Although Covid has thrown all aspects of public music performance into disarray, the University of Tennessee School of Music has sought to overcome some of those limitations with a weekly drop of virtual performances—Virtual Concert and Lecture Series—ranging from individuals to ensembles shown on their various media platforms. On this Friday’s drop, UT Symphony Orchestra director James Fellenbaum has dealt with the logistical issues of including larger instrumental ensembles and programmed for the UTSO the works of six prominent African-American composers under the title of ”A Celebration of Black History Month.”
Two of the composers on the program are living composers—Jessie Montgomery and Adolphus Hailstork. Montgomery’s work on the program, Starburst, may not be new to some Knoxville listeners. The 2012 work, among others, has been performed by the Knoxville Symphony. Hailstork (b. 1942, Professor of Music and Eminent Scholar at Old Dominion University in Norfolk) is represented by Church Street Serenade.
The prolific composer George Walker died in 2018; he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1996. His work on the program is Lyric for Strings, a work performed by the Knoxville Symphony last February.
Also featured on that KSO concert was a work by Florence Price, her Violin Concerto No. 1. On this UT Symphony performance, Price will be represented by a string orchestra arrangement of her organ work, Adoration.
William Grant Still (1895-1978) is often called “The Dean of African-American composers” not only for the sheer volume of composition, but also for his ability to ingeniously evoke American textures in deceptively complex and entertaining scores.
Finally, transcending genres is Scott Joplin and an arrangement of his Maple Leaf Rag.
Those on the UTKSOM mailing list will probably receive a direct link when this Virtual Concert Series performance appears on Friday, February 26. This video will also be available on their Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts. Use ‘utksom’ to search with if you have trouble finding them on those platforms.
