Thursday, February 18, 2010

Violist Eliesha Nelson in Jeffrey Mumford's 'wending', Cleveland Composers Guild Feb. 28



[TOP: Jeffrey Mumford; Photo: Al Fuchs, courtesy Oberlin Conservatory of Music BOTTOM: Quincy Porter, Complete Viola Works; Eliesha Nelson, viola; John McLaughlin Williams, violin, piano, harpsichord; Douglas Rioth, harp; Northwest Sinfonia, John McLaughlin Williams, conductor; Dorian Recordings DSL 90911 (73:47) (2009)]

AfriClassical has interviewed Eliesha Nelson on Quincy Porter, Complete Viola Works, the recent recording on which she is joined by Douglas Rioth on harp, and John McLaughlin Williams as conductor as well as pianist, harpsichordist and violist. The release of her first CD happened to come within days of the birth of Eliesha's first child. Our post of Sept. 16, 2009 was entitled: "Eliesha Nelson's CD 'Quincy Porter: Complete Viola Works' Highlights Overlooked American Music. " On Sept. 17, 2009 AfriClassical posted: "Conclusion of Interview on Eliesha Nelson's CD 'Quincy Porter: Complete Viola Works."'

Jeffrey Mumford, composer of "wending," for solo viola, has been featured in AfriClassical in each of the past three years, as his prolific output has come to our attention. Our first post on him, on Nov. 13, 2007 was: “Jeffrey Mumford (b. 1955), African American Contemporary Composer.” Our most recent post was “CincinnatiSymphony.org: 'Celebrating the CSO's World Premiere...by Jeffrey Mumford.'” AfriClassical wrote: “Born in Washington, D.C., composer Jeffrey Mumford has received numerous awards, grants and commissions. He was also the winner of the inaugural National Black Arts Festival and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Composition Competition. Mumford’s works have been performed extensively in the United States and abroad including Vienna, Paris, London, Helsinki, Mexico, as well as at the Library of Congress, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the National, Chicago, Detroit and Atlanta Symphony Orchestras. 'this music…has a deeply thoughtful, even soulful integrity…Mumford is a composer to watch.' —Robert Carl, Fanfare”

ClevelandClassical.com
Feb. 28 3:00 pm — Cleveland Composers Guild.
Concert of member works. Donald Erb’s Watchman Fantasy, Katharine O’Connell’s Lamentation (for a prisoner in Guantanamo Bay), Jeffrey Quick’s Sonata for Flute & Piano, Nick Underhill’s Devon Rex (flute quartet), Eric Charnofsky’s Yielding/Merging/Passing (contrapuntal techniques in 21st century music) & Jeffrey Mumford’s Wending for solo viola. Christ Episcopal Church, 3445 Warrensville Center Rd., Shaker Heights. Free.






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