2013 program - African-American Composers' Initiative

PROGRAM

I. “Love’s in Need of Love Today” by Stevie Wonder

Eastside Preparatory School Choir, David Chaidez, Director, Jansen Verplank, keyboard, Yolanda Rhodes, Deanne Tucker, and LaDoris Cordell, back-up vocals

II. Portraits in Jazz by Valerie Capers

Adaptations from the original piano solos

1. Bossa Brasilia

2. Ella Scats the Little Lamb

Piano Variations on “Ella Scats the Little Lamb” by John Robinson III (adapted for piano duet by J.G.)

LaDoris Cordell and Josephine Gandolfi

1. Variation 1

2. Variation 6

3. Variation 7

III. Three settings: a Paul Lawrence Dunbar poem, two Spirituals

Sunset by Zenobia Powell Perry

De Angels Done Bowed Down by Zenobia Powell Perry

Wait Til I Put On My Crown by Lena McLin

Yolanda Rhodes, soprano, Gandolfi, Cordell, and Tucker, piano

IV. Variations on an African American Spiritual by Joshua McGhee

Prelude (cello and piano)

Nocturne (violin and piano)

Spiritual Piece (folk song) (violin, cello and piano)

Picasso Ensemble

V. Abbey Lincoln Poetry and Music - jazz songs

Bird Alone, words and music by Abbey Lincoln

Rainbow, words by Abbey Lincoln, music by Melba Liston

LaDoris Cordell, singer, Valerie Capers, piano, John Robinson, bass, John Neves, percussion, Susan C. Brown, violin, Victoria Ehrlich, cello

New settings of Abbey Lincoln texts by Valerie Capers

Bird Alone

Rainbow

Yolanda Rhodes, soprano and Josephine Gandolfi, piano

Intermission

VI. Music for solo piano

Azuretta by Regina Baiocchi

Glaciers by Dolores White

Flight by Zenobia Powell Perry

Deanne Tucker, piano

VII. “Afro-American Suite” by Undine Smith Moore

1. Nobody Knows the Trouble I See, Lord

2. I Heard the Preaching of the Elder

3. Who is that Yonder?

4. Shout All Over God’s Heaven

Picasso Ensemble

VIII. Bye Bye Blackbird, song by Ray Henderson, arranged by Valerie Capers, featuring John Robinson, recorder

IX. Still – Scherzo from Afro-American Symphony

arranged for two pianos by the composer and his wife, Verna Arvey; adapted for duet by J.G.

LaDoris Cordell and Josephine Gandolfi, piano

X. I Got Rhythm, based on a tune by Gershwin, arranged for jazz trio by Valerie Capers

XI. Company Finale: Gershwin – I Got Rhythm, arranged by Valerie Capers

Music of African American Composers: The Story Retold