Charles Kaufmann: 'Coleridge-Taylor surpassed his mentors in his innovative compositions, yet he remains less celebrated'

[Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912) is profiled at AfriClassical.com, which features a comprehensive Works List and a Bibliography by Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma, www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com. We are collaborating with the Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Foundation of the U.K., www.SCTF.org.uk]

On August 7, 2013 AfriClassical posted:  TheGuardian.com: 'The Song of Hiawatha – review' by Andrew Clements

Charles Kaufmann of The Longfellow Chorus of Portland, Maine promptly wrote a comment.  Today he again comments on the review:

Hi Bill,

Here's my additional comment about the Clements review. Please feel free to post:

Coleridge-Taylor was only as good as his composition teacher, Charles Villiers Stanford, so any criticism of Coleridge-Taylor should be directed also at Stanford and at the status quo of English music of the period. In many ways, Coleridge-Taylor surpassed his mentors in his innovative compositions, yet he remains less celebrated and misrepresented in such reviews as this.

CK

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Jazz News: 'Riverwalk Jazz' combines 'the music of Duke Ellington, Eubie Blake, Fats Waller and James P. Johnson with the poetry of Langston Hughes'

Victory Stride: The Symphonic Music of James P. Johnson
The Concordia Orchestra
Marin Alsop, Conductor
Music Masters 67140 (1994)

Duke Ellington (1899-1974)

James P. Johnson (1894-1955), African American Pianist and Composer, and Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (1899-1974), African American Composer, Pianist and Bandleader of Classical Music and Jazz, are featured at AfriClassical.com

Jazz News

Music And Poetry Of The Harlem Renaissance This Week On Riverwalk Jazz
This week Riverwalk Jazz captures the high spirit of the Harlem Renaissance with a program combining the music of Duke Ellington, Eubie Blake, Fats Waller and James P. Johnson with the poetry of Langston Hughes, the "Poet Laureate of the Harlem Renaissance." The show features theater legend William Warfield and Broadway's Vernel Bagneris performing Hughes' poetry; and piano virtuoso Dick Hyman joining The Jim Cullum Jr. Jazz Band.

The program is distributed in the US by Public Radio International, on Sirius/XM satellite radio and can be streamed on-demand from the Riverwalk Jazz website. You can also drop in on a continuous stream of shows at the Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound.

There was a time when Harlem was the center of the universe for many African Americans. In the 1920s thousands of black families found a place to call home in this new suburb of Manhattan north of Central Park. Black churches and political organizations sprang up next door to black theaters, dance halls and dives. This coming together of poets and musicians, intellectuals and entrepreneurs gave rise to the Harlem Renaissance, a time when all things seemed possible. All along Harlem's bustling Lenox Avenue, optimism was in the air, and cash jingled in the pockets of stylish new suits. It was the world of the "New Negro" whose ideas and art are at the heart of the Jazz Age.

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'Colour of Music: Black Classical Musicians Festival' Comes to Charleston, South Carolina on October 23-27, 2013

Charleston, South Carolina will be the scene of an elaborate music festival in October 2013.  Orchestral Music will be entrusted to the  highly capable hands of Maestro Marlon Daniel. The website ColourofMusic.org introduces Colour of Music: Black Classical Musicians Festival,Charleston, South Carolina in these words:

In recognition of black classical composers, the Charleston Symphony Orchestra Spiritual Ensemble is pleased to host a history-making event that will showcase masterworks by acclaimed composers such as William Grant Still and George Walker, who received the Pulitzer Prize for music in 1996.

[William Grant Still (1895-1978) and George Walker (b. 1922) are profiled at AfriClassical.com, which features a comprehensive Works List for William Grant Still by Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma, http://www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com Recordings, sheet music and books of William Grant Still are available at www.WilliamGrantStill.com, which is operated by the composer's daughter Judith Anne Still]

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"Prelude to a Dream" Mass Meeting & Concert in Washington, D.C. at Metropolitan A.M.E. & Baltimore at Enon Baptist

"One Chance" Prelude To A Dream

Mass Meeting, Performance and Concert

Published on Aug 1, 2013

"Prelude to a Dream: The Volatile Eve of the March on Washington" to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington.

August 25, 2013 - 5:00 p.m.
Enon Baptist Church - 601 N. Schroeder Street - Baltimore, MD
Free Admission -- Ticket is required for entry
http://civilrightsopera.ticketleap.co...

August 27, 2013 - 7:00 p.m.
Metropolitan A.M.E. - Church 1518 M Street NW - Washington, D.C.
Free Admission: Ticket is Required for entry
Register for tickets at:
http://civilrightsopera.ticketleap.co...

Join The Movement.
www.CivilRightsOpera.com

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PennLive.com: 'Christyan Seay and Fred Dade to perform classical recital at Peace Church' in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania

Tenor Christyan Seay

PennLive.com

Sean Adams

August 5, 2013

The Peace Church's Concert Series continues with a concert featuring two accomplished musicians of the area.

Tenor Christyan Seay and pianist Fred Dade will perform together on August 11 in "A Recital of Liszt, Da Falla and Selected American Composers." Said American composers include Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, John W. Work, Margaret Bonds, Richard Rogers and Gary Gelb.

Seay is a Harrisburg native who regularly performs with the Harrisburg Opera Association, the Wednesday Club, both the Harrisburg and Lancaster symphony orchestras and the Concert Operetta of Philadelphia. Dade is Assistant Professor of Music at Shippensburg University and director of the college's Women's Chorale, and a frequent accompanist for vocalists across the country.

[Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912) and Margaret Allison Bonds (1913-1972) are profiled at AfriClassical.com, which features a comprehensive Works List and a Bibliography for each by Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma, www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com.]

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TheGuardian.com: 'The Song of Hiawatha – review' by Andrew Clements

[Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912) is profiled at AfriClassical.com, which features a comprehensive Works List and a Bibliography by Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma, www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com. We are collaborating with the Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Foundation of the U.K., www.SCTF.org.uk]

The Guardian

Monday 5 August 2013
Andrew Clements

Each year the Three Choirs festival tries to include a major work that has become unfashionable and fallen out of the regular choral repertory. Last year at Hereford it was George Dyson's The Canterbury Pilgrims; this time in Gloucester it was the work that made Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's name, The Song of Hiawatha.

Between the two world wars, Coleridge-Taylor's cantata-trilogy was so popular that each year the Royal Albert Hall devoted a fortnight to semi-stagings conducted by Malcolm Sargent, complete with costumes, scenery and involving up to 1,000 performers. Nowadays even the first part, Hiawatha's Wedding Feast, is rarely heard, so the complete performance in Gloucester cathedral with Peter Nardone conducting the Festival Chorus, the Philharmonia and soloists Hye-Youn Lee, Robin Tritschler and Benedict Nelson was a brave attempt at rehabilitation.

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African Diaspora Tourism Explorer: 'Pay Homage to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the 2013 Bimini Peace Retreat' Nov. 1-3, 2013

African Diaspora Tourism Explorer

BiminiPeaceRetreat.com

Bimini, Bahamas is set to host a one-of-a-kind peace retreat on November 1-3, 2013. Organization leaders from Atlanta, the US, Caribbean and beyond will gather on the serene island for a week-end of relaxation, renewal and the contemplation of world peace. They are coming to view the memorial bust of one of the greatest peacemakers of all times, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Retreat participants will get to network with leaders in the field of social justice and nonviolent conflict resolutions.             

                                              

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The memorial bust was erected in honor of Dr. King by the Bahamian Government because Bimini is where he came for refuge and to write two of his speeches.The peace retreat pays tribute to Dr. King and the 2013 Peacemaker Honorees: Ms. Naomi King, sister-in-law of Dr. King; Mr. Joe Beasley, international humanitarian and Mr. Ansil Saunders, Dr. King's companion when he visited the island. Gospel/R&B artist Fabrice "Breeze" Clerger will honor Dr. King's legacy with a performance of his song "The Dream Realized" that was written for the King family.

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Prof. Timothy W. Holley on 'Sonata for Cello and Piano' of George Walker: 'I did it as part of my DMA dissertation, and enjoyed it immensely.'

  Delos 3449

 George Walker and Emmanuel Feldman
Delos 3449

   Prof. Tomothy W. Holley

The composer and pianist George Walker was born in Washington, D.C. June 27, 1922, is featured at AfriClassical.comand has a website athttp://georgetwalker.com/

On August 3, 2013 AfriClassical posted: Jan Swafford: 'Feldman considers Walker's Cello Sonata to be one of the lesser-known masterpieces of the American cello repertoire.'

Dr. Timothy W. Holley is a cellist and Assistant Professor of Music at North Carolina State University.  He earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Michighan in 1996, and writes: 

Bill,

It is good to hear of the recent recording of the George Walker Cello Sonata.  It is a fine and compactly expressed work, gesturing toward a variety of composer's influence while maintaining it own distinct "voice".  The piano score is (expectably) demanding, and the cello part calls for solid technical and musical imagination for the work to be successful and effective in performance.  I did it as part of my DMA dissertation, and enjoyed it immensely.

TWH

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'Here & Now' Encore broadcast: 'Ecstatic Voices - Sounds of Africa'

On Saturday, August 3, 2013 AfriClassical posted: NPR.org: 'Fred Onovwerosuoke founded the St. Louis African Chorus 20 years ago.'

Dear friends, 

A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Those who missed the live broadcasts of NPR's "Weekend Edition" 

may listen online at,  http://www.npr.org/2013/08/03/208297562/

...and the encore NPR's broadcast on WBUR's "Here & Now,"http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2013/08/05/africa-st-louis 

We promise to respond individually to the volume of email inquiries relating to the broadcast and our programs. Many thanks to those who took extra time to support us by buying one of our CDs or books. Facebook inquirers have been directed to buy the cd online at,http://africarts.org/African_Greetings/agpix.htm 

and fundraising books at http://ampublishers.org

Of course, we're very pleased to hear your voice 

by telephone at 314-652-6800

From your friends at African Musical Arts, Inc.

www.africarts.org

Tel: 314-652-6800

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Opera Singer Amber Mercomes Seeks Advice on Career Development

Amber Mercomes

John Malveauxofwww.MusicUNTOLD.comwrites:

Dear Africlassical audience and others:

 

MusicUNTOLD has had the pleasure of engaging Amber Mercomes on numerous programs and found her preparation, talent, and performance to be exemplary. Please see letter below and contact Amber with information you believe may be helpful to her. 

 

Dear teachers, coaches, mentors, and friends!

I hope this finds all of you well. If you're receiving this letter, you have been highly influential in my life. 

I am looking for advice, tips, steps in the right direction regarding my opera career. To give you all an update--I sing full time. So that's the good news! Most of you know I performed a small role in Porgy and Bess at LAO and SFO, performed the title role of SUOR ANGELICA at Operafestival di Roma, performed a small role at LB Opera, and sing locally at galas, fundraisers, and other local functions in the LA area. As well as Equity musicals full time.

I'm represented commercially and theatrical with BBR Talent and have been performing full time at Disneyland for two years. 

So what does any of this have to do with you? I want opera back in my life (for good) and I am planning to travel to Europe for a while to explore a career there. I've saved up money and I have a place to live. I just need to know who to sing for and how to go about it. 

I will be finishing a production of Ain't Misbehavin' in San Diego Oct 14 and plan to leave from there to Belgium. (That will be home base) 

Even if you don't have any info that might help, I would love any referrals you might have who could point me in the right direction. 

On another note, I sincerely miss you all and want to thank each and every one of you for impacting my life in the way you have. 

Call, email, text, or Facebook me. Even if it's just to chat. 

Feel free to forward my contact info to anyone else who may be able to help. 

Ambermercomes@yahoo.com

https://www.facebook.com/amber.mercomes

310-940-9877

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Sphinx Founder and President, Aaron Dworkin, was recently honored at the Fourth Annual Diversity Affluence brunch in the Hamptons.

[Aaron Paul Dworkin (b. 1970) is featured at AfriClassical.com as an outstanding Musician of African Descent]

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Nokuthula Ngwenyama Performs at 2013 Red Rocks Music Festival in Arizona: Aug. 29 Tempe; Aug. 30 Scottsdale; Aug. 31 Sedona

The renowned violist Nokuthula Ngwenyama, www.ngwenyama.com, was born June 16, 1976.  She is President of the American Viola Society and has long been featured at AfriClassical.com.  A new recording with pianist Eckart Sellheim is in the works.  

She returns to Arizona's Red Rocks Music Festival this year on August 29 in Tempe, August 30 in Scottsdale and August 31 in Sedona.  All concerts are at 7 PM.

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MusicUNTOLD provides FREE transportation & tickets for the underserved for 'I HAVE A DREAM' Anniversary concert of ICYOLA August 26

Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (ICYOLA) Disney Hall Highlights II 2012

John Malveauxofwww.MusicUNTOLD.comwrites:

In addition to producing a concert to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of MARCH on WASHINGTON and Dr. King's I HAVE A DREAM speech titled SYMPHONY of BROTHERHOOD (see www.musicuntold.com) featuring national and local opera/classical/jazz performances on August 18th at Zipper Hall-Colburn School, MusicUNTOLD will provide FREE round trip bus transportation and tickets for underserved youth and others to attend Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles concert at Disney Concert Hall on August 26th to celebrate 50th anniversary of Dr. King's I HAVE A DREAM speech concert titled SYMPHONY of BROTHERHOOD in Los Angeles County. Transportation and tickets for August 26th concert at Disney Concert Hall are provided courtesy of 4th District County Supervisor Don Knabe with MusicUNTOLD coordinating the field trip. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NJQnb2eUlQ

 

Thanks

John Malveaux

www.musicuntold.com

Tel.(562) 436-4352

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Jan Swafford: 'Feldman considers Walker's Cello Sonata to be one of the lesser-known masterpieces of the American cello repertoire.'

Delos 3449

George Walker and Emmanuel Feldman
Delos 3449

Our American Roots: Gershwin, Barber, Walker, Copland; Emmanuel Feldman, cello; Joy Cline Phinney, piano; Delos 3449 (2013).

The composer and pianist George Walker was born in Washington, D.C. June 27, 1922, is featured at AfriClassical.comand has a website athttp://georgetwalker.com/  He made history in 1996 as the first African-American Pulitzer Prize Winner in Music. George Walker has recorded prolifically; ArkivMusic.com lists 27 CDs under his name. An impressive number are devoted entirely to his compositions, as is the case for George Walker: Great American Orchestral Works, Vol. 3 (2012). The composer's most recent release is his first on the Delos Music label, and was released on May 28, 2013.

Jan Swafford writes in the liner notes: “The works on this recording are all American and all essentially songful.” “George Walker is a composer of African American/West Indian background whose highly personal Cello Sonata defies categories, but who retains a subtle undercurrent of black American tradition.” “George Walker gave his first piano recital at age 14 and went on to a spectacular academic and performing career that started at Oberlin (from which he graduated first in his class at 18) and moved to Curtis, where his piano teachers included Rudolf Serkin and his composition teacher was Rosario Scalero, who taught Barber.”

Swafford then remarks on George Walker's string of successes following his graduation from Curtis, “After graduating, Walker went on to break the musical color line in one venue after another: the first black musician to solo with the Philadelphia Orchestra and to get a doctorate from Eastman, among other distinctions. Following Barber's lead with Adagio for Strings, Walker took his Lyric for Stringsout of his first string quartet and it became one of the most performed of American orchestral pieces. He has published over 90 works and recorded widely as a pianist.”

Jan Swafford informs us: “Feldman considers Walker's Cello Sonata to be one of the lesser-known masterpieces of the American cello repertoire.” We are told of the work “It begins with a bustling figure in the piano from which the cello's theme rises, with its mingling of nervous energy and wistfulness. That is contrasted with a poignant second theme, perhaps touched both by blues and Brahms. There follows a development with a growing stress and passion that carries into a driving recapitulation.” Of the second movement we are told: “Feldman is reminded of Shostakovich here, and there is a distant, melancholy echo of the blues.”

Swafford concludes: “Ultimately, the Walker Cello Sonata escapes categories of American or African-American, Romantic or Modern. It is simply and memorably itself.”

Each of the five George Gershwin pieces is adapted or arranged by Emmanuel Feldman. The two Copland works are arranged for cello and piano by the composer. The compositions of Samuel Barber and George Walker are performed as written. The recording as a whole is a coherent and very enjoyable excursion into the music of four American composers.

Disclosure:A review copy of this CD was provided by the record label.

Comment by email:
Hello Bill, Thanks very much for the review. Best regards. George [George Walker] 

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Oregon Public Broadcasting: 'Classical Lost And Found: Florence Price Rediscovered'

Florence Beatrice Smith Price (1887-1953) is profiled at AfriClassical.com, which features a comprehensive Works Lists by Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma, http://www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com.

Albany Troy 1295

NPR.org

August 2, 2013

Classical Lost and Found: Florence Price Rediscovered

Contributed By: Bob McQuiston

The Concerto in One Movement for piano (composed around 1934) is in three sections, beginning with a moderato, which opens with a brief orchestral introduction followed by a piano cadenza. They both hint at the sweeping main idea which has traditional spiritual overtones and is the subject of a virtuosic and harmonically inventive developmental dialogue between soloist and orchestra.

After a brief pause we get a gorgeous adagio with a lyrical theme, again with a folk-like accent. Price follows with a totally infectious final allegretto apparently modeled after the African-American juba dance once practiced on U.S. plantations.

The bulk of the album is devoted to her nearly 40-minute Symphony in E Minor from 1932, which the Chicago Symphony Orchestra premiered the following year, making it the first such work by a black woman performed by a major U.S. orchestra.

The opening movement has melodies and rhythms typically found in Afro-American folk music, and recalls Dvorák’s New World Symphony, while the following slow movement features a moving hymn tune of Price’s design.

Both concluding movements are fast and return to the juba dance concept. They contain hints of fiddles and banjos, antic slide whistle effects, and a recurring three-against-two melody which end this loveable work on a whimsical note.

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NPR.org: 'Fred Onovwerosuoke founded the St. Louis African Chorus 20 years ago.'

Fred Onovwerosuoke

NPR.org

Ecstatic Voices

Songs Of Africa: Beautiful Music With A Violent History

by Neda Ulaby

August 3, 2013

For the next year, NPR will take a musical journey across America, which is one of the most religiously diverse countries on earth. We want to discover and celebrate the many ways in which people make spiritual music — individually and collectively, inside and outside houses of worship.

The founder of the choral group Sounds of Africa is Fred Onovwerosuoke. He was born in Ghana and brought up in Nigeria, and his choir in the heart of the U.S. — St. Louis, Mo., to be exact — has recorded his arrangements of African sacred music by a composer named Ikoli Harcourt Whyte.

Whyte lived in a leper colony run by the Methodist Church. He formed a choir of those also confined there and, Onovwerosuoke says, "composed and wrote for them some of the most moving spiritual music."

...

'A Kernel Of What Is Possible'

Rose Fisher is Songs of Africa's assistant director. She's guiding the choir through lyrics in Yoruba, a tonal language from West Africa. An hour later, they're singing it as part of a service at Pilgrim Congregational Church.

Music from Africa can be incredibly challenging for Western singers, says soprano Marlissa Hudson, who has recorded music arranged by Onovwerosuoke. She says none of her classical training prepared her for the complexities of its rhythms.

"You can't count when you're singing that kind of music, so Fred actually danced it for me," Hudson says. "As soon as he danced, it clicked."

...

A Better Peace

This is music born of pain, and it insists on life, on resilience, on a connection to something beyond human suffering. Part of the power of these hymns comes from how they assimilated customs and musical traditions rooted far from Christianity, Onovwerosuoke says.  

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Washington Post: 'For Prince George’s choir, performances and lessons of a lifetime in South Africa'

Pr. George’s choir shines in South Africa

July 25 2013 6:12 PM EDT — Northwestern High school’s choir traveled to South Africa to perform after fundraising for nearly two years. (Courtesy of Ken Carter) 

Petula Dvorak

They made international news outside the hospital caring for Nelson Mandela, brought the house down singing in magnificent churches, came face-to-face with zebras and penguins, flew in five different planes and stood high on Table Mountain, staring into the vast expanse of Africa’s southernmost tip.

But for many members of Northwestern High School’s choir, the most moving part of their 10-day tour of South Africa was the fourth day, when they visited Soweto and learned a different way to measure wealth.

...

The day after they arrived, their tour guide told them that they were staying just around the corner from the hospital where Mandela, the revered former South African president, was being treated for a lung infection. So they all walked over and were moved by the wall of well-wishes, the people praying outside, the media camped out.

They began singing. And their soaring voices made the news — CNN, British papers, South African TV. Here was a group of young, mostly black Americans who’d come to sing for a man many regard as a living saint.

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Baritone James Bryant, V.P., Georgia Laster Branch of NANM, will sing 'Star Spangled Banner' at Paralyzed Veterans Convention Aug. 13, Long Beach

James Bryant

John Malveauxofwww.MusicUNTOLD.comwrites:

Baritone James Bryant, Vice President, Georgia Laster Branch of NANM, Inc. accepted an invitation to sing the Star Spangled Banner at the Annual Paralyzed Veterans of American Convention August 13, 2013, Westin Hotel, Long Beach, California.

 

John Malveaux

www.musicuntold.com

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Commemorative Performance: 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington • Saturday, August 17, 2013, Charleston, South Carolina

Commemorative Performance: 50^th Anniversary of the March on Washington • Saturday, August 17, 2013

1963: ABE, JFK, MLK and RFK
A 50 Year Retrospective

Charleston SC  August 2, 2013 –The Charleston Symphony Orchestra (CSO) Gospel Choir and CSO Spiritual Ensemble are pleased to present a short performance of gospel and spiritual music featuring remarks by area clergy to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington and its supporters Saturday, August 17, 2013, 6:00pm at Morris Street Baptist Church, 25 Morris Street, Charleston.  This event is free and open to the public.

The March on Washington attracted an estimated 250,000 to promote civil rights and economic equality for African-Americans culminating at the Lincoln Memorial for speeches, songs, and prayer. Televised live to millions, the march most memorably featured Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Far larger than previous demonstrations for any cause, the march impacted both the passage of civil rights legislation and nationwide public opinion.

Conducted by David A. Richardson, the CSO Gospel Choir is an 80-voice gospel group and the CSO Spiritual Ensemble is a 35-member all-volunteer vocal group focusing on African-American Spirituals.

Free and open to the public; donations graciously accepted.

For more information visit www.csogospel.com

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Imani Winds Chamber Music Festival presents 'Visionaries: A New Generation of Composers Hosted by Eric Ewazen' Sun. Aug. 4, 7 PM, Mannes College of Music

Valerie Coleman

Valerie Coleman, Flutist & Founder, Imani Winds:

Dear composers and new music advocates,

On behalf of Imani Winds, it is my absolute pleasure to invite you to a very special event this Sunday featuring a new step that Imani Winds Chamber Music Festival is taking towards new music advocation and the role of wind writing within it.   We know this invite comes to you a bit soon to the date, but if you happen to be in town, we hope to see you! The information is below.

Valerie

Imani Winds Chamber Music Festival 

presents

VISIONARIES: A NEW GENERATION OF COMPOSERS

HOSTED BY ERIC EWAZEN

Sunday, August 4th at 7pm

Concert Hall, Mannes College of Music

suggested donation $10

Pre-Concert Discussion with the composers at 6pm

Light Reception to follow.

Introducing a new breed of composers, and their genre-blurring, culture-bending visions in a performance hosted by acclaimed composer Eric Ewazen. Visionaries is an intriguing exploration through the minds of a new generation, filled with unforgettable music from composers David Arend, Zhengyi Chen, Jess Hendricks, Ben Morris, Alon Nechustan, Leanna Primiani, Matthew Recio, Nick Virzi, and Alex Weiser. 

PROGRAM INCLUDES:

David Arend 

Corps Remembered for wind quintet (World Premiere)

Zhangi Chen 

Suite from Pursuant for wind quintet (World Premiere)

Matthew Recio 

Revelations for wind quintet (World Premiere)

Alex Weiser 

Wind (Performed by the Southern Wind Quintet, University of Southern Mississippi) 

(World Premiere)

Jess Hendricks 

Pahá Sápa for Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone and Piano (World Premiere)

Alon Nechustan

ChiaroScuro (World Premiere)

Performed by the Mint Julep Wind Quintet Representing the University of Louisville

Ben Morris

Orange Sky Sihouette for Wind Sextet (World Premiere)

Nick Virzi

Broken Images – Aux Imagistes For Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone and Bassoon (World Premiere)

Leanna Primiani

Thursdays, Saturdays and Twice on the Sabbath For Wind Septet 

(World Premiere)

Very Best Wishes,

Valerie

Valerie Coleman

Flutist & Founder

Imani Winds 

www.imaniwinds.com

www.imaniwindsfestival.com

www.vcoleman.com

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ASALH: 'I write now to announce our first effort to engage scholars to produce knowledge for empowerment: The Voter Empowerment Project'

Daryl Michael Scott, ASALH National President:

In January, when my term of office began, my first message was entitled, "A Call to Service." I write now to announce our first effort to engage scholars to produce knowledge for empowerment: The Voter Empowerment Project.

Before the Supreme Court decision in Shelby v. Holder and the Zimmerman verdict, it was clear to many that a new era in race relations had been inaugurated as a result of the off-year elections of 2010. The Stand Your Ground laws in thirty states, the takeover of democratically elected governments in Michigan, the attempt to disfranchise us through new voter identification laws, the erosion of worker rights, the anti-abortion laws, and others result from low voter turnout.

State and local elections are the battleground, and ASALH must do its part by empowering people through knowledge. Social media must be harnessed to organize and deliver accurate and useable knowledge and information to our communities. State laws matter.

Through our own efforts and partnerships, we plan to create a Voter Mobilization App that will allow community groups who engage in voter registration and mobilization to know the following two things: 1) the state-by-state histories of African American efforts to secure and maintain the right to vote and 2) the current laws and policies governing voting in state and local districts throughout the country with on-going updates. The resulting micro-histories-less than 2,000 words each-and local policies will serve as a crash course for groups wanting to mobilize their neighbors to register and to vote, especially in off-year elections.

Please respond to this call for service. We need scholars who have specialized knowledge to take leadership roles on committees to write the histories and create the databases. Those of you who are interested, please email us at empowerment@asalh.net.

Click here for the details of the plan.

Best regards,

Daryl Michael Scott

President

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