Tonight: Spirituals, Rags and Strings

The Brooklyn Philharmonic, led by Artistic Director Alan Pierson, today will kick off the first of three free concerts to highlight its special partnership with Bed-Stuy’s Restoration Corporation.

The concerts are the conclusion of a series of performances celebrating the season relaunch, which started in Brighton Beach, then moved to Downtwon Brooklyn and now will wrap up in Bed-Stuy.

 The first performance is by the Brooklyn Chamber Players is entitled, “Chamber Concert: Spirituals, Rags and Strings,” Wednesday, May 9, at 7:00 p.m., at the Dweck Center of the Brooklyn Public Library, 10 Grand Army Plaza.

Featured Peformers: Tyehimba Jess, poet; Paul Neubauer, viola soloist; Deborah Buck, violin; Deborah Wong, violin; Sarah Adams, viola; Chris Finckel, cello; Lanny Paykin, cello; Ken Bowen, piano; Daniel Nesta Curtis, Artistic Advisor

Program:

• African-American spiritual: Deep River; Arr. Jascha Heifetz
• Daniel Bernard Roumain (b. 1971): String Quartet No. 5 (“Parks”); Mvmt. I: “I made up my mind not to move.” 
• Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904): String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, Op. 96, (“American”); Mvmt. IV: Finale: Vivace ma non troppo
• Daniel Bernard Roumain (b. 1971): String Quartet No. 5 (“Parks”); Mvmt. III: Isorhythmiclationistic   
• Scott Joplin (1867-1917): Bethena   
• Derek Bermel (b. 1967): Soul Garden for Solo Viola and String Quartet
• African-American spiritual: Deep River; Arr. Harry T. Burleigh
• Daniel Bernard Roumain (b. 1971): String Quartet No. 5 (“Parks”); Mvmt. II: Klap Ur Handz
  

Brooklyn Phil Notes:

In 1892, Harry T. Burleigh became one of the first African-American students admitted into the National Conservatory of Music in New York City. The spirituals he sang inspired the Conservatory’s visiting director, Antonín Dvořák, to write several masterpieces based on American themes, and to envision a rich and unique future for American music.

Now, the Brooklyn Phil Chamber Players join poet Tyehimba Jess in a concert that features Paul Neubauer on solo viola and imagines these artists’ lives and stories, spinning out the legacy of this first link between African-American music and the symphonic tradition.

 Harry T. Burleigh (1866-1949) was a composer, arranger, ethnomusicologist, and baritone. He was the first to arrange Negro spirituals in an easily accessible form for concert audiences. Burleigh learned composition while teaching Antonín Dvořák about Negro spirituals he learned from his grandfather, Hamilton Waters. These songs influenced the Czech composer’s New World Symphony.

 Detroit native Tyehimba Jess’ first book of poetry, leadbelly, was a winner of the 2004 National Poetry Series. The Library Journal and Black Issues Book Review both named it one of the “Best Poetry Books of 2005.”

 Paul Neubauer has distinguished himself as one of this generation's quintessential artists. Appointed principal violist of the New York Philharmonic at age 21, he is the chamber music director of the OK Mozart Festival in Oklahoma and artistic director of the “Chamber Music Extravaganza” in Curaçao. A two-time Grammy nominee, Neubauer has appeared with over 100 orchestras around the globe.