(A Sunday dose of Americana compliments of the Library Of Congress Color Photos of the 1940's series)
Going back to the radio transcriptions tonight. This one, from NBC on March 23, 1953 is part of a series called America's Composers. The series featured almost exclusively works by American composers who were either alumni or teaching at the Eastman School of Music. The orchestra is led by Howard Hanson.
This program features the following works:
William Grant Sill: Darker America
Wayne Barlow - The Winter's Passed
Dr. Paul White - Waltz for Tini's Doll and Mosquito Dance
Douglas Moore - 2 movements from Village Suite
It's interesting that virtually none of this music has been played in recent decades. And with the exception of William Grant Still and maybe Douglas Moore, almost none of the other composers is a familiar name. Granted, a lot of this music is pretty formulaic and bland and perhaps these days it's looked at from the perspective of an ancient and not too significant curio. And aside from labels like CRI and The Louisville Symphony, practically none of this music has received a commercial release.
So here are a few items you may not be all that familiar with or familiar with at all.
Discovery is good - you have to keep telling yourself that.
