In honor of Black History Month four days of performances took place in intimate settings featuring African instruments from the marimba (a.k.a. xylophone) to the harpsichord, in up close salon settings that revive the magical feel of classical music’s origins.
The Festival opened with a matinée vocal recital featuring Manna K. Jones, soprano, joined by pianist, Elizabeth G. Hill. The opening day concluded with a name synonymous with Charleston and the arts, Gian Carlo Menotti, and his Trio for Clarinet, Piano and Violin. Additional highlights included Toshiro Mayuzumi’s Concerto for Xylophone & Piano, Jesse Montgomery’s Strum, and Florence B. Price’s Quintet in A Minor for Piano and Strings.
The Festival welcomed weekend patrons to two Colour of Music Festival Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra performances – the ensemble of all strings and harpsichord featured Afro-Cuban composer Jose White Lafitte’s La Bella Cubana, Vivaldi’s Concerto for 2 Trumpets, Arensky’s Variation on a Theme by Tchaikovsky, Chevalier de Saint Georges’ Violin Concerto in A Major, Robert Aldridge’s Tango for Gabriela, Piazzolla’s Primavera Porteño, with a finale performance of Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence and Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson’s String Quartet No. 1, Calvary, mvmt III. Rondo: Allegro Vivace, a composition based on the African-American spiritual Calvary.
Festival Archive Music playing: Vivaldi’s Concerto for 2 Trumpets
Courtney D. Jones and Herbert Smith Trumpet Soloist
source
