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Every Wednesday at 10:00pmAbout the Show
Classical Challenge
'Dr. Mike and Mark Andruss share 'The Classical Challenge' and present classical music for 2 1/2 hours every Wed. 9--1130 pm. This program concentrates on music composed in the last 100 years, with special emphasis on recently created works, as well as local performances. This is KKFI's only classical music program (although we hope for more!) so tune in to the sublime.....and enjoy.
For Wednesday, June 24, from 9:00-11:30pm CT on KKFI 90.1 FM or streaming at kkfi.org (and available on archive if you miss the show for two weeks afterwards on the KKFI website), The Classical Challenge presents “Black Composers Matter” hosted by Mark Andruss
Most classical music lovers can name, or at least recognize the names of, the “big/historical 7” black composers – the Chevalier de Saint-Georges (b1745), Scott Joplin (b1868), Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (b1875), Florence Price (b.1887), William Grant Still (b1895), Duke Ellington (b1899) and George Walker (b1922). So far I’ve only managed to program Joplin and Ellington on The Classical Challenge, so I could do more (and maybe Dr. Mike will program some of these folks in his survey of American composers).
I have played pieces by both Anthony and Tyondai Braxton, Valerie Coleman, Julian Eastman, Stewart Goodyear, George Lewis, Jessie Montgomery, Jeffrey Scott, Wadada Leo Smith, and Pamela Z. Good music is good music.
And there’s a lot more out there, as tonight’s program will start to demonstrate. We’ll hear:
The Green Fuse – James Benjamin Wilson (British, b1990) – The Chineke! Orchestra conducted Anthony Parnther
Tourbilion (Whirlwind) – Daniel Kidane (British, b1986) – Mahan Esfahani and Michala Petri
Through a stillness brightening – Jeffrey Mumford (American b1955) – Miranda Cuckson violin
Pythia is a Black Girl’s Name – Lisa E. Harris (American b1981) – Li Harris
Greed Machine – Alvin SIngleton (American b1940) – Teresa McCullough
String Quartet No. 1 – Eleanor Alberga (Jamaican b1949) – Ensemble Arcadiana
Permutations for Solo Piano – Tyshawn Sorey (American b1980) – Tyshawn Sorey
Mighty River (Live) – Errollyn Wallen (Belize-born British b1958) – Orchestra X
Middleground – Shelley Washington (Kansas City born and raised, b1991) – PUBLIQuartet
My thanks to Tim Rutherford-Johnson for introducing me to some of the younger black composers from the British Commonwealth.
The photos are of James Benjamin Wilson, Daniel Kidane, Jeffrey Mumford, Lisa E. Harris, Alvin Singleton, Eleanor Alberga, Tyshawn Sorey, Errollyn Wallen, and Shelley Washington respectively.
Thanks to everyone who donated during KKFI’s latest fund drive. And thanks to all who listen!
. We’ll hear:
The Green Fuse – James Benjamin Wilson (British, b1990) – The Chineke! Orchestra conducted Anthony Parnther
Tourbilion (Whirlwind) – Daniel Kidane (British, b1986) – Mahan Esfahani and Michala Petri
Through a stillness brightening – Jeffrey Mumford (American b1955) – Miranda Cuckson violin
Pythia is a Black Girl’s Name – Lisa E. Harris (American b1981) – Li Harris
Greed Machine – Alvin SIngleton (American b1940) – Teresa McCullough
String Quartet No. 1 – Eleanor Alberga (Jamaican b1949) – Ensemble Arcadiana
Permutations for Solo Piano – Tyshawn Sorey (American b1980) – Tyshawn Sorey
Mighty River (Live) – Errollyn Wallen (Belize-born British b1958) – Orchestra X
Middleground – Shelley Washington (Kansas City born and raised, b1991) – PUBLIQuartet
My thanks to Tim Rutherford-Johnson for introducing me to some of the younger black composers from the British Commonwealth.
The photos are of James Benjamin Wilson, Daniel Kidane, Jeffrey Mumford, Lisa E. Harris, Alvin Singleton, Eleanor Alberga, Tyshawn Sorey, Errollyn Wallen, and Shelley Washington respectively.
Thanks to everyone who donated during KKFI’s latest fund drive. And thanks to all who listen!
