Bassoon Music Reviews: 'Bassoon Sonata' of Ulysses Kay is 'perhaps the most fascinating work I've encountered yet'

[TOP: Legacy: Works For Bassoon By African-American Composers; Lecolion Washington, bassoon; Albany Troy1038 (2008) BOTTOM: Ulysses S. Kay (Photo: Brandeis University Archives, Carl Van Vechten 11-13-1947)]

BassoonMusicReviews.blogspot.com

Posted by Alex Widstrand

"Ulysses Kay: Bassoon Sonata (1941)

RECORDING: Lecolion Washington, bassoon; Mark Ensley, piano

SHEET MUSIC: Prairie Dawg Press

“It's always a great pleasure to find truly unusual and interesting bassoon solos. Perhaps the most fascinating work I’ve encountered yet is the bassoon sonata by twentieth century African American composer Ulysses Kay.

“There are quite a few reasons that Kay’s sonata is a highly unique piece of music:

+ It’s one of the only—if not the only—bassoon sonatas by a composer with African roots

+ It’s only one movement long, only loosely following traditional sonata form

+ Kay attempted to suppress this Sonata by destroying as many copies as he could (fortunately, a few copies survived the purge)

“Kay wrote his bassoon sonata while studying composition with Paul Hindemith. There is definitely a Hindemithian flavor to this sonata—it could easily pass as an additional movement to Hindemith’s well-known bassoon sonata. Although perhaps not the most original in sound, Kay’s bassoon sonata is a well-crafted short work (five and a half minutes on Lecolion Washington’s recording, although Kay gives no tempo indications in his manuscript).”

“In any case, Kay’s short but sweet sonata is certainly a worthwhile addition to the contemporary bassoon sonata repertory.” [Ulysses S. Kay (1917-1995) is profiled at AfriClassical.com, which features a comprehensive Works List by Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma, http://www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com]

'A Tribute to Jerome Ashby (1956-2007)', Oct. 26, 2008, 3 p.m. at The Curtis Institute of Music

AfriClassical thanks Wilmer wise for this announcement related to the late Jerome Ashby: “I haven't seen any mention of this event, so here's the scoop. You are cordially invited to attend A Tribute to Jerome Ashby (1956-2007), Sunday, October 26, 2008, at 3 p.m.,  Field Concert Hall, The Curtis Institute of Music, 1726 Locust Street, Philadelphia. Reception immediately following in the Bok Room. All horn players are invited to join the mass horn choir at the end; please e-mail Curtis horn faculty member Jennifer Montone at jennifer.montone@curtis.edu. This event is free and open to the public. Please forward the invitation to anyone who may be interested in attending.”

Imani Winds Perform World Premiere of 'Cane' by Jason Moran in Philadelphia Oct. 24

Imani Winds Legacy Commissioning Project presents CANE by Jason Moran THIS FRIDAY!

October 24th at 7:30 p.m. Perelman Auditorium, Kimmel Center, Philadelphia. Through the Legacy Commissioning Project, Imani Winds continue to celebrate their decade anniversary with new works written exclusively for the ensemble. Their third installment in the project is the World Premiere of CANE by Jason Moran. This intriguing musical portrait of Moran’s Louisiana bayou ancestry dates back to his great grand-aunt Marie CoinCoin, an ex-slave, who opened a plantation and bought her family's freedom. CANE is made possible through generous support from The Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust and The Kimmel Center. Program will also include: Call (world premiere) by Imani's own Toyin Spellman-Diaz, Ten pieces for wind quintet by Gyorgy Ligeti, speech. and canzone an electro-acoustic work by Valerie Coleman, Terra Incognita by Wayne Shorter, Contrabajissimo by Astor Piazzolla arr. Jeff Scott.

Works of William Grant Still at Toledo School for the Arts, 7 p.m. Oct. 10

[Africa: Piano Music of William Grant Still; Denver Oldham, piano; Koch 3 7084 2H1 (1991)]

Greg Kostraba, D.M.A., is a pianist and Classical Music Director of WGTE-FM, Public Radio in Toledo. He was named 2007 Ohio Public Broadcasting “Producer of the Year”.  He will help dedicate the new piano at the Toledo School for the Arts. 

ToledoBlade.com

The Toledo School for the Arts will dedicate a new piano with a special concert at 7 p.m. Oct. 10 in the Attic Theatre of the school, 333 14th St. (enter on 15th Street). The varied program will feature works by William Grant Still and other composers. Performers will be local pianists Greg Kostraba, Michael Boyd, David Clark, and Jamie Dauel; violinist Rico McNeela, trumpeter Lori Bitz, and percussionist Rob Desmond. The piano is a 1920s Steinway Grand in the M Series, a gift of the Hayes family in memory of Claudia Hayes. The instrument was in the family for three generations. Tickets are $3 to $5 at the door or in advance at 419-246-8732. [William Grant Still is profiled at AfriClassical.com]

Imani Winds Play 'Afro Blue' in Jacksonville, Florida on October 5 at 3:30 p.m.

ImaniWinds.com:

“Imani Winds has established itself as more than a wind quintet. Since 1997, the Grammy nominated ensemble has taken a unique path, carving out a distinct presence in the classical music world with its dynamic playing, culturally poignant programming, genre-blurring collaborations, and inspirational outreach programs. With two member composers and a deep commitment to commissioning new work, the group is enriching the traditional wind quintet repertoire while meaningfully bridging European, American, African and Latin American traditions.”  “The Legacy Project kicked off in 2008 with world premieres by Alvin Singleton and Roberto Sierra. In 2008-09, Jason Moran's Cane will premiere at the Kimmel Center for the Arts in Philadelphia, followed by a performance at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall.”

The next performance of The Imani Winds will take place in St. Paul's by the Sea Episcopal Church in Jacksonville, Florida on Sunday, Oct. 5 at 3:30 p.m. The program will be Afro Blue: Santamaria/Coleman; Five Poems: Karel Husa; La Nouvelle Orleans: Lalo Schifrin; Ten pieces for wind quintet: Gyorgy Ligeti; Portraits of Josephine Baker: Valerie Coleman; Libertango: Piazzolla/Scott.

Sphinx Brings Message of Diversity to Carnegie Hall

PR.com

The Sphinx Laureates at Carnegie Hall presented by Chase--October 21.

New York, NY, September 27, 2008 -- The Sphinx Organization, the national organization dedicated to building diversity in classical music, will return to Carnegie Hall for a performance on October 21. The concert will feature the acclaimed Sphinx Chamber Orchestra and the Harlem Quartet. The Sphinx Laureates at Carnegie Hall is presented with generous support from Chase.

The concert at Carnegie Hall is just one performance on the orchestra’s first national tour. The tour will take the orchestra to eight cities from the Midwest to New England.

The Sphinx Chamber Orchestra will take the stage at Carnegie Hall on Tuesday, October 21 at 6:00. Tickets are $20, and available through the Carnegie Hall Box Office at (212) 247-7800 or www.CarnegieHall.org. VIP and Box Seat tickets are available through Sphinx by calling (646) 429-1987 ext 713.

The Sphinx Chamber Orchestra comprises top alumni of the Sphinx Competition for young Black and Latino string players. Conductor Chelsea Tipton II will lead the orchestra. Tipton is Resident Conductor of the Toledo Symphony Orchestra. He has also appeared as a guest conductor with the Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, and New World Symphony Orchestras and the Boston Pops Orchestra.

The Harlem Quartet, comprising first-place Laureates of the Sphinx Competition, has a unique and challenging mission: to advance diversity in classical music while engaging young and new audiences through the discovery and presentation of varied repertoire, highlighting works by minority composers. The Quartet has performed around the country, including three performances at Carnegie Hall.

Inspired by Sphinx’s artistic mission, the concert will offer standard repertoire along with masterpieces by Black and Latino composers. Pieces by Schubert, George Walker, Vivaldi, Villa-Lobos, and Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson will be featured.

“Ten years ago, I could only dream about an orchestra of Black and Latino musicians touring the country, said Aaron Dworkin, Founder and President of Sphinx. “This year, that dream becomes a reality. The Sphinx Chamber Orchestra is part of the new face of classical music that will shape the way young people connect with classical music.” Dworkin founded Sphinx in 1996 while a student at the University of Michigan. His work with the organization has been recognized around the world. In 2005, he was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship for his pioneering work. [Full Post]

James DePreist Conducts Juilliard Orchestra October 10, 8:00 PM

The Juilliard School announces that James DePreist will conduct the Juilliard Orchestra Friday, October 10, 2008 at 8:00 PM in the Peter Jay Sharp Theater at 155 West 65th Street, NY 10023:
James DePreist, Conductor
SCHUMANN Symphony No. 2 in C Major, Op. 61
DVORÁK Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Op. 88
Limited FREE tickets available September 26 at the Juilliard Box Office. [Maestro James DePreist (b. 1936) is profiled at AfriClassical.com]

Music Without Borders Concert: William Grant Still & Carlos Chavez, Long Beach June 29

[Africa: Piano Music of William Grant Still; Denver Oldham, piano; Koch 3 7084 2H1 (1991)]

ExperienceLA.com
Music Without Borders Concert
Date: June 29, 2008 Time: 3:00 PM - 4:15 PM Location: Museum of Latin American Art 628 Alamitos Ave., Long Beach, 90802 Phone: (562) 437-1689 Description: chamber music featuring compositions of African American William Grant Still and Mexican Carlos Chavez performed by The Angeles Players (String Quartet), soprano Amber Mercomes, and pianist Evangeline Seward. Soprano Hope Foye will also sing compositions by Manuel M. Ponce, and Andres Eloy Blanco.

Afro-Cuban Composer Tania Justina León and Finnish Cellist Juho Laitinen Perform May 15

Interpretations is excited to present two movers-and-shakers in the international New Classical scene. Both León and Laitinen are world-travelers and new music thrill-seekers, tirelessly promoting their works and performing the works of others for new audiences and die-hard fans around the globe. Ask them where they’ve been lately.

A rising star on the new music scene, Finnish cellist Juho Laitinen returns to New York with a solo program featuring his fellow Finns Tapio Tuomela, Kaija Saariaho, and Jukka Tiensuu, plus a brand-new work from Brooklyn composer Michael Rose.

The celebrated composer and conductor Tania Justina León (b. 1943) presents an evening of recent chamber works: a new foray into live musician+electronics and two song cycles with texts by Margaret Atwood and Derek Walcott.

Featuring: Airi Yoshioka, violin; Elizabeth Farnum, soprano; Adam Kent, piano; Diana Herold, marimba. Thursday, May 15 at 8pm. Roulette: 20 Greene Street (between Canal and Grand). General admission: $15 ($10 students, seniors, Harvestworks & DTW members; free for Roulette and Location One members). For reservations, call 212-219-8242.

Tania Justina León is an Afro-Cuban composer and conductor of contemporary classical music. Born in Havana, she is Director of Music Composition at Brooklyn College, where she has been a member of the faculty since 1985.

CBMR Conference, Session 2: Implications of the Mission of the MayDay Group

The Center for Black Music Research of Columbia College Chicago, http://www.CBMR.org, has announced its National Conference on Black Music Research, February 14-17, 2008 at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, Illinois.

Session 2, 3:45–5:15 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14 will be:

Implications of the Mission of the MayDay Group for Facing the Nexus between Research and Teaching in Higher Education

[Editor's Note: For information on the MayDay Group visit http://www.maydaygroup.org/]

Teresa Reed (University of Tulsa), moderator

Rosita M. Sands (Columbia College Chicago), The Potential of Black Music Research for Informing Instructional Content and Curricula Design:

“This paper presents a preliminary examination of how the scholarship produced as a result of black music research can make an impact on the teaching of music at all levels, particularly at the level of higher education.”

Robert Tanner (Morehouse College), Beyond Inclusion: New Paradigms for the Teaching of Black Music

Christopher Wilkinson (West Virginia University), An American Pedagogical Dilemma: Black Music Research vs. Conventional Instruction in Music History

The complete Conference Program is available at: http://www.colum.edu/cbmr/conference2008/index.php