Program Highlight

A musical interpretation of the Mississippi River delta by Valerie Coleman on Gateways Radio, 3/26 @ 12pm

Classical 91.5 WXXO-FM

Published February 27, 2023 at 10:54 AM EST

https://www.worldatlas.com/rivers/mississippi-delta.html

The 3 million acres of the Mississippi River Delta is the one of the largest coastal wetlands in the U.S. and the 7th largest river delta on earth. Composer Valerie Coleman says this about the inspiration for the short scherzo-like work that reflects her mother's side of the family: "From the juke joints and casino boats that line the Mississippi river, to the skin tone of kinfolk in the area: a dark skin that looks like it came directly from the red clay, the solo lines are filled with personality and bluesy riffs."

3/5 Margaret Bonds: Sing of the King Who Was Tall and Brown (Dussoff Choir and Orchestra; Malcolm J. Merriweather, cond) “Chick” Corea: String Quartet No. 1 (Harlem Qt) Ellington: Take the A Train (Harlem Qt) Price: Symphony No. 3 (Gateways Orchestra; Michael Morgan, cond)

3/12 Piazolla/Scott: Libertango (Imani Winds) J.S. Bach: Keyboard Concerto No. 1 (Seth Blumer, p; Gateways Chamber Orchestra; Michael Morgan, cond) Kevin McKee: Vuelta del Fuego (Gateways Brass Collective) he River Suite (Detroit Symphony Orchestra; Neemi Jarvi, cond)

3/19 John Rosamond Johnson/Still: Voice (Videmus Ensemble) Childs: The Distant Land (Akron SO; Alan Balter, cond) J.S. Bach: Capriccio (Joe Williams, p) Elgar: Enigma Variations (Gateways Orchestra; Michael Morgan, cond)

3/26 Coleman: Red Clay & Mississippi Delta (Imani Winds) Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Haydn (Gateways Orchestra; Anthony Parnther, cond) Price: Symphony No. 3 (Gateways Orchestra; Anthony Parnther, cond)