by Jarrett Hoffman
IN THIS EDITION:
•Today: tenor Steven Weems sings spirituals, pianist Julian Davis Reid reflects on his ancestry and his experience as a Black performer-composer, Sororii blends cello, bassoon & vocals, and CityMusic is joined by cellist Edward Arron
•Announcements: “Reframing Disability” webinar, and “Practicing Wellness” workshop
•Interesting reads: “Claire Chase Is Changing How People Think of the Flute”
•Almanac: music for piano (and guitar) by Isaac Albéniz
HAPPENING TODAY:
Two events in conjunction with The Cleveland’s Orchestra’s American Dream festival bookend today’s schedule.
The first is a 6:00 pm program of spirituals performed by tenor Steven Weems titled “Finding the Dream,” illustrating the evolving meaning of Black freedom and the history of the spiritual as “roots music” for blues, jazz, and gospel in America. The recital — which takes place at the Cleveland History Center and is part of an African American history initiative from the Western Reserve Historical Society — includes opening remarks by Regennia N. Williams on “Dreaming with Our ancestors and Singing in the Spirit.” Ticket information here.
At 7:30 pm at Severance Music Center’s Reinberger Chamber Hall, the festival continues with an event titled “The American Dream, The American Nightmare, and Black American Music.” Pianist Julian Davis Reid will reflect on his own experience as a Black composer and performer, the descendant of voluntary and involuntary migrants, all while illustrating the presentation with works including Duke Ellington’s Come Sunday, Herbie Hancock’s Dolphin Dance, and Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On. It’s free.
The evening also includes free events from the Local 4 Music Fund and CityMusic Cleveland.
At 7:00 pm at the Julia De Burgos Cultural Arts Center, Local 4 will present Sororii (Afro-Colombian cellist/vocalist Carolina Borja, and bassoonist/vocalist Arleigh Savage), a group that was formed in 2021 with the spirit to reclaim sisterhood and explore feminine voices across cultures. Their music blends melodic bassoon lines, plucked and strummed cello, and voice, creating instrumental grooves with underlying world, Latin, and Afro beats.
And at 7:30 pm at Temple-Tifereth Israel, the CityMusic Orchestra will be joined by Edward Arron in the first of four performances of Joseph Haydn’s Cello Concerto in D. The program also includes Franz Schubert’s Overture in the Italian Style, Chen Yi’s Romance of Hsiao and Ch’in, and Felix Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 (“Italian”).