Thursday, October 30, 2008

'Three Visions' of William Grant Still at University of Tennessee Chattanooga Concert

[Afro-American Symphony; William Grant Still; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; Karl Kruger, conductor; Bridge 9086 (1999)]

“A Celebration of American Diversity: Dr. Sin-Tsing Tsai, piano concert
The UTC Music Department was recently gifted with a Yamaha concert grand piano from the estate of Dr. Eugene Hames, through the generosity of Lakin Boyd. UTC Associate Professor Dr. Sin-Hsing Tsai will present a dedicatory recital on Saturday, November 8 at 8 p.m. in the Cadek Recital Hall (located at 715 Oak St., directly behind the UTC Lupton Library). The recital is presented free of charge and is open to the general public. Tsai has chosen for this recital the theme of 'American Diversity' as demonstrated in the works of five American composers ranging from the 19th to the 21st centuries, specifically, Arthur Farwell, Samuel Barber, William Grant Still, Edward MacDowell, and Robert Muczynski.”

“Arthur Farwell’s 'American Indian Melodies, Op. 11' are a collection of harmonizations of ten songs collected on phonograph cylinders by anthropologist Alice C. Fletcher from Native American Indians. The pieces tell a story of the life of the Native American Indian. Samuel Barber’s 'Excursions, Op. 20' are four explorations of American musical idioms including a boogie-woogey! William Grant Still’s 'Three Visions' are transcendental depictions of the journey of the soul from death and destruction to ultimate restoration of hope. Edward MacDowell’s 'Woodland Sketches, Op. 51' are a musical description of the New England countryside. Ending the program will be Robert Muczynski’s 'Toccata, Op. 15' which the composer describes as 'rage over a lost car.' A virtuoso work featured often in piano competitions, Muczynski describes it as having the momentum of an avalanche propelling itself non-stop to the climatic ending.  [Full Post]  [William Grant Still (1895-1978) is profiled at AfriClassical.com]






No comments: