DARE to listen – (Diverse - Accessible - Recognition - Education)
Over the last three weeks, it has been a pleasure to revisit many of my favorite composers. As usual, I reflect on past opportunities and experiences in my own professional life. Several years ago, I had the amazing opportunity to give a lecture at the Conducting Institute at Oxford. A statement I made concerning diversity continues to steer me in the way I choose to lead my musical life – “Although gender issues can be tricky – I love to talk about gender. I find it fascinating, especially at this point in my career. Of course, I realize that this may not be true for everyone….”
Though gender is one part of inequity in our culture, there are other groups that continue to be underrepresented - specifically people of color and LGBTQ. Over the next few weeks, I hope you will join me in my exploration of fantastic music by amazing composers we should all know.
Although none of us would have EVER predicted a worldwide pandemic, I am appreciative of the time to share diverse, accessible, recognizable, and equitable music that I love. It is my belief that in order to move to a more successful and equitable future, we must DARE to listen and perform. There is so much great talent out there – I hope you will join me.
Below is my listening list from March 30 - April 12
Sarah Bassingthwaighte (March 30, 2020)
· A Mountain Symphony – 1. Flowing (World Premiere, Seattle Collaborative Orchestra - 2012)
· A Mountain Symphony – 2. Pesante (World Premiere, Seattle Collaborative Orchestra - 2012)
· Echo of the Ancients (for four flutes)
Stacy Garrop (March 31,2020)
· Penelope Waits (part of the Mythology
· Bohemian Café (for Woodwind Quintet and double bass/or cello)
Jessie Montgomery – (April 1, 2020)
· Strum
Jennifer Higdon (April 2, 2020)
· Light Refracted for clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano
Missed Concert – Lyrical Goodbye (April 3, 2020)
· George Walker – Lyric for Strings
· Stacy Garrop – Penelope Waits
· Kurt Weill – Symphony No. 2
Julia Perry – (April 4, 2020)
· Short Piece for Orchestra (Seattle Collaborative Orchestra)
· Pastoral (Cleveland Chamber Symphony)
Louise Farrenc (1804 – 1875) - (April 5, 2020)
· Piano Quintet no. 2 in E, op. 31 - Andante
· Nonet in E-flat major, op. 38
Alexandra Gardner (for April 6, 2020)
· The Way of Ideas (for flute, clarinet, violin, & cello)
· Coyote (for string quartet)
· Banyan
Margaret Brouwer (for April 7, 2020)
· Sizzle
· Aurolucent Circles for Solo Percussion and Orchestra (with the fabulous Evelyn Glennie)
· Pulse
Caroline Shaw (April 8, 2020)
· Partita for 8 Voices (Roomful of Teeth)
· Entr’acte (Calidore Quartet)
· Orange
Anna Clyne (for April 9, 2020)
· This Midnight Hour (with Frankfurt Radio Symphony)
· Within Her Arms – (for string orchestra)
· The Violin – Complete Works (seven pieces for multi-tracked violins) – Blue Hour
Nancy Galbraith (for April 10, 2020)
· Everything Flows – Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra (Abby Langhorst, percussion and Carnegie Mellon Contemporary Ensemble: Daniel Curtis – conductor)
Emilie Mayer (For April 11, 2020)
· Faust Overture - 1880 (with Seattle Collaborative Orchestra)
· Symphony No. 4 in B minor - 1851
Lili Boulanger (for April 12, 2020)
· D'un matin de printemps (Seattle Collaborative Orchestra)
· Pie Jesu (Nadia Boulanger – conducting)