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Classical Clip of the Month Archive: /

Classical Clip of the Month for August 2020
(clickable links in the text are in bold)

  IMG: click picture to buy this CD
click picture to buy this CD


William Grant Still

20th Century American Violin Works
in Historical Recordings

Kaufman String Quartet
(Louis Kaufman & George Berrers, violins
Alan Neiman, viola; Terry King, cello)
Lois Adele Craft, harp
Annette Kaufman, piano
Pina Pozzi, piano
Artur Balsam, piano

   

Best known for his Afro-American Symphony, Still wrote hundreds of works, including at least four other symphonies, several symphonic poems, orchestral suites, ballets, choral and vocal works, and, the focus of this month's CCM, chamber music. This recording, highlighting the renowned violinist Louis Kaufman, features two works by Still: two of the three Danzas de Panama and Ennanga. The latter work, written for and dedicated to harpist Lois Adele Craft (who appears on this recording) in 1956, is a gorgeous, evocative work, full of lush writing, melodic ingenuity, and rhythmic verve. The inclusion of the harp (the work's title refers to a type of African harp, especially prevalent in Uganda) provides a refreshing sonic variety to the piano quintet's normal palette.


       

Launch date: 21 November 2001.
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