR
residential tower in Dubai. Eureka Tower is 91 stories high.
Although many in the group have been in similar buildings, like the
Empire State Building, because the day was clear, as most of their
winter days are in Australia, we all concluded that this had to be one
of the best views ever of urban life. One of the points that was easily
seen from above was the site of the Australian open. This site was
beside the former Olympic stadium from the 1956 Olympics held in
Melbourne. Another unique architectural feat was the Australian Arts
Center which design is a Melbourne landmark. The Art Center has a spire
was designed in the shape of a ballerina's tutu. The building from afar
resembled the Eiffel Tower, until you saw the skirt on the top of the
building.
Beyond traveling to the top of the Eureka building,
many persons in the group paid to go on an attraction at the top of the
building called the Edge. We were extended 4 meters beyond the
building, with nothing below but glass, and looking below over 80
stories. Again, a site that we will never forget, who were brave enough
to go!
We again had another well-crafted group meal for lunch.
After
lunch we went to an Aborigine presentation at the Botanical Gardens.
Two persons of Aborigine descent gave an Aborigine Presentation and
Walk around the gardens. They shared with the group their customs. As
we walked around the gardens, they discussed how they used the land to
survive, but more importantly, how they respected to land - mother
earth. You will notice some photos of choir members embracing a
Eucalyptus tree. The entire presentation was quite informative. At the
end of the presentation, Dennis the leader gave a heartfelt talk about
what the land meant to him and his people. I recorded his eight minute
soliloquy. Please listen to the attached soundfile so that you might be
able to get a real insight into what the Aborigine people endure.
Their plight is very similar to the American Indian.
After
our tour, our next scheduled event on the itinerary was to attend a
rehearsal with Andrew Wailes. At the end of the concert tomorrow, the
Morgan State Univeristy Choir the Andre's group, the Melbourne
University Choral Society will jointly sing the 2nd half of the concert
tomorrow evening, after Morgan sings the first half of the concert. We
had a group numbering well over one hundred voices in rehearsal. Andrew
will conduct Lauridsen's Lux Aeternam. I will conduct the three pieces
that I brought from the states. The rehearsal was long, but warranted
and effective. The concert is slated to be close to sold-out at 1000+
seat cathedral. Tomorrow promises to be a great conclusion to a great
Australian tour. See attached a iPhone scanned image of a flyer for
tomorrow night's program.
More to come. . .
P.S. - We
had a little excitement at the hotel this evening as alarms rang around
midnight due to a smoke detector engaged. Luckily, it was only a false
alarm!
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